Partner news Property-marketing company, ESPC, reports that its latest house-price research points to a confident start to 2026, for the property market across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders. Using sales data from November 2025 to January 2026, ESPC found that the average selling price across the region increased by 4.3 per cent year-on-year to £296,093. November activity was still influenced by uncertainty around the UK budget and anticipated intere

The Green Room, in Edinburgh's West End has become one of the first bars in Scotland to leverage the recently implemented Scottish Pubs Code. The new legislation, which gives pub owners the chance to ask to just pay a rent without being tied to supply stock from the pub-owning business, means that The Green Room West End can now stock a wider range of beers. The bar reported that it is now able to reduce the price of a pint of lager from £6.90 to £5.20, representing a saving

World Cheese Awards judge, Tanny Gill, has announced the launch of The Scottish Cheese Academy. Tanny, who has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, has created the Academy to fill a gap in professional education, help cheese lovers learn more about Scottish cheese and to help give Scottish cheese the cultural status and global reverence enjoyed by Scottish whisky. The Academy will deliver certified cheese education, bespoke hospitality training and cultural touri

Furniture retailer, Sterling Home, has announced a new collaboration with broadcaster Vogue Williams, on an exclusive furniture collection available only through its stores in Scotland: “This partnership brings together Vogue’s creative energy with our commitment to accessible, quality design,” said Euan Graham, Sterling Home director: “Her warmth, authenticity and enthusiasm for home styling align with our brand values and customer expectations. The resulting range is a cons

Responsible-finance provider, Social Investment Scotland (SIS) is bringing its nationwide Funding Socials programme to Edinburgh, offering third-sector leaders the opportunity to connect with fund managers, sector specialists and peers. The event, to be held at Out of the Blue on 12 February, will help charity and social enterprise leaders from across the region explore new approaches to income generation and build valuable networks. Attendees will have the chance to hear dir

Sponsored As the new year gets underway, many businesses are looking to identify how they can elevate their competitive advantage in 2026. We spoke to brand specialist, Giles Etherington, who is launching his ’28-day brand launchpad’ at the end of February. The programme is designed to help businesses create a stand-out brand. This year he is turning his attention to a particular sector – the space occupied by independent coaches and consultants. Giles says: “A quote I use a

A new Sri Lankan restaurant has opened in Glasgow’s West End. KOCHCHI first came to diners’ attention at Edinburgh’s Bonnie & Wild food hall and aims to build on its success in the capital, in its location on Ruthven Lane. The Glasgow restaurant has a dining capacity of 80 covers, over two floors, an external, heated balcony area and a bar. At the heart of the menu is koththu, Sri Lanka’s street food. Fresh flatbread is hand-chopped and seared on a hot griddle with vege

Bid and tender experts Andrew Morrison and Chris Denyer have joined forces, to launch a new company, Aspire Bidding. Based in Edinburgh, Aspire Bidding has started trading with a UK-wide client base already on its books, from the west of Scotland and the Lothians north of the border, to Yorkshire, Cheltenham and London in the south. The boutique consultancy has launched with six members of staff located throughout the country, with plans in place to add to the personnel as t

Hope Terrace in Edinburgh’s sought-after Grange area is the city’s most expensive address, new research from property-buying agency Fyndd shows – but Ann Street is the priciest per square foot. Hope Terrace commanded the highest average price of sales over £1m, reaching almost £3.5m, but buyers paid around half the price per square foot of perennially popular Ann Street in Stockbridge. The research, commissioned by Fyndd from data consultancy HomeBench, analysed Edinburgh str

Getting out of town to the peace and quiet of the countryside is often top of the wish list for a romantic break. Over the Border, in a picturesque Northumberland village, The Kirkstyle Inn is offering a 10-course Valentine’s Day tasting menu, with an optional wine pairing and a glass of fizz on arrival. The Inn has attracted a number of accolades and awards, including three AA Rosettes. Recent dishes on the menu have included pheasant pie with smoked bacon and onion; duck

Engineering firm, Civic, has announced the acquisition of Quattro Consult – a structural and civil-engineering consultancy based in Edinburgh. The acquisition supports Civic’s continued expansion in Scotland and brings a team of 15 engineers and technicians into the business. Founded in 2009, Quattro (incorporating Stuart McTaggart Limited) has delivered its engineering-consultancy services across a range of sectors, including residential, hotels, industrial and logistics. Th

Communications agency, Feel Good Comms, has announced the launch of the first Edinburgh ‘feel-good’ index, an initiative designed to celebrate the people and places that make Edinburgh. Feel Good founder, Chris Batchelor, who started up the agency earlier this month, said the index is built on the belief that the most successful businesses are those that make the world a genuinely happier place. The agency’s mission is to champion these local establishments and ensure that

Dales Marine Services has made the shortlist in two categories of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce 2026 business awards. The specialist in dry dock and ship repair, fabrication and conversion has been named as a finalist in the Leith Business of the Year and Developing the Young Workforce awards. A spokesperson for the firm, which was founded almost 40 years ago, said: “It is an honour for Dales Marine Services to be shortlisted for not one, but two accolades at the Ed

Technology and communications consultancy, brass neck, and marketing consultancy, KMA Marketing have announced the launch of a strategic partnership, to boost the capabilities and drive the growth of each business. Both consultancies, run by Kirsten Paul and Killian McAleese respectively, started up in 2024. The two organisations will initially provide Droplet NeverTrust TM , the secure-vault company, with marketing and PR support. The firm helps organisations protect hardw

Edinburgh-based Rutland Square Spirits has launched its first chai-spiced rum. The new launch marks a strategic evolution for the brand, already known for its chai spiced-gin, as it builds a flavour-led spirits portfolio designed for global markets. Crafted in small batches and bottled at 41 per cent ABV, the chai-spiced rum uses Caribbean molasses, is aged in ex-sherry casks to develop a ruby-rich depth and is then married with some of the world’s most prized tea leaves, in

Edinburgh architectural photographer, Susan Allan, has published a book, Hidden Edinburgh – A Walk Through Medieval History . The book, which contains 80 photographs, sets out the history of the city and shows where to see its hidden and historical places and features. Susan said: “The book tells the stories and legends from the very early beginnings of Edinburgh, in 600AD, right through to the late medieval days of King James VI of Scotland. “As well as including qui

A new report calls for an overhaul of pensions policy and financial advice to address the current pensions gap, which sees women accumulating 75 per cent less in their defined-contribution (DC) pension pots by age 60 than men , according to DWP figures . The report, from the University of Edinburgh, supported by wealth manager, Evelyn Partners, calls on the financial-services sector to recognise hidden systemic, social and situational factors preventing women from saving and

Roberta Hall McCarron and Shaun McCarron’s award-winning restaurant, Eleanore, is closing at the end of January for a refurbishment. It will reopen a month or so later, in a different format, reflecting its origins, as a neighbourhood bistro. Diners will have the choice of either a two or three-course menu, with snacks such as oysters with rhubarb ponzu and hot sauce, and ox-cheek croquettes with salsa verde also available, as additions. Starters will reference bistro clas

Sponsored New Year resolutions often focus on health and fitness goals – joining the gym or going more often; changing eating habits; or vowing to run a marathon. But there’s a health and fitness goal that some may overlook – perhaps because they’ve already given up trying to achieve it. Almost half (43 per cent) of the UK adult population suffers from chronic pain – in other words, pain that lasts for more than three months. And many are just gritting their teeth and barin

Independent distiller, Eden Mill and Edinburgh-based COCO Chocolatier, have launched a limited-edition bundle for Valentine’s Day. The Love Gin & COCO Chocolatier bundle pairs a bottle of Eden Mill's Love Gin with a bar of salted-caramel milt chocolate. Love Gin is made with raspberries and strawberries grown close to the Eden Mill distillery, while COCO Chocolatier sources its cocoa 'at origin'. All beans are harvested and processed in Colombia, before being shipped to the c