Edinburgh Craft Beer Experience 2018 15th – 17th November 2018 at Assembly Roxy, Tickets from £8

Calling all lager lovers, IPA aficionados, porter experts and craft connoisseurs: the Craft Beer Experience is coming to Edinburgh 15th – 17th November. The Edinburgh Craft Beer Experience promises to be a truly immersive beer event, taking over all three floors of the Assembly Roxy on Roxburgh Place to bring you a taste of the very best beers from Scotland, the UK and Europe.

The Craft Beer Experience will run for five sessions over the three days with beers from over 20 breweries for visitors to taste, with some beers appearing in Scottish taps for the very first time. This event isn’t just for the beer geeks though, it’s for everyone who’s ever enjoyed a cold one at the end of the day.

Scotland has a long history of brewing beer, and the Assembly’s Main Hall will be a celebration of that 5,000 year tradition, with food and drink coming from some of Scotland’s best producers. The majestic columns of the Main Hall will be interspersed with 13 craft breweries from Edinburgh’s doorstep and beyond. From Edinburgh and Leith will be the unfiltered offerings of Pilot, and just beyond the bypass, braw seasonal stylings from Cross Borders in Dalkeith. Looking past the Lothians, 71 Brewing will be representing Dundee, with larger brewers Tempest and Six Degrees North also bringing bars. Completing the line-up from Scotland will be Alechemy, Barneys, Brew Toon, Fallen, Stewart Brewing, Top Out and more.

Also in the Main Hall, to line the stomach, there will be a range of traditional and not so traditional nourishing Scottish fare from Jarvis Pickle, Aye Love Real Food and Lost Bothy; and representing the other side of Scotland’s drinking habit; Musselburgh based Hickory Bars will be serving cocktails from its Botanical Garden Bar, with a drinks list showcasing the very best of Scottish craft spirits and the country’s distilling credentials.

Downstairs and in the venue’s atmospheric Snug Bar, the rest of Britain’s best breweries will be on show. From the North England will be Northern Monk and Magic Rock Brewery, with The Kernel and Camden Town Brewery representing London and the South. Tiny Rebel will represent Wales, with Boundary flying the flag for Northern Ireland. London based Cidersmith’s Cider will also be available. The seven breweries will make their own mark on the space, bringing classic pub games for entertainment including a pub quiz during each session. Behind the bar and Scottish drinkers will be able to taste beers they never have before, with brews making their way north of the border for the first time.

Next door to the Snug Bar in the Basement Theatres, drinkers will be able to enjoy a full programme of beer themed workshops and masterclasses. Visitors will experience beer in a different way with tasting notes and food pairings; get to know the men and women behind the cask with meet the brewer sessions; and even start their own brewing journey with home brew masterclasses. Seating in these events will be limited, and on a first come first served basis so guests are encouraged to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Travelling the stone staircase to the Upper Theatre will take you to two of Europe’s most prestigious brewing countries. Belgium will show off distinctive Lambic style breweries, pouring beers from Belgium’s oldest Lambic brewery, Timmermans; and Germany will bring the Zeitgeist Bar, pouring three traditional German brews, including Fruh, Uerige, and the distinctive smoked 15th century Schlenkerla. As with the Snug Bar downstairs, the brewers will be bringing their own Belgian touch to the Upstairs Theatre to complete the experience.

The Craft Beer Experience has been developed by one of the passionate team who created the Craft Beer Revolution in previous years.

“Brewing has enjoyed a huge resurgence in recent years and it really has felt like a revolution, the dawning of a new era of beer. But we’re living in that craft era now, the revolution has done its job and it’s time to move on to the next stage, where we just get to drink the beer and enjoy the experience!”

— Richard Servranckx - The man behind the event!

Across the three day event brewers from Scotland will be put to the test in Edinburgh Craft Beer Experience’s ReplicAle contest; a tournament of taste where brewers must create their own beer using ingredients provided by Scottish Maltster Bairds Malt in a brilliant display of the versatility of the drink and its creators. Beers will be judged in a blind tasting on flavour and aroma, and tested for its ABV and measured against the IBU scale, an international scale of bitterness in beer, to find the best balanced brew.

As well as some of the best beers from around the globe, the stone halls of the Assembly Roxy will be filled with the musical styling of local DJs, Two Guys, aka Ross Tolley and Craig West.

The Edinburgh Craft Beer Experience will run for five sessions between Thursday 15th and Saturday 17th November at Assembly Roxy, 2 Roxburgh Pl, Edinburgh EH8 9SU. Tickets include a specially designed schooner glass, a token towards your first beer, a full programme of events and brewers, as well as access to the demonstrations and masterclasses.

Sessions and masterclasses

Thursday evening

5:30pm - 11pm £12

6.30pm - Scottish Craft Brewers Introduction to home-brewing

7.30pm - Meet and Taste Top Out Brewing

8.30pm – Meet and Taste Stewarts Brewing

Friday afternoon

Noon - 4:30pm £8

1.45pm - Scottish Craft Brewers Introduction to home-brewing

2.45pm - Taste six different beers with Beer 52's beer sommelier

3.45pm - Meet and Taste 71 Brewing

Friday evening

6pm - 11pm £14

6.30pm - Taste six different beers with Beer 52'sbeer sommelier

7.30pm - Scottish Craft Brewers Introduction to home-brewing

8.30pm - Timmermans - A journey into Lambic with Edward Martin

Saturday afternoon

Noon - 5pm £14

12.45pm - Meet & Taste Heroes Vodka

1.45pm - Taste unique brews from a collaboration between Tiny Rebel and Flavourly

2.45pm - Meet and Taste St Andrews Brewing

Saturday evening

6pm - 11pm £14

6.30pm – Meet and Taste Heroes Vodka

7.30pm - A journey into German beer with Joe Dick

8.30pm - Meet and Taste Barneys Beer

Tickets from craftbeerexperience.co.uk

@edicraftbeerexp

Glasgow Vegan Festival Set for Success this Weekend

Glasgow Vegan Festival this weekend (Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November) at Trades Hall of Glasgow, includes a feast of mouth wateringly delicious food, over 50 fantastic stalls, world food caterers, free food samples, exciting cookery demos, inspirational talks, interactive workshops, yoga and children's activities running throughout each day. And best of all, it’s a great opportunity to try new vegan food innovations before they even hit the store shelves!

Local exhibitors include The Nut Shack UK, a family run business based in Paisley, which produces uniquely flavoured peanuts by hand; yogi oils, created and inspired in the Yoga Studios of Glasgow, by yoga teacher Katrino; and Anderson Aromatics from Bothwell near Glasgow specialising in massage therapies and skincare for dry skin conditions, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea and acne.

Vegan Events UK Festival Organiser Victoria Bryceson comments on this new, burgeoning food trend:

“It doesn’t surprise me that plant-based cuisine is now one of the top three trends – just last month Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off featured a vegan week! We now regularly get record numbers at all our events, nationwide. There seems to be an un-satiable demand for everything plant-based. Our festivals make an enjoyable day out whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or simply vegan-curious. The idea behind them is to educate and inform everyone about the vegan lifestyle and offer support to anybody who would like to try it.”

Other festival highlights include Welcoming Winter in the Mindful Way by Susie Hooper from Pause and Breathe; How to top up your ‘human energy’ by Jung Shim; Breaking the Chains: Advocacy for a Vegan Future by The Free Vegan Cookout; Taking care of yourself is one of the greatest things you can do for the world by Brent Shaub from Embody Wisdom Today; and Fifty actually lived years of veganism by Dan Strettle from Alternative Stores

“This new event is all about having fun, trying new things and opening people’s eyes to new, exciting possibilities. Cutting out meat and dairy from your diet is so easy now and many people are increasingly looking for alternatives as they want to live more healthily and ethically. This event will give people the chance to find out more about the new innovative foods and recipes now available and how to do it affordably.”

— Victoria Bryceson

The festival is run in partnership with animal welfare charities including Miracle's Mission.

The Glasgow Vegan Festival will also help local homeless people, whilst also helping to reduce food waste. Stall holders are asked to donate any surplus food at the end of the festival, and a group of volunteers distributes it to homeless people after the event, providing a hot meal as well as cold dishes.

Glasgow Vegan Festival takes place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November 2018 between 10.30am and 4.30pm at Trades Hall of Glasgow, 85 Glassford Street, Glasgow, G1 1UH.

Entry is just £3 (under 16’s free) and this includes entry to all areas and activities.

Standard tickets are purchased at the door on the day. VIP tickets, £15, include fast track entry and a goody bag full of vegan products, samples, discounts and offers can be purchased in advance but sell out quickly.

For more information please visit www.veganeventsuk.co.uk or www.facebook.com/VeganEventsUK

THE NATIONAL WHISKY FESTIVAL RETURNS TO CELTIC CONNECTIONS FOR MASSIVE THIRD YEAR

SWG3 TO HOST 2019 INSTALMENT OF 'DRAMS, DANCING, MUSIC AND SCRAN' ON SATURDAY JAN 26

Following a successful inaugural run at The Spree Festival in Paisley this October, next year's third National Whisky Festival at Celtic Connections is set to be the biggest and most ambitious instalment to date. And we can't wait!

This time around, popular Glasgow events complex SWG3 will be playing host on Saturday 26 January, offering two fantastic three and a half hour sessions of unique whisky tastings, incredible live music and plenty of delicious and hearty local scran to see you right.

Featuring over 30 exhibitors from some the most exciting names in whisky and with over 100 different whiskies to try - all of which are included in the ticket price - this is truly a whisky lover's paradise.

But don't be fooled, however, this is no stuffy, suit and tie affair. From seasoned palettes to adventurous newcomers, everyone is welcome. You won't be sniffed at for enjoying whisky your way, nor will you have to pay through the nose to sample some of the finest whiskies the world has to offer.

This is about having fun, coming in from the cold and celebrating our national drink together in great company. And while you don't have to wear even an inch of tartan - who wouldn't say no to a kilt or two!

Don't like Whisky? Never tried it? Have no fear, NWF has got you covered too. Their newly-added craft beer bar and wide selection of gins, bourbons and other spirits will be more than sufficient to keep even the most stubborn drinkers happy. However, we'd always encourage everyone to have a wee taste if they've never tried it - especially the day after Burns Night!

Tickets cost £37 and include:

- Entry to one of two sessions on Saturday 26 January (12pm-3.30pm or 4.15pm-7.45pm)

- Unique NWF branded Glencairn crystal nosing glass, to use on the day and take home

- Access to sampling over 100 different whiskies (and some cheeky other spirits)

- The official festival programme

- Two discount vouchers to be used at the festival bottle shop, provided by Good Spirits Co.

- Access to masterclasses within your session (to be booked separately)

- And last but by no means least - an incredible bill of live music programmed by the folks our at Celtic Connections

Slàinte Mhath!,

THE NATIONAL WHISKY FESTIVAL @ CELTIC CONNECTIONS

JANUARY 26, 2019

SWG3, GLASGOW

100 EASTVALE PLACE

G3 8QG

Head over to their website for more info - nationalwhiskyfestival.scot

facebook.com/nationalwhiskyfestival/

This event is 18+ only. This event is likely to sell out in advance - book your tickets now to avoid disappointment.

Please drink responsibly.

Forget the Monday blues, Edinburgh Cocktail Week is back next month!

Edinburgh Cocktail Week Reveal Over 80 Signature Cocktails and Full Programme of Events, Parties and Masterclasses Ahead of Next Month’s Festival

A Whisky Escape Room challenge, over participating 80 bars, a new Cocktail Village, a hidden Masterclass Hub, a Pornstar Martini Party, and distillery tours are just some of the highlights you can look forward to hopping between at next month’s Edinburgh Cocktail Week, 15th – 21st October, as they reveal their full programme of events and 82 signature cocktails.

Over 80 bars across the capital are taking part in this year’s Edinburgh Cocktail Week (30 more than last year) including Harvey Nichols, Tigerlily, Dragonfly, The Voyage of Buck, The Voodoo Rooms and The Grand Café, with each bar designing a unique Signature Cocktail which can be enjoyed for just £4 each with an ECW wristband - £6 for a weekday band (valid Monday to Friday) and £8 for a weekend band (valid Saturday and Sunday).

This year’s expanded format also sees the introduction of a new Cocktail Village at Festival Square, which is free to enter with a wristband. Enclosed within a marquee, the Cocktail Village will act as the social hub of the week-long cocktail celebrations, where attendees can meet up with friends and catch up over £4 cocktails from 15 pop-up bars such as Edinburgh Gin, Grey Goose Vodka, St-Germain, Johnnie Walker, Rumbullion Rum, Belvedere Vodka and Poco Prosecco, plus a very special ‘Golden Ticket’ themed bar from The Pop Up Geeks. As well as lots of cocktails to try, there will also be live music, DJs and drop-in style masterclasses and tastings to keep revellers entertained.

“We wanted to give the event more of a festival feel this year, so we have introduced a much larger programme of things happening all around the city for wristband-holders to hop between on their cocktail adventure, as well as extending the event to seven days and increasing the number of bars taking part to spread footfall.
As a city of event-goers we all love a pop-up space to hangout in, so the Cocktail Village is an exciting new development for the event and the city. It has been designed with an outdoor festival theme to make you feel like you are in an autumnal garden while being in the comfort of an enclosed marquee.
With this year’s expansion also came a lot of work with brands and distribution to ensure supply meets demand; a challenge some bars faced last year. New partnerships with brands and local distributors will ensure sufficient stock levels are in place with backup stock from local warehouses just a phone call away.”

— Gary Anderson - Festival Organiser and Hero

Between sipping, sampling and socialising around the bars and Cocktail Village, there is also a programme of events, masterclasses and parties for wristband-holders to attend throughout the week, kicking off with a Pornstar Martini Party hosted by Absolut Vodka at 4042, Edinburgh’s newest late-night venue. Partying continues throughout the week as Altos Tequila host a sleepover themed party at Tonic with a menu of £4 ‘Agave Dream’ inspired cocktails to choose from. Entry to both events are free on a first-come basis and tables can be booked in advance by contacting each venue directly.

Thrill-seeking wristband-holders are invited to join Chivas Regal for a whisky themed Escape Room at Nightcap. Designed for both experienced and amateur whisky drinkers, attendees must use their senses to guide themselves through a labyrinth of flavour, collecting whisky along the way to unlock and create their own personalised blend at the end of the challenge, before enjoying a complimentary cocktail in the Nightcap Lounge.

Another exciting addition this year is 'The Secret Spirits Study' pop-up on Queen Street – a masterclass hub by day and underground bar by night, hosted by Wemyss Malts and Darnley's Gin. Those eager to sample and get creative can look forward to experiential masterclasses such as ‘Mixed Drinks Through the Ages’ which explores the past, present and future of cocktails through sampling and hands-on cocktail-making. Or take ‘A Liquid Journey’ and sample six botanical spirits to discover how they react with one another to form the award-winning Darnley’s Gin range, while ‘The Secret to Blending Whisky’ masterclasses take pupils on a laboratory style flavour tasting before crafting a personalised blend to take home. In the evening The Secret Spirits Study will transform into a hidden cocktail bar with a programme of bar takeovers with mixologists from across Scotland showcasing their skills to create £4 cocktails for wristband-holders to imbibe on in the lounge or underground bothy.

If a break from cocktails is needed, festival-goers can head along to The Empress of Broughton Street for a beer & whiskey pairing with Jameson Whiskey and local craft brewers Barney’s Beer, or be the first to take a tour of the Sweetdram distillery as it opens for the first time, exclusively for wristband-holders. Tour tickets cost £4 each and include samples of Sweetdram’s Escubac (described specifically as not a gin) and their Smoked Spiced Rum.

Local gin producers Pickering’s Gin are also joining in the cocktail debauchery with a collaboration with Brewhemia for a whirlwind week of food & gin pairings, ‘How to at Home’ cocktail classes featuring Pickering’s new Pink Grapefruit & Lemongrass Liqueur, plus tastings and competitions with co-founders Marcus Pickering and Matthew Gammell in the Brewhemia Boudoir.

And the fun and benefits of an ECW wristband don’t end there: wristband-holders can also enjoy a complimentary cocktail with beauty treatments at NOW by One Spa; promotions at the Official ECW Bottle Shops, Royal Mile Whiskies and Drink Monger; 50% off a ride with mytaxi; and free entry before midnight to Edinburgh’s top late-night venues Lulu, 4042 and Shanghai – visit the ECW website for T&Cs.

Social Media:
Instagram - @edcocktailweek
Facebook - @edinburghcocktailweek
Twitter - @edcocktailweek
Hashtag - #ECW18

Wristbands:
On sale now at www.edinburghcocktailweek.co.uk
Weekday (valid Monday – Friday) - £6
Weekend (valid Saturday & Sunday) - £8

Scotland Vegan Festival takes place at Hampden tomorrow

There’s something for everyone at the forthcoming Scotland Vegan Festival from Vegan Events UK on Saturday 14th July. This new event is being held at Hampden Park, the famous national stadium of football in Scotland. It includes a feast of mouth wateringly delicious food, over 100 fantastic stalls, world food caterers, exciting cookery demos, inspirational talks, interactive workshops, yoga and children's activities running throughout the day.

Food on offer includes a varied and exciting array of plant-based hot and cold dishes, including Asian, Mediterranean, Indian, Greek, Hotdogs, Burgers, Street Food, Raw Food and Gourmet Food! And the famous pies at football stadiums won’t be missing – Cool Jerk Vegan Pies and The Pie Parlour & Bakery both offer a fantastic array of pies, including Hamish’s Haggis and Mash Pies, Mince & Gravy, Mac & Sheese and gluten free.

There will also be a huge range of pasties, cakes, chocolates, cookies, doughnuts, sandwiches and salads to take away as well as alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, juices, smoothies, tea and coffee. Plus there are lots of exciting foods and other products not available in the shops.

And there’ll be a great selection of non food stalls at the event selling a wide variety of items including fashion, footwear, jewellery, beauty and skincare products, candles, crafts, clothing, footwear, homeware, gifts and charity merchandise.

As well as stalls to look round, there will also be a wide range of free food samples to try, live music, inspirational talks, live cookery demonstrations, workshops and children’s activities running throughout the day from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

Festival Organiser Victoria Bryceson says, “With the vegan lifestyle really starting to go mainstream there’s a massive demand for vegan-friendly events. The Scotland festival is set to be a fantastic day out whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or simply vegan-curious. The idea behind the festival is to educate and inform everyone about the vegan lifestyle and offer support to anybody who would like it.”

Going vegan has transformed Victoria’s life; “I’ve never felt happier and healthier,” she says. She started the festival with the aim of promoting animal welfare and how to live a more ethical and healthy lifestyle. “There will be several animal welfare charity stalls raising awareness of their causes. For anybody who would like to get involved with volunteering this is an ideal place to talk to lots of different charities and gather information, and all the stall holders are happy to talk to people and answer any questions.”

The festival is run in partnership with animal welfare charities including Miracle's Mission. “It’s all about trying new things and opening people’s eyes to new possibilities,” continues Victoria. “Cutting out meat and dairy from your diet is easier than you might think and many people are increasingly looking for alternatives as they want to live more healthily and ethically. They want to find out more about the new innovative foods and recipes now available and want to do it affordably. Our festival will educate people on how to do all of this.”

And the festival also helps local homeless people, whilst helping reduce food waste at the same time. Stall holders are asked to donate any surplus food at the end of the festival, and a group of volunteers distributes it to homeless people after the event, providing a hot meal as well as cold dishes.

Scotland Vegan Festival takes place on 14th July 2018 between 10:30am and 4:30pm at Hampden Park, Glasgow G42 9BA.

Entry is just £3 (under 16’s free) and this includes entry to all areas and activities. Standard tickets are purchased at the door on the day.

VIP tickets, £15, include fast track entry and a goody bag full of vegan products, samples, discounts and offers can be purchased in advance but sell out quickly.

For more information please visit www.veganeventsuk.co.uk or www.facebook.com/VeganEventsUK

Huge Cocktail Village and Over 80 of the Capital’s Favourite Cocktail Bars Announced for Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2018

Edinburgh Cocktail Week have announced their plans for this year’s event, Monday 15th – Sunday 21st October, which include a huge 750 square meter ‘Cocktail Village’ at Festival Square on Lothian Road, a 'Secret Spirits Study' masterclass hub & bar on Queens Street, over 80 of the city’s favourite cocktail bars, and a week-long program of events & parties across the capital.

The growth of the festival from 3 to 7 days follows the popularity of last year’s inaugural Edinburgh Cocktail Weekend.

“We are thrilled to reveal our plans for this year’s Edinburgh Cocktail Week. Last year proved that Edinburgh is the biggest cocktail capital outside of London and showed us the need to expand the event to a week-long celebration. Based on feedback and our ambition to further grow the event we have introduced new elements such as Edinburgh’s first Cocktail Village, a masterclass hub on Queens Street, and increased the number of bars taking part to over 80 to help spread footfall. Edinburgh has some of the best bars and mixologists in the world and Edinburgh Cocktail Week is about showcasing and supporting the city’s thriving cocktail scene. We can’t wait for October to arrive and look forward to welcoming cocktail-lovers to Scotland’s biggest cocktail festival.”

— Organiser - Gary Anderson

Just like last year, all signature cocktails featured during the event are available to wristbands-holders for £4 each, with wristbands priced at £6 for a weekday band (valid Monday to Friday) and £8 for a weekend band (valid Saturday and Sunday).

The Cocktail Village is free to enter for wristband-holders and will be the epicentre of this year’s festival, where festivalgoers will collect their wristbands and free copy of the ECW Guide before enjoying £4 signature cocktails from 15 bespoke pop-up bars such as Edinburgh Gin, Belvedere Vodka, Jameson Whiskey, Ableforth’s Gin, Altos Tequila, Smokehead Whisky, Rock Rose Gin and many more. Giant trees, picnic tables, live music and DJs, grass flooring and potted plants, festoon lighting, heaters and a clear roof skylight will create an outdoor festival atmosphere for festivalgoers to hangout with friends and socialise with fellow cocktail enthusiasts in before setting off on their cocktail adventure around the city. The Cocktail Village is delivered in partnership with Purvis Marquee Hire Scotland.

The number of cocktail bars taking part in the event is also increasing from 50 to over 80 including Harvey Nichols, Baba, The Voyage of Buck (recent winner of Scotland’s Most Stylish Cocktail Bar), Black Ivy, The Permit Room at Dishoom, Tigerlily, Finn & Bear, The Printing Press, Miss Woo's, The Refinery and Tonic, stretching further across the city as far as Dakota Hotel in South Queensferry. This expansion follows organisers’ plans to create clusters of bars in more residential areas – Leith, Stockbridge, Broughton and Bruntsfield – spreading footfall and allowing wristband-holders to experience Edinburgh Cocktail Week without having to travel into the city centre.

Another exciting addition to this year’s event is 'The Secret Spirits Study' pop-up on Queens Street, hosted by Wemyss Malts and Darnley’s Gin. The exact location is being kept a closely guarded secret just now, but wristband-holders can look forward to a program of cocktail making, gin and whisky masterclasses during the day where they will sample and learn how to create classic cocktails or their own gin or blended whisky before getting hands-on to shake-up their own creation to bottle and take home. Masterclasses are one hour long and attendees are invited to stay afterwards to enjoy £4 signature cocktails from the bar. In the evening the venue will become an underground cocktail bar with a program of bar takeovers from top bartenders from across Scotland, who will showcase their skills and create a menu of signature cocktails for wristband-holders to enjoy in the lounge or underground arched bothy. Tickets for masterclasses and evening sessions will be on sale from September, with the secret location only being revealed to ticket-holders.

There will also be a program of events and parties throughout the week as brands and bars collaborate to host exclusive brand residency evenings across the city. Expect mini masterclasses, vibrant DJ sets, industry experts, free merch and some fancy cocktail flairing as brand ambassadors and local mixologists unite to shake, stir & strain a repertoire of creative cocktails. Tickets for events and parties go on sale in September, priced at £4 each and include a welcome signature serve.

A new ‘Official Bottle Shop’ partnership with Royal Mile Whiskies and Drinkmonger in Bruntsfield, offers wristband-holders exclusive discounts during and after the event – perfect for those looking to buy a bottle of their favourite brand they discovered during Edinburgh Cocktail Week, stock up on gifts for Christmas, or recreate signature cocktails at home. Royal Mile Whiskies are also the official on-trade supplier to participating bars.

And the benefits of an ECW wristband don’t end there: wristband-holders can also enjoy free entry before midnight to top late night venues including Opal Lounge, Shanghai, Lulu, and Edinburgh’s latest edition 4042, plus additional perks on dining, retail and beauty during the event.

Edinburgh Cocktail Week are proud to support Maggie’s Edinburgh as their official 2018 charity partner and hope to raise £2400 - the daily cost for Maggie’s to provide free support to people affected by cancer - by offering attendees the option to donate between £1 and £5 when purchasing wristbands online.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be the beneficiary of this years’ Edinburgh Cocktail Week. All the support Maggie’s offers to people affected by cancer is free and we rely entirely on voluntary donations to both build and run our centres so we really are most grateful for the support from Gary and his team.”

— Andy Anderson - Centre Head at Maggie’s Edinburgh

Wristbands:
On sale now at www.edinburghcocktailweek.co.uk
Weekday (valid Monday – Friday) - £6
Weekend (valid Saturday & Sunday) - £8

Social Media:
Instagram - @edcocktailweek
Facebook - @edinburghcocktailweek
Twitter - @edcocktailweek
Hashtag - #ECW18

Festival Partners:
Edinburgh Gin
Belvedere Vodka
Jameson Whiskey
Ableforth’s Gin
Altos Tequila
Smokehead Whisky
Rock Rose Gin
Wemyss Malts
Darnley’s Gin
Drinkmonger
Royal Mile Whiskies
Purvis Marquees Hire Scotland
3rdparty
Maggie’s Edinburgh

Cocktail Village illustration by Lydia Bourhill Illustration

EDINBURGH CRAFT BEER REVOLUTION FESTIVAL RETURNS!

23RD – 25TH NOVEMBER 2017

Yes, it’s back! Edinburgh’s biggest and best celebration of craft beer returns for November 2017 with more brewers, more street food and, of course, more craft beer!

Rich & Dan, the curators of craft beer brilliance have prepared a fantastic line-up for this year’s festival, featuring some the best brewers from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Europe. The festival will be welcoming some familiar faces from our region and also introducing new breweries from further afield that are producing some delicious beers. As well as the opportunity to sample exclusive beers not available anywhere apart from the festival, there’ll be tasty snacks from top street-food vendors and a great roster of DJs and live music.

The venue for this craft beer congregation is the awesome Assembly Roxy, which can be found just off South Bridge, behind Surgeons’ Hall in Old Town Edinburgh. It’s the perfect venue for Edinburgh Craft Beer Revolution Festival with its large main hall, which will be transformed into a Beer Hall showcasing seventeen breweries with over 60 beers on tap at any time, street food stalls and a Cocktail Corner. Elsewhere in the venue there’ll be some very special takeovers in the Upper Theatre and Basement Bar. With local faves such as Alechemy, Fallen Brewing and Pilot rubbing shoulders with international names there is a pale ale, pilsner or porter guaranteed to tickle your tastebuds. Even if you don’t want to enjoy the beers, (which I suppose is possible, but at least give one a try) there will be plenty of epic Thistly Cross ciders, wines from Vino and cocktails available for people who prefer a non-beery tipple.

What would a festival be without food… so to accompany the steady stream of flowing beer there will be a selection of mouthwatering street food, featuring flavours from around the world. What goes well with a beer, well a pie of course, so Jarvis Pickles will be on hand to warm you up from the inside. Awesome Scottish street food vendors Bruadair will be on-site, hopefully with their fabulous Venison Burger. Fancy a curry with your pint, Sharma's Street Food will sort you out. And to finish off, how about something sweet (and gluten free) from Sugar Daddy’s bakery. What a line-up!

So it's back and it’s bigger and better than ever! More brewers, more beers, more awesome street food, more DJs and more awesomeness. Whether you're a seasoned beer drinker or simply want to sample some of the new and exciting drafts being made by the best up-and-coming brewers in the UK: this is the festival for you!

Hopefully you'll have as good a time as this pair!

Head over to the Craft Beer Revolution website - http://www.revolutioncraftbeer.com to buy your tickets, which start at £7.20 for the Friday afternoon session, up to £15.20 for a weekend slot. Please note tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis. All tickets include a souvenir tulip glass, programme. A £2 drinks token is also included except all Friday afternoon tickets. Last year early bird tickets sold out within days of launch and weekend most sessions were completely sold out weeks before the event so buy early to guarantee your spot!

Cheers!!!

If you head over to our Facebook page, you could win a pair of tickets to the Thursday or Friday Afternoon session!

If you had subscribed to our newsletter you'll also have been sent a discount code saving you £2 a ticket, so if you've missed out, sign up! #JustSaying

http://www.revolutioncraftbeer.com

ASSEMBLY ROXY, 2 ROXBURGH PLACE, EDINBURGH, EH8 9SU

@meatsbeatsfest - Meat and Music Festival Hits Edinburgh this Weekend

A new ‘Meats & Beats’ festival, themed around meatylicious street food and music from the past five decades, hits the capital this weekend, 20th – 22nd October.

The event will transform Edinburgh's Assembly Roxy into a carnivores’ paradise, where attendees can feast on a smorgasbord of street food – mainly the sticky, juicy, BBQ’d variety – while getting their grove on to all their favourite tunes from the past five decades.

“Meats & Beats is a mash-up of my two favourite things – great food and great music. The festival is as much about music as it is about the food – so be sure to bring your appetite and your dancing shoes - but most importantly it’s about having a great time with friends. I like to think of it as a street food festival with a ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ soundtrack.

We’re ditching the knives & forks and throwing our table manners out the window, this festival is all about eating with your hands, tearing strips of meat from the bone, and wiping away the BBQ sauce moustache away with the back of your hand, while busting moves on the dance floor.”

— Richard Servranckx - Organiser

Sizzling steaks, sauce-dripping tower burgers, racks of sticky ribs, meat-topped mac 'n' cheese and meat-packed Quesadillas are just some of the dishes festivalgoers can tuck into at feasting tables in the main hall, each perfectly portioned so multiple dishes can be tasted without bursting attendees’ trousers or bank balance. Confirmed street food vendors include The Pitt, Kilted Lobster, The Mac Shack, Bruadair and Wild & Smoky, promising a mouth-watering menu to choose from.

Every hour the bell rings and the musical decade changes, as Disc Jockeys and a live band take festivalgoers on a journey through the pop classics of the 70s, the 80s Disco anthems, dance tunes of the 90s and pop band hits of the noughties, right up to 2017. Playlists are compiled from festivalgoers’ song requests before and during the event and in partnership with The Shack Retro Bar & Club (located on Rose Street) to ensure each session is packed with the biggest party anthems of all time.

Pop-up bars from Stewart Brewing, Fyne Ales, The Cocktail Kitchen, Poco Prosecco, Kitsch Soda and Villeneuve Wines will serve craft beers, cocktails, wines and all natural sodas, while chicken-wing-eating competitions, dance-offs, Music Quizzes and retro TV Game Shows such as Blind Date, Catchphrase and Blankety Blank in the upstairs theatre provide a trip-down-memory-lane entertainment. Visitors are also encouraged to dress in the style of their favourite decade, with a 'Best Dressed' award given out by The Shack Retro Bar & Club during each session.

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options will also be available at the event.

Tickets from £5 are on sale now at www.meatsandbeats.co.uk

Social Media:
Instagram - @meatsbeatsfest
Facebook - @meatsbeatsfest
Twitter - @meatsbeatsfest

Jack sure does throw a good party.

When you are trudging through an industrial estate in the pouring rain on a Wednesday evening, normally this is an indication that somewhere the week has gone horribly wrong.

On this occasion we had endured a journey on a bus and two trains to end up exactly here. For in this little corner of Yorkhill, hidden from view by the railway arches, and watched over by ten foot high street art is the SWG3 Studio Warehouse. A venue contained within a collection of re-purposed industrial buildings, with a blend of brick, rusting steel and polished concrete, a location which perfectly mixes contemporary and history.

But why were we here? Well actually to perfectly mix contemporary and history, or more accurately allow someone to mix them for us… The lovely folk from Jack Daniel’s were hosting “The Meeting Place” a taste of Tennessee, with the Clyde standing in for the Elk River. What ensued was a party that I will remember fondly for some time, because on top of a brilliant DJ and cracking band, the Broken Witt Rebels, there was two of the cities finest street food suppliers, Chompsky and The Buffalo Truck. But the best bit, was the relaxed, friendly vibe, that can only happen when a large number of Jack Daniels’ drinkers get together and enjoy some fine Tennessee whiskey.

Best of all, this was not a “JD & Coke” affair, oh no, this was about exploring some new and interesting ways of serving Jack. Apple Jacks, a simple combination of Jack Daniel’s, fresh apple juice over ice with a slice of apple and a sniff of cinnamon added a fruity zing and a different spicy flavour to the usual mellowness of the whiskey.

The Jack Old Fashioned mixed a large Jack Daniel’s with a few dashes of Angostura and then a healthy slug of honey. The sweetness of the honey takes the punch of the bitters on the chin and hits back with a perfect counterpoint to the smokiness of the Whiskey.

Seems someone at Jack Daniel’s has worked out that the whiskey is a great partner with honey, so much so you can buy it paired up in the bottle. The awesome Tennessee Honey sees a honey liqueur blended with Old No. 7 to create a fantastic combination that is still undoubtedly JD, but different! It formed the basis of our two favourite drinks of the night, Jack Honey and Lemonade, a simple mix of sweet lemonade, a wedge of lemon and a healthy shot of Tennessee Honey was simple but effective.

The Tennessee Touchdown was a standout, Tennessee Honey, some honey and ginger syrup, a squeeze of lemon juice, a dash or two of Angostura and then top the tankard up with lager! Oh wow sweet, sharp, smoky and sour all going on in one glass! I’m going to need to experiment with some of our finest Scottish brewery products to find the perfect brew, but this is definitely worth a try (responsibly of course!!!)

Jack Daniel’s wasn’t kept just to the cocktail bar, no,no,no several bottles seem to have made it out to the caterers, for Chompsky offered up slow roasted pulled pork in a JD BBQ glaze on Mac & Cheese, whilst the Buffalo Truck went with the Tennessee Honey and butter glazed buttermilk fried chicken burgers. I’d like to say we tried both, but that would be a lie (sorry Chompsky). For us it was double chicken and wow, that batter was phenomenal. Best chicken burger ever? potentially! That’s a recipe I also need to be trying out back in the SFR kitchen!

The top discovery of the night? Three actually.

I like rebellious rock and soulful blues, so will probably end up at Stereo on 21st October to see the Broken Witt Rebels again.
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey could possibly edge Old No. 7 as my favourite Tennessee export, wow!
Tennessee Fire makes my eyes water…

So a big thank you to Jack Daniel’s for inviting us along. It’s a brave move bringing a party and Whiskey to Scotland, the land of Scotch and Ceilidh, but you know what, them folk from Tennessee created a near perfect feel-good night out. Slàinte!

Jack Daniel's invited us to their Meeting Place event, but the opinions are very much our own (so there you go...)

Edinburgh Cocktail Weekend Reveals 50 Signature Cocktails for Scotland's Biggest Ever Cocktail Event

Edinburgh Cocktail Weekend has revealed 50 specially designed signature cocktails for their inaugural event, Friday 6th - Sunday 8th October, which wristband-holders can enjoy exclusively for £4 each across the capital's top cocktail bars including Harvey Nichols, Tigerlily, Copper Blossom, Le Monde, The Printing Press and Nightcap.

Cocktail enthusiasts can look forward to a weekend of sipping and socialising their way around the city with a cocktail line-up featuring everything from a Willy Wonka inspired 'Violet Beauregarde' cocktail at The Refinery and a tipsy ice cream milkshake at The Boozy Cow, to an iced coffee cocktail at Eden Locke created by the recently crowned 'World's Best Barista' and a Jammie Dodger flavoured martini at Element.

“After months of secretly collaborating with bars and brands to develop fifty new cocktail recipes, we are delighted to finally reveal them. We are thrilled with the spectrum of flavours that will be available for wristband-holders and we can’t wait to see everyone enjoying these in just four weeks time. It is an absolute pleasure to work with so many local businesses and celebrate the awesome cocktail scene we have here in Edinburgh. It really is a Cocktail Capital!”

— Gary Anderson - Organiser and now legendary Cocktail wrangler.

Since the announcement of Edinburgh Cocktail Weekend, excitement for the event has been building, with over 8000 event responses on Facebook and people travelling from across the UK and as far as Australia to join in. Around 7000 people are expected to take part across the three day event, making ECW Scotland's biggest ever cocktail event.

As well as enjoying £4 cocktails, wristband-holders also have the chance to attend free masterclasses and tastings at the likes of Bar Soba, The Scottish Malt Whisky Society, Malmaison and Rabble. Wristband-holders can also enjoy free entry to Edinburgh's top late night venues plus exclusive access to the Boudoir and Bothy at Brewhemia, and the rooftop SKYbar on the top floor of DoubleTree by Hilton, where they can sip on cocktails and take in stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and the city's skyline - the perfect selfie opportunity.

£6 wristbands (or two for £11) can be purchased at www.edinburghcocktailweekend.com and can then be collected from the Edinburgh Cocktail Weekend Hub at ANTA on George Street along with a free copy of the ECW Guide. Then it’s time sip, sample and socialise your way around #ECW17!

Instagram - @edcocktailwknd
Facebook - @edinburghcocktailwknd
Twitter - @edcocktailwknd
Hashtag - #ECW17

A Scottish Drinks festival, in Glasgow? That'll never catch on, surely...

We are delighted to let you know about the first ever Scottish Drinks Festival!

On Saturday, August 5th and Sunday, August 6th their will be a celebration of drinks, sampling, food, music and Scottish culture. Under the spectacular roof of The Briggait, one of Glasgow’s most iconic buildings, situated on the bank of the River Clyde there will be held an authentic and credible Scottish drink tasting experience. 2000 people will flock to the Scottish Drinks Festival over four sessions to get a taste of this truly intimate experience.

Scotland has a remarkable worldwide reputation for producing world class drinks from whisky to gin to craft ale and more recently rum and fruit wines. The evolution and tales of the drinks industry are woven into the fabric of Scottish history. The festival will allow you to taste these tipples and hear these stories.

Over 150 different types of drinks will be available to sample including Makar Glasgow Gin, Strathearn, Deanston, Bunnahabhain, Old J Rums & cocktails, Fallen Beer, Elephant Gin, Fraiser of Scotland, Savanha cider, Poleta wine, Shetland Reel and One Gin.

A great many experts will be on hand to let you sample the drinks and learn more about their specialty gin, whisky, rum or other tipple treats. Scotland’s latest, greatest and most exciting drinks brands will serve taster size signature samples and The Scottish Gantry, a new local specialist wine and spirits retailer will be the bottle retailer on the day should you want to grab a bottle to take home with you.

“We’re thrilled at last to announce this enriched festival experience. The first ever Scottish Drinks Festival will certainly live up to our nation’s global reputation within in the drinks industry. we will showcase an authentic and credible Scottish drink tasting experience in an unexpected, memorable way.

The old Glasgow Fish Market, a grade A listed building round the corner from Glasgow Green really is the ideal location to host such an exhibition. The whole team have worked tirelessly to ensure all our visitors get a real flavour of Scotland!”

— Jack Breslin - Festival Director

The festival will also feature fresh culinary delights from some of the city’s best pop up street food specialists. From the good eating and the familiar, with Scottish twists and beyond. There will also be an option for those with a sweet tooth or a passion for a palletizer. Bold new flavours and innovative combinations will enrich your afternoon’s drink sampling whilst tantalising your taste buds. But the entertainment doesn't stop there as each tasting session will be accompanied by live music from some local acoustic artists.

To find out more info and for tickets for both sessions have a look at http://www.scottishdrinksfestival.com/

Foodies Festival Edinburgh Returns to Inverleith Park with a Feast of Culinary Delights and Foodie Fun 5th to 7th August

Scotland's Michelin-star and top chefs cooking live in the Chefs Theatre
Focus on Brazilian street food on the Street Food Avenue for the Olympics
More award-winning producers than ever before
Champagne, wine and whisky masterclasses
Burlesque Baker Charlotte White in the Cake & Bake Theatre
New Bug-Eating Challenge and the famous Chilli-Eating Competition
New 1920s themed VIP Tent with grand piano and Mirror Bar sponsored by Simpson & Marwick
Local bands competing to win the Unsigned Music Awards
Giant Pimm's Teapot and Mojito Ship return

After a record breaking 10th anniversary festival last year, which welcomed over 38,000 visitors, Foodies Festival enters its second decade as the UK's biggest celebration of food and drink with a tantalising menu of new culinary features, top chefs from across Scotland and a line-up of foodie fun that promises a great day out 5th - 7th August.

Aga Rangemaster Chefs Theatre

Scotland's culinary masters will showcase their skills and share insight into this year's food trends while answering questions from the audience. Chefs confirmed include:

Jacqueline O'Donnell - The Sisters and Great British Menu regional champion
Marcello Tully - Kinloch Lodge (Michelin-starred)
Brian Grigor - Number One at The Balmoral (Michelin-starred)
Stuart Muir - DINE
Mark Greenaway - Restaurant Mark Greenaway
Jamie Scott - The Newport and MasterChef: The Professionals winner
Colin Fleming - The Printing Press
Gordon Craig - The Field
Fraser Smith - Angels with Bagpipes
Fraser Allen - The Pompadour
Graeme Pallister - 63 Tay Street
Paul Wedgwood - Wedgwood's
Neil Forbes - Cafe St Honore
Stuart Ralston - Aizle
Edward Murray - Gardiners Cottage
Gillian, Nichola & Linsey - Three Sisters Bake
Tony Rodd - MasterChef Finalist 2015
Kaori Simpson - Harajuku Kitchen
Kim Kaewkraikhot - Chaophraya
Ian Pirrie - Edinburgh School of Food & Win

Drinks Theatre
Champagne enthusiasts can relax in the Drinks Theatre with 'The Fascinating Story of Champagne Canard-Duchêne and Pinot Noir' masterclasses presented by writer Brian Elliot or learn how to match wine with seasonal ingredients with TV wine expert Charles Metcalfe.

Tutorials in craft beer are also available with beer critic Melissa Cole, and for those who enjoy Whisky, R&B Distillers host whisky tastings - perfect for both whisky novices and connoisseurs.

Street Food Avenue
A feast of international flavours and delicacies are served on the Street Food Avenue. Japanese, Thai, Malaysian, Argentinian, Turkish, Indian, Korean, Mexican, French and African are just some of the cuisines on offer and can be enjoyed in the every growing Feasting Tent, ensuring hunger is banished and tummies are full.

There’s a special focus on Brazilian street food this year to celebrate the Olympic host’s cuisine, including traditional Brazilian BBQ and Rio’s favourite dish Feijoada made from black beans, salted pork, trimmings, smoked sausage and jerk beef, which is cooked in a traditional clay pot. Brazil’s national cocktail Caipirinha, a mix of lime, sugar and Cachaça (made from sugarcane juice with an ABV of 48%), and Brazilian coffees will be available.

Artisan Producers Market
This year there are more award-winning producers at Foodies Festival than ever before with a glittering array of Great Taste Award winners available to shop and sample from, each being hailed as a producer of ‘Exquisite, Outstanding and Simply Delicious’ food and drink – a fantastic opportunity for visitors to meet artisan producers from the local area and across the country, learn their story and stock up on award winning produce.

New Vintage Tea Room and Cake, Bake & Tasting Theatre
A beautifully decorated new Vintage Tea Room offers visitors Afternoon Tea with a selection of cakes, scones with clotted cream and jam, and finger sandwiches served on china from a tea trolley by vintage styled tea ladies and gentlemen.

Baking extraordinaire Charlotte White, master chocolatier Fiona Sciolti and top local cake-makers work their baking wizardry on the Cake & Bake stage, inspiring visitors to reach for their whips and spatulas at home and create show-stopping cakes and delicious summer bakes. A neighbouring Chocolate, Cake and Bake Village sells freshly baked breads, sponges, tarts, jellies and trifles to enjoy with a bubble tea or fresh juice.

Into the Jungle
Festival goers can munch their way into the depths of the jungle this summer with a trip to the Vietnamese Street Food stand, where those with a taste for the exotic can indulge in insects, including grasshoppers, caterpillars, mealworms, beetles, scorpions, locus and ants.

For those brave enough, there’s a daily Bush Tucker Trial on the Challenge Stage, where visitors compete against one another by eating jungle insects, from small ants to large juicy grubs, with the contestant eating the biggest and the most being crowned champion.

Childrens Cookery School
The Olympic theme continues into the Childrens Cookery School, where little foodies can decorate their very own gold medal with coloured icing, glitter and edible ribbon. Pizza and cupcake making classes also allow kids to explore their taste buds and learn basic cookery skills to practice at home.

Chilli-Eating Challenge
The famous Chilli-Eating Challenge continues in 2016, inviting fans of spice to beat an eye-watering 16 million scoville record set by Shahina Waseem last year. Participants start at the low end of the chilli spectrum by eating bell peppers, but things quickly get a lot hotter with Habanero, Scotch and Carolina Reaper (world's hottest chilli) chillies being added to the menu. Those still standing are then inflicted to pure chilli extract, increasing in strength, until a winner is crowned.

New Deco Noir VIP Tent
This year's 1920s themed Deco Noir VIP tent offers those looking to relax in style at Foodies Festival a decadently decorated VIP Tent sponsored by Simpson & Marwick Property. VIPs can enjoy a red carpet reception with a welcome glass of bubbly and goody bag, and take advantage of priority entry to food and drink masterclasses between relaxing in the VIP Tent with private Mirror Bar, live jazz music and refreshments throughout the day.

Live Music and Pop-Up Bars
After a day of feasting and fun, visitors can picnic on the grass with friends and soak in the atmosphere with live music from award-winning local bands at the Unsigned Music Awards Stage and a glass of bubbly or refreshing cocktail from the Giant Pimm's Teapot or Mojito Ship.

Ticket prices:

Friday adult ticket £10.00/£8.00 concession
Saturday/Sunday adult ticket £14.00/£11.00 concession
Three day adult ticket £20.00/£16.00 concession

VIP day ticket £38.00/£35.00 Friday - includes a glass of bubbly with red carpet welcome, use of the decadent Deco Noir VIP Lounge and Mirror Bar, refreshments throughout the day, priority entry to food and drink masterclasses, show guide, and goody bag to take home.

Children aged 12 and under go free to all Foodies Festivals when accompanied by an adult.

Open times:

5th August - 11am - 7pm
6th August - 10am - 8pm
7th August - 10am - 7pm

Social Media:

Facebook - @foodiesfestival
Twitter - @foodiesfestival
Instagram - @foodiesfestival