i-on magazine | April 2019

WIN A VIP RACE EXPERIENCE Join the style set at Stobo Castle Ladies Day ECO DESIGNS Embrace sustainability at home BRILLIANT BEIGE The colour to wear this season

EDINBURGH | GL A SGOW

TAKE A HIKE

Walk your way to happiness this spring

Issue 159 / April 2019

CONTENTS

CONTEMPORARY_SCOTLAND

DIAMONDS . WATCHES . JEWELLERY

ECO DESIGNS Embrace sustainability at home BRILLIANT BEIGE The colour to wear this season

I-ON • SPRING EDITION

in this mon th’s issue…

WIN A VIP RACE EXPERIENCE Join the style set at Stobo Castle Ladies Day

EDINBURGH | GL A SGOW

REGULARS

laingsuk.com

ion template.indd 1

Amanda Southey, Business Development Manager

This month Amanda’s all about…

1

ON THE COVER

TAKE A HIKE

APRIL 2019 • ISSUE #159

10 What’s on in Edinburgh and Glasgow 61 i-on Food and Drink: tables with a view 66 Insta-insider: Edinburgh-based photographer Susie Lowe

Walk your way to happiness this spring

06/03/2019 11:44:51

Cover image: grenson.com

08 Win a VIP experience at Stobo Castle Ladies Day 26 Take a hike: The pubs worth a walk 44 Eco Designs: Making the right choices for your interiors 52 Going Dutch: Discovering the cultured side of Amsterdam

AND THE REST

34 Fashion: Chocolate, toffee and butterscotch shades 54 Beauty Notes: Must-try products and treatments 58 Music: Scottish folk singer James Sutherland on going solo

THE CUTEST CAFE “I’ve heard great things about Glasgow’s Kawaii-inspired Okashi Café and I can’t wait to try their pretty pastel crepe cakes.” Follow on Instagram @okashicafe

2

3

LAUGHING OUT LOUD “Inspired by her hugely popular and hilarious podcast, Elizabeth Day – How to Fail is top of my reading list.”

HOME COMFORTS “I’m going home to Elie for Easter so will be propping up the bar (again) at my favourite local, The Ship Inn.” shipinn.scot

Directors Laura Wood, Jo Morris Design Pepe Lebron, Sam Hinks Editor Nicky Howden Features Editor Carrie Mitchell Digital Content Editor, Holly Tracey Account Director Amy Falconer Business Development Manager Amanda Southey Head of Photography Susie Lowe Photographers Anna Isolla Crolla, Jess Shurte, Cat Thomson Contributors David Pollock, Emily Smoor, Andreia V Afonso Published by Treacle Productions Ltd, @The Basement, 29-35b Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH3 5BA, Email info@ionmagazine.co.uk, ionmagazine.co.uk, ionmembersclub.com All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All prices correct at time of going to press but are subject to change. i-on magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The views and opinions by contributors in this magazine may not represent the views of the publishers. i-on magazine takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisements in this publication. i-on is a trademark of Treacle Productions. ©Treacle Productions Ltd 2018.

ionedinburgh

4

ion_magazine

ion_magazine

ion_magazine

i_online

WE CAN’T WAIT TO…

…staycation in Scotland. Here are six great reasons why we’re heading south this summer, without a border in sight. visitscotland.com/seesouthscotland …glamp out to the max “If yurts and wigwams are your thing, sleeping beneath the stars doesn’t get more appealing than in this neck of the woods. There are individually styled sea view snugs to choose from at GG’s Yard overlooking the beautiful Solway Firth (ggsyard.co.uk). Tents make way for canvas cabins with private bathrooms and log burning stoves at Paxton House in the Borders (glampotelpaxtonhouse.com). And for a night of romance, the eco-friendly treetop retreat at Brockloch in Dumfries & Galloway (brockloch.co.uk) is a winner, as are the gorgeous roulotte caravans at Roulotte Retreat near Melrose. So instaworthy too.” Visit visitscotland.com/ seesouthscotlandglamping for more amazing accommodation ideas.”

Amy Falconer, account director

1

2 …go down to the woods to play “The forests and woodlands around south Scotland are like a big adventure playground for the whole family. This year, we’ll be swinging from the tree tops at Go Ape near Peebles and, now that our son has a pretty good handle on cycling, we’ll be heading to Glentress, part of the 7stanes mountain bike trails, for some off-road fun. No need to be an absolute expert to enjoy. There’s also the rather excellent Laggan Outdoor centre. I’m building up to the exhilarating zip wire ride but will stick to Segway tours and grass sledging in the meantime.” Jo Morris, sales director

6

SPONSORED FEATURE

3

…check out a new festival “I’d never associated south Scotland as festival territory but it’s been home to the fab family friendly Electric Fields Festival since 2016. This year’s (04-06 July) offers a great mix of indie music, comedy, cabaret and entertainment for the kids. The boutique Eden Festival, near Dumfries (06-09 June) is great for all the clan too and kickstarts summer with a good douse of energy. There are literary festivals for the bookworms in Melrose (Borders Book Festival, 13-16 June) with the established Wigtown Book Festival closing the summer from 27 September to 06 October. My virtuous self quite likes the idea of the walking festivals too – my mum would be proud!” Holly Tracey, digital content editor

5 4 …wish upon a star “There are few things more mind-blowing than a starry sky at night. And, if you agree, you’ll be hot footing it to Galloway Forest Park for a night of stargazing. It’s the UK’s first Dark Sky Park, part of a UNESCO Biosphere, and the place to be for an uninterrupted look at 7,000 shining stars and the Milky Way. No telescope required. Just pure awesomeness.” Laura Wood, content director

6

…tour hidden gem distilleries “My hubby’s in the drinks industry so a wee distillery tour is always likely if there’s one available. No complaints from me; very happy to oblige in a tasting session. The Galloway Gin Escape at Crafty Distillery, home to the awardwinning Hills and Harbour Gin, goes a step further and takes you on a tour of the hills and coastline to forage botanicals before heading back to base for a cocktail masterclass. Born in the Borders near Jedburgh offers the chance to learn more about Lilliard small batch craft gin, the craft beers made in the nearby brewery, and more loveliness produced in the area.”

Nicky Howden, editor

…walk the most glorious coastlines “I love feeling energised from a good coastal walk and they’ve got them in spades here. Bliss out and breathe in the air at St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve on the Berwickshire coast or the Mull of Galloway in the south west, both known for their outstanding beauty and wide-open spaces. Or break it down into chunk size pieces with one of the five Solway coast walks – simply stunning.”

Carrie Mitchell, features editor

7

WIN A VIP DAY OUT AT STOBO CASTLE LADIES DAY

S

tart shopping around for a millinery masterpiece as Stobo Castle Ladies Day returns to Musselburgh Racecourse on 01 June. As Scotland’s largest and most prestigious five-star racing day, it’s an annual sell-out event famed for top class horse racing and as one of the biggest fashion extravaganzas on the Scottish social scene. There will be live music throughout the day, an appearance from celebrity DJ Edith Bowman, who takes to the decks for the after party, and a host of top names in Scottish style will be on the hunt for 2019’s King and Queen of Style. Could it be you?

General admission tickets cost £50. For more information on available packages and to book, visit musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk or call 0131 665 2859.

THE PRIZE i-on has teamed up with Musselburgh Racecourse to offer one reader plus three guests a VIP Picnic Pavilion experience with gourmet picnic and Prosecco by Heritage Portfolio.

Alongside admission and a race programme, this experience includes a reserved table for the day in the Picnic Pavilion marquee which has a dedicated bar, betting facilities, private washrooms, and great views of all the racecourse action.

TO ENTER For a chance to win, visit ionmagazine.co.uk by noon on 22 April and leave your details. The winner will be notified by email and announced in the May edition of i-on.

Terms and conditions: tickets are non-refundable, no cash value and only valid on 01 June 2019. Over 18s only.

Congrats to last month’s winner, Janice Johnson, who won a luxury overnight stay at Hotel du Vin Edinburgh.

For more exclusive prizes, subscribe to the i-on newsletter at ionmagazine.co.uk

8

9

EDINBURGH_lifestyle

THREE NEW KIDS

ON THE BLOCK

1

2 2. THE PUB For jugs of beer, pizza and banging tunes head over to The High Dive on 81 St Leonard’s Street. The neighbourhood pizza pub is the newest addition to the Civerinos family and perfect for a night out or laidback dinner with friends. Rumour has it their breakfasts are pretty decent too. civerinosthehighdive.com

1. THE RESTAURANT Welcoming diners from 17 April, Grazing by Mark Greenaway at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian is destined to be one of the hottest tables in town. Expect a menu showcasing a mix of traditional, modern and sharing plates with highlights including Mark’s BBQ shiitake mushrooms on toast, a playful cured meat and choux pastry picnic box and hearty shepherd’s pie.

For updates, follow on Instagram or Facebook.

3. THE SHOP Dreamy mail-order clothing company Toast has opened its first standalone store in Stockbridge. Find the new spring collection, beautiful, quality womenswear and stylish homeware at 4 North West Circus Place. toa.st/uk

10

3

lifestyle_EDINBURGH

THE MUSIC DOC FILM FEST

From jazz giants to ‘70s punk heroines, Doc’n Roll Scotland makes its debut at the Cameo from 25-28 April, promising to entertain music lovers and documentary aficionados alike with Scottish-debut screenings and Q&As with directors, artists and music experts. Tickets are on sale at docnrollfestival.com.

HOT TICKET

It’s looking like a stellar line-up for this year’s Edinburgh Summer Sessions at Princes Street Gardens. Man of the moment Lewis Capaldi (pictured) headlines on 14 August, joining Florence + the Machine, CHVRCHES, James, Courteeners, Madness, Primal Scream and We Were Promised Jetpacks. Bag your tickets before it’s sold out smmrsessions.com.

CRAFTY KIDS

If you’re dreading the craft explosion this Easter, let them unleash their creativity with glitter, paint and cute animal accessories at the egg painting workshops at Restoration Yard on 19 and 20 April, 10-11.30am. All the fun and none of the mess. £15 per child at restorationyard.com.

DON’T MISS…

The Detox Health Beauty Festival at Archerfield Walled Garden on Saturday 11 May. A feel-good festival to nourish the mind and soul, they’re welcoming back some amazing contributors from last year and expanding with some fantastic new additions. Think fitness zones from Lululemon and Amanda Hamilton Pilates, treatments from Neal’s Yard Edinburgh and The Relax Lab, a plant based food zone, detox health beauty talks tent and lifestyle zone featuring Harvey Nichols, Fletcher’s Cottage Spa and Belinda Robertson, to name a few. Tickets are £35 at archerfieldwalledgarden.com.

11

EDINBURGH_lifestyle

5 MINUTES WITH… HATTI PATTISSON

A RIGHT GOOD BELLY LAUGH

Catch award-winning comedian and poet Rob Auton at the Stand on 14 April when he brings his Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit, The Talk Show, back to the capital for one night only. Tickets are £12 at ents24.com

We grabbed a quick chat with the Scottish artist ahead of her solo exhibition this month Tell us about your latest exhibition… it’s a mostly abstract collection exploring themes of the sea, light, dreams and the weather. I’ve been working on it since the end of last year and I’m really excited about people coming to see it in my studio gallery in Leith.

What sparked your interest in art? It was clear I was going to pursue art from an early age. I spent so much of my free time painting as it was a space I could express myself.

Where did you train? I did a Foundation at Central Saint Martins in London and a textile degree at Duncan of Jordanstone in Dundee.

Your biggest accomplishment? Having a career which feeds your soul is very rare so I’m very grateful to follow my passion and be a full time artist.

Where is your hidden gem in Edinburgh? I love the river walk to the Modern Art Gallery. It’s a great stroll for letting the mind drift.

Hatti Pattisson’s exhibition runs from 12 -17 April at The Blue Drill Hall, 32-36 Dalmeny St, EH6 8RG. hattipattisson.com

12

FIGHTING FIT

Gritty, ‘bad-ass’, fitness outfit, CaveFit opens its second gym in the former bank vaults of The Edinburgh Grand this summer. Founded by personal trainer and former Royal Marine Commando, Peter Oakden, expect tough workouts, high intensity fitness programmes, a boxing ring and the latest strength and performance equipment. cave-fit.com

Cheese, charcuterie and wine at Bar à Vin

I-ON EVENTS TICKETS ON SALE NOW

L

ooking for something to do this month? On Wednesday 24 April, we’re getting together at Bar à Vin (downstairs from the fab French restaurant l’Escargot Blanc) to enjoy a two-hour tasting event and a journey of discovery into some great artisan products by French and Scottish producers.

Scottish charcuterie, anyone? There may even be some cheese from renowned French suppliers Hervé Mons on the menu. This is one you’ll want to do with your fellow lovers of France’s finest so gather your gang for a chilled yet informative evening of wine, cheese, charcuterie and good banter.

WHEN: 6-8pm, Wednesday 24 April.

WHERE: Bar à Vin, 17a Queensferry St, EH2 4QW. TICKET PRICE: £14.99 per person, including booking fee.

WHAT’S INCLUDED: Three glasses of wine per person and a platter of charcuterie, cheese and other artisan delights.

HOW TO BOOK: To buy tickets, visit ion.ticketbud.com. Spaces are limited so early booking is advised.

13

EDINBURGH_lifestyle

Happily Ever After…

S

et in an idyllic country estate on the banks or the River Esk near Edinburgh, Melville Castle is a unique and enchanting location for saying ‘I do’.

The opulent State Rooms provide the perfect setting for arrival drinks, canapés and Champagne receptions. You can enjoy the wedding breakfast, created by the inhouse chefs, in the excellent viscount dining room or the marquee then dance into the evening before sinking into the sumptuous comfort of the beautifully furnished rooms and suites.

Outstanding hospitality, unsurpassed attention to detail and a specialist wedding team catering to your every need, combined with fabulous food in a spectacular setting make Melville Castle the only venue to consider for your wedding.

To find out if Melville Castle could be The One for you or to arrange a visit, contact the Wedding & Events Team.

Tel: 0131 6540088 or events@melvillecastle.com

Home, Workplace, Garden, Bar, Café, Restaurant…

Suitable for everywhere.

30b Ben Nevis Estate, Fort William PH33 6PR | www.danishurbanfurniture.co.uk | sales@danishurbanfurniture.

14

PAPER TIGER CELEBRATES STATIONERY WEEK WITH A WEEK OF ONE-OFF EVENTS Paper Tiger on Stafford Street and Lothian Road already showcase a hand-picked selection of stationery from around the world and from local designers. During Stationery Week, from 29 April until 05 May, they are hosting a string of events that stationery lovers will adore.

There’s a variety of events and workshops going on. Check out the one-off calligraphy event by Edinburgh’s Busy B studio, featuring Laila Lettering on 03 May, and MT Washi Tape workshops with illustrator Katie Chappell on 05 May, and free foiling for your Moleskine. Get the dates in your beautiful monogrammed diary now.

THREE STATIONERY BRANDS YOU’LL LOVE… Washi Tape Range

by MT Washi Tokyo, from £2.99. Makes gift wrapping that little bit more special.

Fresh organic fruit & vegetables without plastic packaging

Available to buy now from your local Real Foods shop Busy Life A5 Navy Notebook

by Busy B Edinburgh, £14.99.

Full of tear out sheets and pockets of ‘stuff’ to keep you on track.

Flat Lay Navy Notebook by Notem Studio Copenhagen, £14.99. With dotted pages for sketching and doodling.

37 Broughton Street & 8 Brougham Street 6a Stafford St and 53 Lothian Rd. For more information visit papertiger.co.uk/stationery-week or follow on Instagram @shoppapertiger

organic

•

plant based

•

vegetarian

•

vegan

www.realfoods.co.uk

15

EDINBURGH_lifestyle

SCIENCE MATTERS

Edinburgh Science Festival returns to the capital from 06 – 21 April. Here, festival and creative director Amanda Tyndall picks three must-visits, all of which take a playful look at our responsibility to planet Earth.

1. BUILD AND BREAK

talking ABOUT

COCKTAILS IN THE CITY The questions you want to ask, answered Cocktails in the City? Isn’t that the big cocktail event at The Hub? Yep, that’s right. It’s like one big party under one roof, with the city’s best mixologists competing to be crowned best cocktail bar. This year, it takes place on Friday 03 and Saturday 04 May. Sounds exciting. Do I get to sample the goods? Yes, you’ll want to leave the car at home as there’s plenty to sample and they’re all new, signature cocktails, created especially for the event by some of the city’s best bars.

Anything else going on? There’s also the chance to sample handpicked craft spirits at the Tasting Rooms and all the latest cocktail trends in the new Future Trends Lounge. You can also expect live music from Fingers Piano Bar, a street food market featuring Edinburgh’s finest vendors and a special celebration to mark 100 years of the negroni.

I’m in. How much is it? The £12.50 ticket cost includes entry, one cocktail and a cocktail booklet. All cocktails on the evening are £6.50 from any of the exhibiting bars.

For tickets and more information, visit cocktailsinthecity.com.

With a big block Imagination Playground and an E-waste Tinker Station that let imaginations run wild, Build and Break is a free interactive exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland delivering lots of hands-on fun and raising important questions about our consumerist society and thirst for the latest hot new devices.

2. A HUMAN TOUCH

This large-scale, open-air photography exhibition at the Scottish Parliament is beautiful and thought-provoking featuring an amazing collection of images from around the world. It shines light on the effects our hunger for resources has had on the planet as well as some of the inventive steps being taken to minimise harm for future generations.

Runs until 08 May.

3. THE PLEASANCE

A new venue for the science fest, the Pleasance hosts 10-days of workshops and performances from 01-14 April. For families, there’s the new Science in the Spotlight theatre commission Melody and Sam: Record Breakers, while adults can look forward to great nights out with science-inspired laughs from Robin Ince and tales of adventure from Benedict Allen (pictured right).

For full listings and events, visit sciencefestival.co.uk.

16

lifestyle_EDINBURGH

1.

1. Robert Mapplethorpe - Self portrait, 1980 2. Chick Chalmers - Woman at a phone kiosk, 1980 3. A Human Connection

3.

2.

MUST-SEE ART EXHIBITIONS

S

ee the candid images of Edinburgh born Chick Chalmers at Gallery TEN. Renowned for his documentary photography, he spent over nine months travelling the USA in an ancient VW camper van during the ‘80s and returned to Edinburgh with a remarkable body of work. An American Roadtrip is a very small yet poignant snapshot of those images, made available for the very first time since he passed away in 1998. Runs until 09 May at Gallery TEN, 5 William Street. galleryten.co.uk Another on the hit list should be Artist Rooms: Self Evidence – Photographs by Woodman, Arbus and Mapplethorpe. It celebrates the work of three of the twentieth century’s most influential photographers and will be at the National Portrait Gallery from 06 April to 20 October showcasing Francesca Woodman’s experimental images, Diane Arbus’ raw, documentary style and the controversial self-portraits of Robert Mapplethorpe.

For contemporary arts, head down to Leith for A Human Connection, an immersive exhibition by Bright Side Studios and Studio Tech. It looks at the interaction between the human body and cutting edge lighting, projection mapping and kinetic technology. Runs until 21 April at Custom Lane by the Shore.

17

EDINBURGH_lifestyle

EDINBURGH IS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL. I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A CITY THAT CAN COMPARE”

Cleo Robertson’s

Edinburgh

Where’s the city’s most vibrant area? Leith. It is full of young, creative people and has an abundance of restaurants and bars with a great vibe.

What brought you to the city?

I moved to Edinburgh from Fife five years ago to share a flat with my sister. I always wanted to live in a city so it was the perfect opportunity to give it a go. I don’t think I could ever leave now.

Edinburgh’s best bits

Any new projects in the pipeline? I am lucky to work alongside a really creative team and we’re constantly brainstorming for new projects involving photo shoots, fashion shows, hair seminars and shows.

18

Where do you go for a quick escape? The Water of Leith Walkway is great when you need to gather your thoughts and clear your head.

Is there anywhere you think deserves a shout out? Everyone that works for or helps to support Social Bite deserves a big shout out. What an amazing thing to do to help end homelessness. Major respect.

What’s the city’s best kept secret?

The breakfast at Dishoom is the best I have ever had.

Which part of the city do you call home?

I recently moved to Broughton which has a really relaxed and friendly vibe, and it’s perfectly placed to walk everywhere I like to go – Stockbridge, Leith and my work on York Place.

What do your days here look like? I get up around 6.30am, have a smoothie, do a 30 minute workout then grab a coffee before heading into work to start a busy day in the salon. If I am lucky, my boyfriend who is a good cook will have prepared dinner for us when I get home.

Photography by Zac & Zac

The creative director at Cheynes Hairdressing on city living, loving Leith and the best breakfast in town

Date The Educated Flea Night out clubbing 99 Hanover Street Dinner with pals Civerinos Coffee Urban Angel Posh nosh Leith Chop House Cocktails Black Ivy Fish & Chips The Fish Market

Leith

19

GLASGOW_lifestyle

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN BAG TICKETS TO SEE THESE HANDSOME CHAPS WHILE YOU STILL CAN… KIEFER SUTHERLAND

The Hollywood bad boy showcases his musical side to celebrate the release of his second album Reckless & Me, encompassing folk, rock, blues and a beating heart of country music. This stripped-back acoustic show will see him share the stories behind the songs and give fans the opportunity to ask questions about his music, life and acting career. 07 April, Cottiers; kiefer-sutherland.tmstor.es

EAGLE EYE CHERRY

The Swedish singer-songwriter - best known for global hit Save Tonight (and being Neneh’s little brother) - is returning to the country for the first time in over 20 years. Expect all the old hits and a bunch of new ones from his latest album Streets of You, a fantastic collection of country-tinged pop songs. 02 June, The Garage. tickets-scotland.com

NICK KNOWLES

The I’m a Celeb star and DIY SOS presenter will join the line-up of celebrity ambassadors for this year’s Ideal Home Show Scotland.

Visitors will have the chance to hear first-hand advice from some of the best loved homes and interiors experts with Kunle Barker and David Domoney joining Nick on the Super Theatre stage. 24 – 27 May, SEC Glasgow; idealhomeshowscotland.co.uk

20

FROM DENMARK. TO THE WORLD.

OUR INTERIOR DESIGNERS. YOUR PERSONALITY. Interior design should be personal, engaging and reflect who you are.

BoConcept have developed a free design service where our specially trained interior designers help you discover your own style.

Get inspired in our Scottish showrooms and discuss your perfect solution.

DANISH DESIGN SINCE 1952 | BOCONCEPT.COM BUCHANAN GALLERIES, GLASGOW. 0141 341 4920 PRINCES SQUARE, GLASGOW. 0141 341 4920 ROSE STREET, EDINBURGH. 0131 226 6367

GLASGOW_lifestyle

TICKETS PLEASE! MOVIE MADNESS

If you thought Orange Wednesdays were good, wait till you hear this… tickets at Vue Glasgow Fort now cost just £5.49 all day, every day; and even less if you book online at myvue.com where they are available at a measly £4.99. That gives us the perfect excuse to go and see Tim Burton’s Dumbo when the April showers strike. What? This one’s not just for kids.

We loved Paula Hawkins’ original novel and the movie starring Emily Blunt so we’ll definitely be after tickets to the touring theatre production of Girl on The Train when it makes a stop at the Theatre Royal from 15 to 20 April.

Starring Samantha Womack of Eastenders and Game On fame; the play is a gripping thriller about a lonely woman who finds herself caught up in a murder mystery.

Book now at atgtickets.com.

CRES CENT BAR

LE PETIT

CO CHON

G E RMA N D O N E R K E B A B

22

STREETFEAST Get ready to taste some of the best street food in Scotland as Paisley Food and Drink Festival teams up with PLATFORM, the independent street food market who usually reside in the Argyle Street Arches.

PLATFORM on Tour will bring 10 of the country’s finest traders – including British Street Food Awards finalist Ginger and Chilli, Winners of the Scottish Street Food People’s Choice Award 2017 Shrimpwreck and delicious desserts from Crema Caravan. There will also be giant Kata tee-pee tents, DJs, a range of Innis & Gunn craft Arch Brews, and cocktails made with some of Scotland’s finest craft spirits. The festival takes place in Paisley town centre on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 April.

For more info, visit paisley.is.

Designer brands from £199 FREE ALTERATIONS

Jamestown

Stuart Martin’s

Glasgow The Medici and Jamestown actor on brilliant banter, working with a hero and his student days in the city

What brought you to the city? I moved up to Glasgow from Ayr when I was 17 to study acting, first at Langside College then The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Being released upon Glasgow as a teenager is about the best thing you could ever wish for - I drank far too much and had some great times.

What are your earliest memories of Glasgow?

I grew up in Alloway, just a stone’s throw from Robert Burns’ house, and always loved coming up to the city on the train. My mum and dad would bring us up for dinner at Sartis on Bath Street then take us to see a show. It’s where I fell in love with the theatre. Glasgow theatres in particular are soaked in so much history. Some of the best shows I’ve ever seen have come out of Scotland.

Do you miss Scotland now you live down South?

Of course, but I’m lucky to have a good bunch of lads from up the road down there that I see all the time. They remind me of home. I live in Stratford in East London now and it’s a brilliant place to bring up a family.

My wife, Lisa, is an actor too and we can both be away for work a lot so time together at home is a gift.

24

lifestyle_GLASGOW

Glasgow’s best bits

GLASGOW THEATRES ARE SOAKED IN SO MUCH HISTORY” Do you get to visit Glasgow often? I was just up there doing the film version of Alan Warner’s book The Sopranos which is being directed by the brilliant Scottish director Michael Caton Jones. Michael was a bit of a hero of mine as a kid - Rob Roy was and still is one of my favourite films - so to get to work with him and spend a bit of time getting to know him was amazing.

Date Finnieston Night out clubbing The Buff Club Pamper Glasgow City Massage Posh nosh Ubiquitous Chip Burgers Nice N Sleazy Pizza Love Bloc Fish and Chips The Anchor Bar

Best thing about the city? The people. You can start chatting to anyone, anywhere waiting at the bus stop or standing at the bar.

Everyone is so friendly.

Anywhere that deserves a shout out? Last time I was up, I stayed on Byres Road and discovered Hillhead Bookclub. It’s a very cool little spot with great food and I ended up eating there almost every night.

Where’s the city’s most vibrant area? I’ve always loved Merchant City and the Trongate.

It’s a bit classy but also still a bit rough around the edges.

Sum up the city in three words: Pure brilliant people.

Jamestown series three starts on 26 April at 9pm on Sky One and NOW TV

West George Street, Merchant City

Hillhead BookClub

25

WORTH THE HIKE

FANCY ESCAPING THE CITY FOR A FEW HOURS? WE’VE FOUND THE PERFECT COUNTRY PUBS WITH NEARBY WALKING ROUTES – SO YOU NEEDN’T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THAT EXTRA SIDE OF FRIES

26

FEATURES

THE PUB LUNCH Carrie Mitchell visits the The Bridge Inn, Ratho

O

verlooking the Union Canal in pretty Ratho, The Bridge Inn is a cute community pub with an appeal stretching far beyond the village. When we arrive on a sunny spring Saturday, the cosy bar is packed with locals watching the rugby and the dining room is bustling with only a couple of tables to spare. It’s too chilly to brave the balcony looking onto the canal so we take a pew by the window instead and set about the serious business of choosing lunch.

While the usual pub favourites - fish and chips, pie of the day or a burger - are all tempting, we opt for some of the more sophisticated options instead. Starters of salt baked beetroot with beetroot carpaccio, pear, goats cheese, and ginger sponge, £6.85, and seared scallop, with charred spring onion, leek puree, onion broth, £9.50, both look and taste like something you’d get in a Michelin star restaurant not a village pub. And the mains stack up well too. The braised short ribs with bovril roast carrot, charred and caramelised onions, confit turnip, creamy mash and jus, £19.95, is hearty and warming while the fishcakes with light ‘hollannaise’ and spinach, £8 or £15 depending on your appetite, are a simple classic choice perfectly paired with the saltiest, crispiest chips around.

And if you’re thinking about skipping dessert, don’t – the chocolate brownie, £7.50, might sound like a standard pudding but with a sprinkle of toffee popcorn, a sticky pool of ganâche and smooth spoonful of vanilla ice-cream, it’s just about the most decadent mouthful you’re likely to experience. You’ll definitely want to walk home after wolfing down that little lot. But if straying far sounds too much like hard work, simply join the throng in the bar, grab a table on the balcony or push the boat out and book a room – with four individually designed bedrooms upstairs, you don’t have to go anywhere until tomorrow.

27 Baird Rd, Ratho, EH28 8RA, 0131 333 1320, bridgeinn.com

THE WALK

Start: Union Canal, Fountainbridge End: The Bridge Inn, Ratho Length: 9 miles • Time: 2.5 – 3 hours The canal towpath runs all the way from the bustling city centre, through the outskirts of Edinburgh, over the Scott Russell viaduct, and into the picturesque village of Ratho. The traffic-free route takes in eight miles of tree-lined towpath, where you can soak up the tranquillity, aside from the fleeting company of joggers, cyclists and the odd passing boat.

27

FEATURES

THE PUB LUNCH Nicky Howden visits The Paper Mill, Lasswade

A

few miles south of the city on the banks of the River Esk, you’ll find this all-day bar and restaurant which has become a bit of an institution since opening in 2012. Converted from a former Victorian paper mill, the venue is now a cool and contemporary hangout - the perfect place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The restaurant is light and airy with high ceilings dominated by wooden beams and low hanging feature lighting which give it a more intimate feel. We arrive promptly for the lunchtime service which starts at midday so we’re surrounded by the chatter of the brunch crowd still finishing Eggs Benedict and rather delicious looking Bloody Marys. Fortunately, the lunchtime menu looks just as good. Seasonal and featuring local produce, there’s lots of choice with everything from a charcuterie platter to share, £12, to battered haddock and chunky chips, £14, a grilled halloumi and candied beetroot salad, £9, and a hearty and frankly superb traditional Sunday roast special with all the trimmings, £16. And then there is their 6oz Scotch beef burgers, £13. Perfectly stacked and served in a glazed bun, the meat is flavoursome and juicy. If you’ve a sweet tooth then the dark chocolate delice with peanut butter ice cream, £6, is a must.

Stylish, relaxed and unpretentious, the Paper Mill may well be on the outskirts of town but it’s running a slick operation comparable to Edinburgh’s top city centre haunts. This month, the terrace overlooking the water’s edge officially opens so it’s a great spot for drinks al fresco. Tickets for the popular craft beer festival on the May bank holiday weekend are now on sale too.

2-4 Westmill Rd, Lasswade, EH18 1LX, 0131 663 1412, thepapermill-lasswade.co.uk

28

THE WALK

Start: School Green, Lasswade End: Springfield Mill Length: 4 miles Time: 1.5 - 2 hours When you leave The Paper Mill, walk off the excess carbs by crossing the bridge and taking the first left along School Green and up School Brae. It’s quite a steep road but keep your eyes peeled as just before Lasswade Cemetery you turn left (signed Polton 1¼mile) along an old muddy footpath surrounded by trees. It takes you to the old ruin of Mavisbank House and up to Springfield Mill, a small but pretty nature reserve set deep in the River North Esk valley.

GREAT ROOMS. GREAT PRICES. GREAT CITY. STAY IN EDINBURGH WITH 25% DISCOUNT. Salisbury Green Hotel and Bistro Located in peaceful landscaped grounds adjoining Holyrood Park and within easy walking distance of Edinburgh’s Old Town and the City’s major attractions, Salisbury Green Hotel and Bistro offers 108 superbly appointed rooms, 36 in its 18th Century Mansion House, and 72 recently refurbished rooms in its Masson House right next door.

KM Central Our city centre hotel boasts modern and stylish rooms, perfect for relaxing after a day enjoying what the capital has to offer. With Princes Street, Waverly Station and Royal Mile just a short walk away this is an ideal hotel for any shopping or sightseeing trips.

Richmond Place Apartments Located beside KM Central and close to Edinburgh's Old Town and the City's major attractions, Richmond Place Apartments offers 35 studio and one-bed apartments, perfect for longer stays and offers more space, freedom and flexibility than a hotel.

If you want to book a room for yourself, friends or family, use the promotional code ION19* and you can receive up to 25% discount!

Prices from £115 before the discount.

www.edinburghfirst.co.uk *subject to availability. Code must be quoted at time of booking to receive discount. Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers.

FEATURES

THE PUB LUNCH Laura Wood visits the Sheep Heid Inn, Duddingston

I

’ve frequented the Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston Village regularly over the years. I have fond memories of Skittles Sundays, playing the game with family and even school exchange students in the private skittle alley, my first legal outing as a young student and sunny days spent in the courtyard after a virtuous walk around Arthur’s Seat.

Claiming the title ‘Scotland’s oldest pub,’ the Sheep Heid Inn has just undergone a makeover and the good news is it’s ageing nicely. Dark and atmospheric, with cosy nooks and crannies, the roaring fire and well-pulled craft ales are inviting on a chilly day and, when the sun does shine, the beer garden is divine. A proper little sun trap decked out in comfy sofas and breakout points, it still has Sunday afternoons written all over it, even nowadays with the whole clan in tow. The new menu will suit all too. It’s immense in its offerings; sharing platters, pizzas, creative dishes, burgers, steaks. There’s even a substantial vegan offering. But for me, it’s the simple things in life that are done well here; good old-fashioned pub grub. And the traditional roast on Sundays, from just £12.95. With options of beef, chicken, pork, lamb or a fig and dolcelatte nut roast; there is more choice than I’ve seen anywhere else in the city and, for the indecisive (like me), a trio of beef, pork and chicken, £16.50. Not to mention the best roast potatoes cooked in a decadent smoked beef dripping. It’s just as well there’s a walk to come to repair the damage done to my arteries.

43-45 The Causeway, EH15 3QA, 0131 661 7974, thesheepheidedinburgh.co.uk

30

THE WALK

Start: Scottish Parliament End: Scottish Parliament Length: 2.7 miles Time: 2 hours Starting between Holyrood Palace and the parliament, join the throng of tourists and dog walkers taking a gentle uphill walk to Salisbury Craggs, offering panoramic views of the city, before tackling the steeper ascent to the summit of Arthur’s Seat. To descend, come down the back of the summit to Dunsapie Loch then head right along Radical Road and take the steps down past the carpark to Duddingston Village before heading to the pub for a wellearned break. After renewing your energy reserves, return to the route looping in the opposite direction round the back of the park and ending right back where you began.

FEATURES

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE. Knowing what to do for the best when it comes to your hard-earned money can be mind-boggling, but that’s where we come in – our specialist advisers have over 5 decades of experience between them and can help you protect and grow your money to achieve your personal financial goals.

You would benefit from a no-obligation discussion with us if:

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

• You have too much cash sitting in low or non-interest-bearing bank accounts not hedging again inflation - losing money longer term!

• You don’t regularly use your ISA allowance • You have investments but you are not convinced they are being monitored regularly or they have not been reviewed in the last 2 years • You need an income from your cash and/or investments We offer a no-obligation Investment Review to help you take the first steps towards a more secure financial future – there’s no time like the present to make the most of what you have. Call our all-female team of expert financial advisors on 0131 303 0053 or visit www.pwandpartners.co.uk for more information.

The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website at www.sjp.co.uk/products

FEATURES

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING

SENSIBLE BOOTS CAN STILL BE STYLISH. INVEST IN A QUALITY PAIR THIS SPRING AND THEY’LL LAST YOU YEARS…

MENS

WOMENS

1

Scarpa TERRA GTX, £160, Cotswold Outdoor.

2

4

Grenson Nanette Black leather £265 Epitome of Edinburgh.

5

Timberland World hiker mid boots, reduced from £120 to £60, Office.

Sorel Explorer Carnival boot in Hiker Green, £120, Sorel Footwear.

3

Berghaus Hillwalker II GTX walking boots, £130, Tiso.

6

Danner Mountain light Cascade £360 Epitome of Edinburgh.

32

FEATURES

Jacket, £399.95, Yaya at Biscuit Clothing.

Leather shirt, £350, Equipment at Net-A-Porter.

Trousers, £205, Weekend Max Mara at Matches Fashion.

Earrings, £280, Ruth Leslie.

Bag, £38, Anthropologie.

34

FASHION

Jacket, £250, and trousers £159, both Brora.

Blazer, £342, MassCob at Epitome of Edinburgh.

Earrings, £155, Lyndsay Fairley.

THE SWEETEST THING Chocolate, toffee, butterscotch; step into spring in 30 delicious shades of beige Photography: Anna Isola Crolla • Styling: Andreia V Afonso

35

FASHION

Jacket, £125, Rains at Harvey Nichols.

Shirt, £225, Masscob at Matches Fashion.

Faux leather skirt, £42, River Island.

Jumper, £475, Brora.

Dress, £350, Nanushka at Harvey Nichols.

Bag, £155, Nannacay at Net-A-Porter.

Earrings, £110, Ruth Leslie.

36

OSKA / ISCHIKO 17 Stafford St Edinburgh EH3 7BJ T +44 1316 081179 Shop online uk.oska.com

FASHION

Vegan leather dress, £555, Nanushka at Net-A-Porter.

Trousers, £251, MassCob at Epitome of Edinburgh.

Earrings, £130, Kate McLaughlin.

Shoes, £145, Anthropologie.

T-shirt, £15, COS. Jumper, £425, Joseph at Harvey Nichols.

Jacket, £369, Sandro at Harvey Nichols.

Trousers, £90, Anthropologie.

Make-up: Fiona Park using skincare

by Embryolisse and MAC products Hair stylist: Emma Diamond using hair products

by Kevin Murphy and Eleven Australia Model: Zaria at Model Team

38

TIME TO MAKE A SPLASH SEASONAL STYLE WITH UP TO 60% OFF YOUR FAVOURITE BRANDS REISS, KURT GEIGER, FOSSIL, GUESS, TED BAKER, FRENCH CONNECTION, PHASE EIGHT AND DANIEL FOOTWEAR

GREAT NEW BRANDS NOW OPEN #affordableluxury livingston-designer-outlet.co.uk

Take Junction 3 off the M8 Motorway

FASHION

Headband by Dansk Smykkekunst Copenhagen, £17.50, Restoration Yard

Bensimon Elly White Plimsoll, £35, Biscuit Clothing

Ha

ir s

li d e

s

ce , Ac , £7

sso

r i ze

Enyd sunglasses, £220, Mulberry

Sc

ar

f, £

6,

99

,H

&

M

St

ud

io

MDK Seattle leather jacket, £339, Jane Davidson

Banum belt, £89, OSKA

COMPLETE THE LOOK EMBRACE THE NEUTRALS TREND WITH THESE FINISHING TOUCHES The Boyscout, Frontier L Gold earrings, £53, Epitome of Edinburgh

Harper bag, £25, Topshop

Hat, £5, Primark

Latino sandals, £79, Dune

Gucci G-Timeless ladies watch, £730, laingsuk.com Michael Kors Cece large leather shoulder bag in acorn, £360, Michael Kors Multrees Walk

40

FASHION The Fife Arms

I-ON STYLE Meet Araminta Campbell, the Edinburgh-based textile designer

A

t just 30 years old, Araminta heads up a luxury brand fast becoming the destination for those seeking quality textiles with Scottish provenance. From a small studio by the Shore, she produces one-off handwoven British alpaca shawls and blankets, bespoke tweeds and tartans, and a contemporary interiors range. Her clients include Savile Row tailors, country estates, interior designers and hotels from the Waldorf Astoria to the new Fife Arms in Braemar. Here she tells us more.

How did your career start? I’m actually self-taught in weave and studied fine art embroidery at university. Weaving became my great passion, and I began selling handwoven artworks to collectors soon after graduating.

Alpaca fibre got added into the mix when I wanted to weave a gift for my mother who is allergic to wool.

Somehow, I sold all the scarves that I was meant to be making for her.

Where do you find inspiration? The Scottish landscape. I constantly see ideas for a new design or combination of colours when I’m out for a walk or drive through the highlands.

How would you describe your signature style? Timeless and classic. I invest in quality staples and love finding unique pieces that you won’t see elsewhere.

What is your wardrobe must-have? My handwoven alpaca scarf. I often feel the cold, so having something stylish I can wrap around me on a journey or in a chilly drawing room is a lifesaver.

Who are your style icons? Coco Chanel – her impeccable style was elegant yet practical, and she was incredibly inventive with Scottish tweed. I always think Amal Clooney looks incredible too, and my favourite designer is Stella McCartney for her cool, classic style and ethical conscience.

Follow on Instagram @aramintacampbell or shop online at aramintacampbell.co.uk

42

Which local stores are in your secret address book? For fashion, I love Epitome of Edinburgh, they have a great eye for style as well as a focus on timeless, well-made pieces and sustainable brands. I also love Catalog Interiors. Owner, Dixie, has curated a beautiful space, filled with inspirational contemporary interiors and home styling ideas.

Where would you like to be in 10 years’ time? I want to be designing and spending time being creative, working on exciting projects but still very much personally involved in the studio.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

THE SEASON IS CHANGING AND SO ARE WE MAX MARA AND OTHER NEW STORES ARRIVING SOON

HARVEY NICHOLS • LOUIS VUITTON • BURBERRY • MICHAEL KORS MULBERRY • BOSS • JOHNSTONS OF ELGIN • NESPRESSO • LINKS OF LONDON CASTLE FINE ART • KURT GEIGER • PANDORA • NORTH AMERICA TRAVEL SERVICE SWAROVSKI • BRAVISSIMO • HOL L AND COOPER • COACH • JOJO MAMAN BÉBÉ REISS • MAX MARA • CAFFÈ NERO • BOOTS • TESLA

ST ANDREW SQUARE, EDINBURGH, EH1 3DQ MULTREESWALK.CO.UK

DESIGN WITH A CONSCIENCE Interior designer Emily Smoor on embracing sustainability the stylish way

Jane eco-friendly cotton duvet set at Undercover Living

44

INTERIORS

JIN chairs by Jin Kuramoto for Offecct

D

esigning your home is not easy, there are so many decisions to be made.

Style, budget and practicality are all a delicate balancing act, so much so, that making sure your choices are environmentally sustainable is usually very far down the list of priorities. Just as waking up to the reality of our plastic consumption has taken years to filter its way into the mainstream conscience, environmentally astute decision-making when it comes to the home is only slowly becoming a consideration for most. So how can we make better decisions when it comes to decorating? Well there is no one simple fix, but being aware is half the battle. Here are some great ways to embrace sustainability at home.

BUY LESS, BUY BETTER

In your first home, it is often a case of beg, borrow or steal for furnishings. But, as we establish ourselves, we start creating the

QUALITY PIECES THAT LAST 10 OR EVEN 20 YEARS ARE A MUCH BETTER INVESTMENT THAN BUYING TWO OR THREE CHEAPER PIECES TO LAST THE SAME TIME�

home that we really want. However, with the throwaway fashion epidemic now replicated into fast furniture, mass-produced cheap items which are designed to be expendable have become the norm. It is easy to be seduced by a low price tag, but have you considered the real costs? An eye-watering estimate of 22 million pieces of furniture are sent to landfill each year in the UK. If you work out the cost per use of your car and compare it to that of your sofa, there will likely be a discrepancy between the two. My point is, that many are prepared to invest in their car, or a family holiday for example, but why not then, on the furniture workhorses that we use everyday? Quality pieces that last 10 or even 20 years are a much better investment than buying two or three cheaper pieces to last the same time. When you need to save for a big purchase, more time is taken to think it through, meaning you buy less and you buy better.

45

INTERIORS

Bicycle wheel wall art, Smithers of Stamford

SECOND TIME ROUND

It is all very well to evangelise the virtues of only buying beautifully made investment pieces, but what I hear you say, are we meant to furnish our homes with in the meantime?

Enter two of the biggest recycling institutions in the world, eBay and Gumtree. Together they rehome millions of unwanted items every year that might otherwise have ended up in landfill. While second hand is not for everyone, you can get a lot of very well made furniture at a fraction of the price on the resale market, including designer and luxury items. If you are willing to do the leg-work, there are thousands of second-hand furniture and interior outlets across the UK catering for every style. Check out antiquesaregreen.org to learn more and panamo.com for some pre-loved interior delights.

THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY

Matteo Vintage linen duvet cover

Arum Encre organic rug

46

When it comes to fabrics, there are the goodies and the baddies. The worst offenders are nylon and polyester, which are both made from petrochemicals and are nonbiodegradable. Viscose and rayon, while produced from natural wood pulp, require harmful chemicals in the production process, leading to mass deforestation. The less processing and chemicals it takes to create a fabric, the better, making responsibly farmed, organic cotton, wool and linen, the most sustainable choices. Linen is a truly beautiful fabric that becomes better with age and softer with each wash so it’s perfect for bedding. If you are looking for a rug with a conscience, French rug makers Toulemonde Bochart (available at cataloginteriors.com) have just released their new ‘Organic’ range to illustrate their ethical approach. They use only wool and cotton from non-intensive, organic farms and their products are recyclable and biodegradable.

E DOUBULN T DISCO

SNOAWLOEN

LUXURY BATHROOMS WITHOUT THE LUXURY PRICES Visit the Victor Paris Double Discount Sale and discover a huge choice of stunning bathrooms to suit all budgets, you’ll find that all our latest products and designs are included in the sale.

From walk in showers and steam rooms, to space saver bathrooms, you’ll find we have everything. Simply visit one of our showrooms and take advantage of our FREE design service and we’ll design your dream bathroom. We promise you won’t leave disappointed.

GLASGOW, 60 Washington Street, Glasgow G3 8AZ EDINBURGH, 178 Dundee Street, Edinburgh EH11 1DQ DUNDEE, 92 Albert Street, Dundee DD4 6QH

www.victorparis.com

INTERIORS

Kungsbacka kitchen by Form Us With Love for IKEA

KNOW YOUR LABEL

EMBRACE INNOVATION

There are some incredibly inventive new materials being produced, so with a little research, you can make a difference by putting your money where your mouth is. Japanese designer, Jin Kuramoto has created a completely biodegradable chair made of flax for Swedish company Offecct. Sustainability is also high on the agenda for IKEA who have teamed up with design studio Form Us With Love. Together they have created the Odger chair made from recycled wood and plastic as well as the beautifully sleek, Kungsbacka kitchen, made from recycled PET plastic bottles and reclaimed industrial wood.

For more information on how to spend your money ethically when buying for your home, ethicalconsumer.org is an independent, not-forprofit organisation that has categorised over 40,000 companies and brands to give them an ethical score. It is quite an eye-opener.

• Goodweave, certifies that no child labour is used in producing rugs.

• Fairtrade, is used when the manufacturer has committed to paying a fair price to their workers.

• The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), formed by WWF and global retailers such as IKEA and H&M guarantees cotton used in manufacturing is sustainably sourced.

• Forestry Stewardship Scheme (FSC, dedicated to promoting socially and environmentally responsible forestry, their accreditation is regarded as the gold standard for wood. Look out for ‘tick tree’ logo.

Jin Kuramoto chair for Offecct

For interiors advice from Emily plus how-to videos and upcycling tips, follow her on Instagram @miss_fantoush

48

There is a whole range of certifications to help you find brands that monitor the ethical and environmental impact of products.

The Show Apartment at The Crescent

E X P E R I E N C E A C I T Y L I F E L E S S O R DI N A RY A selection of premium apartments set in an iconic world heritage location, just minutes from Edinburgh’s Haymarket Station.

Prices from £950,000 to £1,925,00 THE CRESCENT AT DONALDSON’S, WEST COATES, EDINBURGH, EH12 5JH CALA.CO.UK/THECRESCENT The Show Apartment at The Crescent

The Crescent build stage December 2018

ION_APR19 Prices correct at time of going to print. 5 stars awarded for customers’ willingness to ‘Recommend to a Friend’ in findings of the survey undertaken by the Home Builders Federation 2017/18. The images shown are taken from the show apartments at The Crescent and feature fixtures, décor and soft furnishings, which are not fitted as standard in a CALA home. These are used to suggest possible finishes you could adopt in your own home and would be an additional cost.

HOW TO STYLE UP YOUR HOME SCANDI STYLE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LIGHTING

50

GET UNDER THE SHEETS WITH SCANDI STYLE

Y

our bedroom should be your own personal haven; a space for peace, quiet and comfort. A place to think, a place to reflect and a place to relax. This is the essence of Scandinavian design - inject clarity and simple design into your life for a clearer mind and the perfect tranquil setting to sleep.

An aesthetic underpinned by minimalism that has grown in popularity and influenced interior design around the world, Scandi design originates from statement pieces coupled with practicality.

To get the look at home, start by layering with textured fabrics to give your room a gentle yet comforting atmosphere. You can introduce warmth to your room without bold colours, but rather introducing richer tones and more depth through rich cottons and wool.

Think about moodier tones and embrace layering to either soften or add new depth into your bedroom. With designer brands like Murmur, Bedeck and Christy, you can achieve this Scandi cool vibe with indulgent quality.

If you favour a pop of colour, go for a natural tone like mustard yellow – grey’s favourite partner. This set from Julian Charles marries simple colour combos with geometric design, another Scandi staple.

Featured at Livingston Designer Outlet, luxury home specialists Bedeck, Murmur, Julian Charles and Christy can bring Scandi style to your own personal sanctuary.

SPONSORED FEATURE

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

L WIN…

A £250 VOUCHER TO SPEND AT LIVINGSTON DESIGN OUTLET To be in with the chance of winning £250 to spend on your home at Livingston Design Outlet, visit ionmagazine.co.uk by 02 May and leave your details. The winner will be notified by email after closing date. Please check website for terms and conditions that may apply.

ighting is one of the most important style elements for any room, especially the master bedroom. It can dictate the mood and influence a brighter morning or more relaxed nighttime.

By firstly understanding what you want from your bedroom, you can think about what the perfect setting includes. In the bedroom it’s easy to go for traditional options but with Pagazzi, it pushes you to go further. Often, people shy away from bolder lighting options and stick with a traditional lampshade but if you want to make a statement, you need to think unconventionally.

Metallic and chrome finished lighting works perfectly with dark Scottish nights by creating a reflective backdrop to allow the light to bounce off the metal and fill the room.

Pagazzi’s statement designs are simple and contemporary. They’re clean, stylish and will stand the test of time so when you want to change up your wall colour, you won’t have to invest in new lighting.

51

TRAVEL

GOING DUTCH

HOLLY TRACEY DISCOVERS THE CULTURED SIDE OF THE NETHERLANDS’ CAPITAL

52

W

ith its pretty waterways, flurry of cyclists and vibrant canal houses, Amsterdam feels a lot like you’ve stepped straight into a postcard. And whether you’re an art buff, foodie, culture vulture or just love a good Stroopwafel, you’ve come to the right place, because as well as ranking within the top five European cities for most-awarded Michelin stars, it boasts the highest number of museums per square metre.

With 55 museums in all, it can be hard to know where to start but if you’re in the mood for a masterpiece or two, make the Van Gogh Museum your first stop. Home to 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters, the museum is a cultural highlight for most travellers. To avoid the crowds,

check out the diverse programme of Museum Lates for an alternative experience. ‘Vincent on Friday’ on the last Friday of every month features live music, DJs, dance and theatre.

MUSIC MAESTRO

Visit Amsterdam at any time of the year and you will find international theatre performances, live music shows and open-air spectacles on practically every corner but nowhere is more impressive than The Royal Concertgebouw, famed for its exceptional acoustics and jampacked schedule. With 900 events on its annual programme, it’s worth doing some investigative work if there’s something you’re really interested in. Alternatively, if you’re happy to go with the flow and

TRAVEL

you’re short on time, fit in a lunchtime concert which are free admission.

TIME TO INDULGE

When you’re looking for a reprieve from the culture, head to Dam Square for De Bijenkorf - the city’s luxury department store. You could spend hours (and a lot of Euros) whilst there so be sure to replenish your reserves at The Kitchen, De Bijenkorf’s fifth-floor restaurant and roof terrace. Shopping done and it’s time to get off your feet with a cruise down the canals. Could you really claim to have visited Amsterdam otherwise? The network is made up of 165 waterways and most cruises take an hour but there is also the option to hop-on-hop-off if you prefer.

So much to do, yet so little time, I leave Amsterdam feeling like I have

SO MUCH TO DO, YET SO LITTTLE TIME, I LEAVE AMSTERDAM FEELING LIKE I HAVE SCRATCHED THE SURFACE” barely scratched the surface. The fact that the city seems to bloom in every season, never slowing down with its cultural carousel of events, makes a return trip all the more enticing and at a 90-minute flight away from Edinburgh, why wouldn’t you?

BOOK IT

WHAT’S ON •

Rembrandt Year 2019 To honour the 350th anniversary of master of the Dutch Golden Age, there’s a special series of exhibitions throughout the year. Highlights include All the Rembrandts at the Rijksmuseum, showing until 10 June.

•

Keukenhof, April - 19 May Tiptoe through the tulips at the world’s largest flower gardens, as the Keukenhof Gardens come alive with blooming flowers in every colour of the rainbow.

•

Holland Festival, June A selection of Dutch premieres and opera, theatre, ballet, contemporary dance, art and multimedia performances from around the world take over the stages of Amsterdam.

•

Grachtenfestival, 09-18 August The annual canal festival of classical music on and around Amsterdam’s canals is a 10 day festival which culminates in the free Prinsengracht Concert.

•

Amsterdam Dance Event, October ADE is the gateway to the international electronic music scene. As the world’s biggest club festival, it’s a true dance lovers’ Mecca.

KLM fly direct from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Amsterdam from £80, klm.com. For more inspiration on the luxury side of Amsterdam, visit adamluxury.com

WHERE TO STAY

I stayed at the Sofitel Legend The Grand which has 52 luxury suites, a Michelin-starred restaurant and elegant courtyard. It’s located between two canals in the heart of the city yet feels far removed from all the hustle and bustle. Top marks go to its Butler Service where no request seems too big or small (case in point – my forgotten toothbrush). It was worth every penny and the perfect base for a packed weekend of sight-seeing. For room rates, visit sofitel-legend-thegrand.com

53

I-ON LOVES… We can’t get enough of MAC’s latest collaboration with FrenchTunisian street artist and sculptor eL Seed. The 10-piece range includes a miracle-working highlighter alongside lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes in bold shades of hot pink, orange and blue. Available from 04 April at maccosmetics.co.uk.

BEAUTYNOTES Must try products and treatments BLOOMING DELICIOUS Flowerbomb Midnight is the latest fragrance from Viktor & Rolf.

It’s floral and sensual, with gorgeous notes of bergamot, jasmine and white musk.

From £51 at Debenhams.

SUPERCHARGED SERUM Targeting signs of ageing, Elemis Pro-Collagen Definition face and neck serum, £92, uses an advanced formula powered by over a million plant stem cells to help loss of density, making skin look firmer and more visibly toned.

Three hydrat ing face masks 1. Image Skincare I MASK purifying probiotic masque, £49, is a clean-green detox mask packed with essential vitamins and minerals to give skin a boost and purify pores.

2. L’Occitane Mineral Moisture Mask, £32, is a powerful cocktail of high-performance hydrators, mineral-rich Réotier water and hyaluronic acid that gives thirsty skin a quick fix.

3. Part of the Alex Steinherr x Primark range, The Pollution Solution City Mask contains a potent combo of Amino acids, Allantoin and Hyaluronic Acid to help purify and illuminate the skin. A bargain at only £3.

54

BEAUTY EXPERT Featuring Rachel O’Donoughue, head of brows and services at Benefit Cosmetics The most popular treatment at Benefit is… a brow wax and tint. It’s perfect for giving balance, proportion and framing the face.

The service people need but don’t get regularly enough is… a lip wax - it makes lips look fuller and make-up sit more smoothly.

My beauty top tip is… get your brows mapped. Having your brows start, arch and end in the right place can take years off you.

My celebrity beauty icon is… Irish actress Saoirse Ronan; she always looks so effortless.

My signature scent is… Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt - I love unusual woody scents.

My top beauty essentials are… Precisely My Brow pencil and Gimme Brow+ for a natural brow - the pencil gives hair-like strokes whilst the gel adds volume; Aesop Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque for clarifying my skin; and Kevin Murphy Beach Resort curl cream to control my curls.

46 George Street 0131 220 0777 3 Drumsheugh Place 0131 225 2234 39 Lothian Road 0131 228 9977 45 York Place 0131 558 1010 2 Bruntsfield Avenue 0131 478 3522 www.cheyneshairdressing.com

Cheynes Colour Specialists

Cheynes creating Instagram hair in the real world‌ #cheynes #nofilter @cheyneshair

BEAUTY

Holly Tracey falls for Smartbond

by L’Oréal Professionnel at Charlie Miller hairdressing

N

ever have I ever… dyed my hair. Until now.

Unbelievable though it may seem, I managed to navigate my teenage years without so much as a dodgy dip dye to look back on. But whilst my hair remained natural, it was anything but damage-free thanks to serious overuse of heated styling tools for over a decade. Anyone with their finger on the beauty pulse will have heard the buzz around L’Oréal Smartbond – the two-part, in-salon treatment that protects and strengthens hair during the colouring process from the inside out. This is due to the product’s main component, malic acid, (applied in the dye and backwash) which oxidises the hair cuticle to allow the treatment to renew the damaged hair strands from within. It’s like insurance for the hair. Rosslyn Orr, salon manager at Charlie Miller South St Andrew Square, tells me she won’t colour without it these days, so good are its protective and strengthening qualities.

Customary patch test completed and 48 hours later I’m in the chair. We’re going for natural highlights, no more than three shades over my root colour. The results are subtle but the overall appearance is infinitely healthier, shinier and, to the naked eye, virtually damage-free.

The third step of the Smartbond process is an at-home conditioner. Use after Charlie Miller’s new Volume shampoo, £17.95 - part of their brand new haircare range formulated with jasmine extract, organic calendula flower extract and organic sage oil - to help lock in moisture and guarantee longer-lasting salon results. I don’t think I’ll ever look back again.

SPOTLIGHT ON… Ethique, the world’s 1st zero-waste beauty brand. It’s just launched in the UK and is devoted solely to producing handmade, cruelty-free and vegan solid beauty bars that last up to five times longer than their traditional bottled counterparts.

Even the sleeves they arrive in are 100 per cent compostable and recyclable. Ethiqueworld.com

56

Charlie Miller, 8 South St Andrew St, EH2 2AZ, 0131 556 9898, charliemiller.com.

Highlights available from £65 plus an additional £20 for Smartbond.

H E A LT H & L I F E S T Y L E Z O N E H E A LT H & L I F E S T Y L E Z O N E

Lululemon Lululemon Amanda Hamilton Pilates Amanda Hamilton Pilates Angie Lake - Lululemon Ambassador Angie Lake - Lululemon Ambassador Lauren Bryden Rock-A-Barre Baby Lauren Bryden Rock-A-Barre Baby Vharri McMinn - Personal Training Vharri McMinn - Personal Training The Luminous Life The Luminous Life Barefoot Sanctury & Co. Barefoot Sanctury & Co. East Lothian Chiropractic BUY TICKETS East Lothian Chiropractic FROM Kilted Yogi FROM Kilted Yogi Tara Lee Yoga Tara Lee Yoga Pilates Plus Physio Pilates Plus Physio R E T R E AT Z O N E & T R E AT M E N T T E N T Foxlake R E T R E AT Z O N E & T R E AT M E N T T E N T Foxlake

Harvey Nichols Harvey Nichols Lululemon Lululemon Fletchers Cottage Spa Fletchers Cottage Spa Belinda Robertson Belinda Robertson Laura Thomas Co. Laura Thomas Co. Lucid Dream Tree Lucid Dream Tree Beatitude Beatitude Norden Norden Ardere Ardere Lovesurf Lovesurf Laura Swan Laura Swan Their Nibs Their Nibs JanDeDe Vries Jan Vries EdinburghClinic ClinicOf OfNutrition Nutrition Edinburgh Pickle Grubb Pickle && Grubb Neal’s Yard Remedies Neal’s Yard Remedies Forthe theLove Love of Lemons For of Lemons D. Atkinson AtkinsonHerbalist Herbalist&&Clinic Clinic D. Tropical Skincare Tropical Skincare Michelle Denham DenhamStudio StudioSpa Spa Michelle LuckyCloud Cloud Skincare Lucky Skincare Julie Loporto LoportoReflexology Reflexology Julie EdwardBulmer Bulmer Natural Paint Edward Natural Paint PureDamn DamnHealthy Healthy Pure MurrayComing Coming 4 Air DiDiMurray UpUp 4 Air Laura Nolan Nolan- -Love LoveNola NolaFacials Facials Laura PUREBeauty Beauty Zone PURE Zone The Good GoodVibes VibesSocial SocialClub Club The FionaStorey Storey - Becoming Fiona - Becoming Tara Holistic HolisticTherapy Therapy Tara MairiGordon Gordon Make Artist Mairi Make UpUp Artist TheRelax RelaxLab Lab The tee Paris leletee Paris Jen Wood WoodWellbeing Wellbeing Jen Joshua Foundation JoshuaNolan Nolan Foundation The TheYard Yard Cancer East Lothin CancerSupport SupportNetwork Network East Lothin Strength Strength++Soul Soul Reverse Rett Reverse Rett Tingle Tingleand andGlow Glow DD ET X XH H EA EO TO E LATLH T HB EBAEUATUYT Y The TheSacred SacredSpace Space TA T LAKL SK ST ETNE TN T Mana ManaLiving LivingHealing Healing Revive The Herb Garden ReviveTherapies Therapies&& TheSecret Secret Herb Garden Kay Bev Psychology KayBeach Beach BevatatMae MaeWhite White Psychology Weleda Katrina - Body Toolkit Weleda KatrinaMather Mather - Body Toolkit See Clare Cleanse SeeMe Me ClareNeill Neill- Radiance - Radiance Cleanse Jan Emma Marshall JanDe DeVries Vries Emma Marshall The Kilted Yogi TheThreshold Threshold Kilted Yogi Ume One NoNo Beer UmeAcupuncture Acupuncture OneYear Year Beer A Wee Retreat Alison Cullen A Wee Retreat Alison Cullen Dr Hauschka by Lynette Gray Dr Hauschka by Lynette Gray Helen Rose Therapies Emma Thornton Helen Rose Therapies Emma Thornton Sarah Thomson Style Kristian Wood Sarah Thomson Style Kristian Wood Jean Charles-Udantara Ardere Jean Charles-Udantara Ardere Suspended Bodywork THE HONEYED BISON CRAFTING Suspended Bodywork

BUY TICKETS

WA ND D WALLKK && TTA A LL K K SS A AR RO OU UN TTH HEE EE SS T TA AT TE E

Walled Head Walled Garden Garden Tours Tours with with Head Gardener Gardener -- Erica Erica Randall Randall Di Air Di Murray Murray -- Coming Coming Up Up 4 4 Air Lester Lester Smulski Smulski -- Hynotherapist Hynotherapist & Founder Station Founder of of Transformation Transformation Station Zoe Zoe McDowell McDowell -- Bee Bee And Balance Harley Harley Loudon Loudon -- Being Being In Rhythm Federica Cinosi Cinosi - EidynWell Federica Claire Doyle Doyle -- 3Theatre 3Theatre Claire OO OTT TTA A LL K S T E N T BBAARREEFFO

1 1 ·· 55 ·· 11 99

Bernadette Petrie Petrie Bernadette Alisoun MacKenzie MacKenzie Alisoun Roxana Vilk Vilk Roxana Melody Fletcher Fletcher Melody Bernie Rowan Rowan Ross Ross Bernie Amanda Hamilton Hamilton Amanda Danni Gordon Gordon Danni Joanna Kane Kane Joanna Harley Loudon Harley Loudon Christel RosenkildeChristel RosenkildeChristensen Christensen PL ANT BASED FO OD ZONE PL ANT BASED FO OD ZONE

Hendersons Of Edinburgh Hendersons Of Edinburgh Glorious Greens Glorious Greens FacePlant Foods FacePlant Foods The Mad March Hare TheAlice’s Mad March Hare Pantry Alice’s Pantry The Edinburgh Fermentarium The Laurianne’s Edinburgh Fermentarium Raw Cakes Laurianne’s RawOf Cakes Sap! The Juice Life Sap! The Juice Of Life Clever Kombucha Clever Kombucha Brochan Brochan New Norm New Norm

& MORE FROM & MORE FROM

The Menopause Van The Menopause Van Body Evolution Formula Body Evolution Formula The Dragonfly Yurts Zone TheOne Dragonfly Zone The Year NoYurts Beer Zone The One Year No Beer Zone Funkwagen Funkwagen

THE HONEYED BISON CRAFTING FOR WELLBEING TENT FOR WELLBEING TENT

Moo + Boo Moo + Boo Fluffy Felts Fluffy Felts Anthropom FeatherAnthropom Grass Florals Feather Grass Florals Knitting For Wellbeing Knitting ForWith Wellbeing Book Binding Cass Book Binding With Cass S O U N D BAT H Z O N E S O U N D BAT H Z O N E

Jo Coley, Blissness Jo Coley, Blissness Achim Brandon Burg Achim Brandon Burg

R E T U R N S T O A R C H E R F I E L D WA L L E D GA R D E N T H I S M AY R E T U R N S T O A R C H E R F I E L D WA L L E D GA R D E N T H I S M AY

FITNESS ZONE FITNESS ZONE

I THINK IT SETS A BETTER PRECEDENT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO KEEP DOING SOMETHING YOU LOVE RATHER THAN GIVING IT UP”

A NEW DIRECTION

Scottish folk rocker Jamie Sutherland talks to David Pollock about growing up and going solo

58

MUSIC

“A

lot of it’s about the passage of time,” says Edinburghbased singer-songwriter Jamie Sutherland of his debut album Bruise. “How do you grow old? How do you fill the roles you’re meant to in your 30s and 40s, while keeping a sense of self?” Sutherland is at the point in his life where he’s feeling the changes of time acutely, having recently become a father, which tends to act as a wake-up call in the life of a musician. “This little extra person is a license to start a new life, where everything can be rewritten,” he says.

Whatever changes a person makes when they have children, Bruise is a musical expression of Sutherland’s. It’s been exactly a decade since his band Broken Records released their much-admired debut album Until the Earth Begins to Part on the 4AD label – home over the years to artists including St. Vincent, Bon Iver and The National – and for a time they were the next big thing in Scotland, feted by the NME and BBC Radio 1. The follow-up Let Me Come Home arrived in 2010, and since leaving 4AD, they’ve self-released two more records, most recently last year’s What We Might Know.

“I wanted to still play music, but not have to worry about the logistics of drawing together six people,” says Sutherland, pointing out that he isn’t the only new father in the band, and at the moment it’s difficult to synchronise all those parental schedules.

Instead he teamed up with musician and songwriter Neil Pennycook, aka Meursault, as producer and songwriting muse.

“There’s a lot of mutual respect there,” he says. “We pulled together this quite sparse, different-sounding record for me. My thing is to throw an orchestra or a brass section on there, but this was about downplaying it and trying to show off more of the guitar playing, to do something more tender and romantic.”

It’s hard not to remember the comparisons which Broken Records drew to Arcade Fire, but Sutherland compares the sound on this record to that of Glasgow’s Blue Nile, a big influence.

As relatively low-key as Bruise might be, a supergroup of contemporary Edinburgh artists played on it, including members of

Meursault, Broken Records, Stanley Odd, eagleowl and Siobhan Wilson. “It was an excuse to keep working, really,” says Sutherland. “I was talking to my wife about what the point of making music is now, and it’s just the process, the joy of putting stuff out, the chance to have a flight of fantasy.”

He talks of “getting away from the hang-ups you might have had in your 20s”, emphasising that doing this record is less about ambition and acclaim, and more about simply doing a piece of work he’s pleased with. “The act of keeping the creative process going is healthy,” he says, “and I think it sets a better precedent for your children to keep doing something you love, rather than giving it up when you don’t want to.”

Sutherland’s connection to Edinburgh’s music scene is deep, and emphasised by the fact he books all the gigs at Edinburgh’s unique Summerhall venue, a place he’s worked since 2012. He started out doing simple labouring, something active and far-removed from sitting around “drinking stale beer in lots of small dressing rooms”, until the venue’s then-general manager Sam Gough backed him to begin the Nothing Ever Happens Here (NEHH) music strand in the old veterinary college’s Dissection Room bar.

The title of NEHH is tongue-in-cheek, Sutherland doesn’t really believe the overblown rumours about Edinburgh being a wasteland for gigs in comparison to Glasgow.

“We have so many spaces to put on gigs here, but the problem is finding audiences to fill them,” he says. “It’s an ongoing process, but there are plenty of good bands and places to see them in this city.” To look at the list of bands Summerhall has brought to the city – with shows by Kristin Hersh, James Yorkston and Erol Alkan scheduled this year, for example – is to see how much influence Sutherland has had upon music in Edinburgh, even before we consider his own impressive, ongoing catalogue.

Jamie Sutherland’s album Bruise is released later this year. Listen to Be Careful Don’t Break My Heart at https://youtu.be/DoKAu1hcT-c. Details of Summerhall’s music programme can be found at summerhall.co.uk

59

Find us on

Rustic, authentic and delicious wood fired pizza, cooked and served from a vintage horse trailer. woodovenwonders.co.uk

i-on food+drink

Fun on the farm

For a dining experience like no other, forget jostling to get into Edinburgh’s busy eateries and head west to Balerno where you’ll find The Free Company – a former family dairy farm turned seasonal restaurant which opens its doors for a limited time every few months. Each evening begins with cocktails in the bar – or (weather permitting) outside by the firepit - before guests are invited to take their seats upstairs in the converted hayloft, where they’re served a delicious three-course dinner. The menu features meat and produce grown and reared on the farm; changes every day; and, most uniquely, costs as much as you think it’s worth thanks to the innovative ‘pay-what-you-wish’ policy. Tickets for their spring dinner series went on sale late March and have already almost sold out. If you don’t manage to bag one this time round, sign up to the mailing list to be the first to know about the summer series. We promise it’s worth the taxi ride out of town. the-free-company.com

61

FEATURES

TABLE WITH A VIEW We check out restaurants with stunning scenery

SCOTTS

Carrie Mitchell is spoilt for choice in South Queensferry

I

’ve never been good at making decisions, particularly when it comes to eating out; I suffer acutely from food envy so the stakes are always high. On first glance at the lunch menu in Scotts, I knew I was in trouble. From steak to the requisite fish and chips/dirty burger/mac ‘n’ cheese options and a whole array of ‘specials’ featuring locally caught seafood, roasted duck and slow braised lamb shank; the choice is impressive, if a little overwhelming. Mercifully, the waterfront setting helped me decide on at least a genre.

Housed in a glass-fronted boat shed on Port Edgar Marina, Scotts looks straight onto the Firth of Forth so it’s only fitting to stick to food from beneath the waves. To start, I order the seared king scallops, £10.95; followed by the East Coast whole lemon sole, £19.95; while my other half goes for steamed mussels, £7.95; then the aforementioned lamb shank, £21.95.

My meaty scallops come with hefty slices of Stornoway black pudding, crispy pancetta, and a fresh apple purée; while Laurence’s mussels are swimming in a moreish garlic and cream sauce; and our daughter Lucie helps him out with a side of warm sourdough, £3.95. I confess to feeling a little envious at this point, if not of those gorgeous garlicky morsels, then certainly of the bonding going on as they mop up the sauce. But the real food envy only kicks in when the mains arrive.

The lamb is epic. The silky meat falls off the bone onto a bed of giant couscous and baba ganoush, while the scent of harissa wafts over to my side of the table leaving me looking sullenly at my fish, which is crazy because, what a fish it is. Golden and dripping in lemon butter and capers, with bite-sized new potatoes on the side, it’s as perfect a lemon sole as I’ve ever had.

We finish with an affogato, £6.25, and a warm chocolate mallow brownie, £6.45, to share (both unnecessary but delicious) then head outdoors to get a closer look at that stunning sunset behind the three bridges. As we leave, the place is as bustling as it has been all day with folk either having a drink around the huge horseshoe bar or sitting smugly in a restaurant booth. Every seat in the house offers a great vantage point - so at least the view is one thing you don’t have to be jealous of.

Port Edgar Marina, Shore Rd, EH30 9SQ, 0131 370 8166, scotts-southqueensferry.co.uk

62

THE LOOKOUT BY GARDENER’S COTTAGE

Jo Morris experiences the highs of hilltop dining

A

mong the throngs of tourists eagerly ticking off ‘Athens of the north’ in their guidebooks, there is a new visitor of sorts to Calton Hill: the foodie. Thanks to a genius collaboration between Collective centre for contemporary art and The Lookout, the city observatory has been transformed into an exhibition hub for artists as well as a destination for foodies. The Lookout is the brainchild of the folk behind Gardeners Cottage, who have taken their brave new world of dining to the next level adding stunning views to their already impressive roster of innovative food and excellent wine with a sprinkling of excited anticipation.

A confident menu of game (pigeon, hare, venison) fish (halibut with cockles and mussels) and vegetarian (bbq hispi cabbage) means everyone is happy. And that starts the minute they bring out the freshly baked sourdough bread, still warm from the oven. We dipped it into the best tapenade I’ve ever eaten whilst waiting for the mains. The halibut, £27, was meaty yet delicate, whilst the venison, £21, was tender and rich in equal measures. We struggled to justify two desserts so shared the carrot cake, eyeing up the slice to make sure it was fairly divided between us.

So now there is a new ‘must do’ on Calton Hill - gazing out at the city through floor to ceiling windows whilst eating brilliant food. Tick.

Calton Hill, EH7 5AA, 0131 322 1246, thelookoutedinburgh.co.uk

THREE MORE PLACES TO TRY… RED SKY BAR More of a place for cocktails, small plates like falafel, £5, or chimichurri spiced chicken skewers, £6.50, and sharing boards, £14, the stylish sky bar at Glasgow’s Radisson Red hotel has incredible panoramic views over the River Clyde and Finnieston Crane. Food served 12-9pm.

0141 471 1687, redskybar.com CHAOPHRAYA This popular rooftop Thai restaurant on Castle Street offers some of the best views of Edinburgh Castle, just ask for a table in the glass box. Mains from £9.95. 0131 226 7614, chaophraya.co.uk TOWER RESTAURANT For seasonal Scottish fine dining overlooking Edinburgh’s skyline, you’ll find this restaurant atop the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street. It’s a great celebration spot offering brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Two course lunch £19.95, noon-5pm.

0131 225 3003, tower-restaurant.com

63

I-ON IN PRINT Read by over half a million readers each year THE SMART CHOICE 68% of you have read i-on for over 5 years MOST TRUSTED 74% of readers go to places seen in i-on

I N YOU R WOR D S *based on 1000+ respondents, i-on reader survey, Feb 19.

64

FOOD AND DRINK

“Yes, please” TO BOOZY BRUNCH AT RABBLE

Laura Wood discovers a brunch offer that’s worth an early start

B

reakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, they say. Put both principles together and you’ll end up with one spectacular brunch. Especially if you’re heading to Rabble where brunch gets boozy from April.

For the very respectable price of £30 per person, you’ll enjoy a Ketel One cocktail of choice on arrival – whether that be a Ketel One botanical spritz, Bloody Mary or Espresso Martini - brunch kicks off with a great continental breakfast selection, including a belly-busting display of pastries, charcuterie and cheeses. The main event is your choice of dish from the breakfast menu. A favourite with the i-on team, both the Pig Out eggs and short stack pancakes are substantial and warming, and we’re also fans of the pan roasted mushrooms served with tattie scone, baked beans, eggs and bloomer toast.

And then, just to make it an occasion worth remembering, there’s Prosecco included (at least for two hours anyway).

Rabble is such a great venue for a weekend hangout that you’ll probably want to hang around afterwards and soak up the sounds from the DJ and live music sets, and the general good vibes. My birthday ‘lunch’ has just been moved forward by a couple of hours…

Boozy Brunch at Rabble, now available Saturday and Sunday from 11am with last sitting at 2pm. £30 per person.

Reservations essential. Please email sam@rabbleedinburgh.co.uk Visit the website for full T&Cs. Rabble, 55a Frederick St, EH2 1LH,0131 622 7800, rabbleedinburgh.co.uk

65

INSTA-INSIDER I adore flowers, especially this bunch

by Hedgerow’s Rachael Scott - an architect turned florist who creates masterpieces with locally grown blooms.

The gorgeous home of Pad Lifestyle’s Anna Atwal #houseenvy

Pink House Living - the book! Written

by Emily Murray and filled with my photographs #proudmoment #pinkladies

This incredible bench was handmade by Angus Ross and delivered to the Saatchi Gallery the day after our shoot at Balnakeilly House near Pitlochry #takeaseat

INSTA-INSIDER

AWARD-WINNING EDINBURGH PHOTOGRAPHER SUSIE LOWE PICKS HER #TOP9 Follow on Instagram @susielowephoto

A rare picture of me on the other side of the camera

by Jess Shurte

I love this little detail from a recent shoot with Peden & Pringle, makers of gorgeous kitchens #saycheese

The gorgeous corner of a Stockbridge flat photographed for interior designer Cathy Dean #builtinbar

Enjoying the view of Mont Blanc over breakfast in the Alps while on location at the luxurious Chalet Mirabelle in Megeve #perfectmorning 66

I loved working with Gardener’s Cottage on the launch of the amazing Lookout restaurant #actionshot

GUEST CHEFS SERIES with Head Chef Dan ASHMORE

JUNE 6

Peter HALL

MAY 11

Philip HOWARD

Elystan Street, London

MAY 30

John DUFFIN

John’s House, Loughborough

Lorne, London

JUNE 27

Rupert ROWLEY MSK Ingredients

JULY 31

Paul WELBURN

Oxford Kitchen, Oxford

www.thepompadour.com

DIAMONDS . WATCHES . JEWELLERY

laingsuk.com