Life & style

Edinburgh's Atrium closes its doors and Hawke & Hunter opens a new dining room

Scottish food news February 2011

17 Feb 2011

Surprise and sadness fell over the Edinburgh restaurant scene last week with the news of the closure of Andrew and Lisa Radford’s Atrium and blue restaurants in Saltire Court, above the Traverse Theatre. From stylish, avant-garde beginnings 18 years ago…

Boat trips from Edinburgh to the islands in the Firth of Forth

Isle of May, Bass Rock and Inchcolm Island by boat

16 Feb 2011

The Firth of Forth, separating Edinburgh and the Lothians from Fife, is well known for its abundant wildlife and beautiful scenery, and is best experienced by taking a trip out on the water.

Taste Test - Edible flowers

10 Sep 2009

Nasturtium With their brilliant sunset colours and distinct peppery flavour, these are probably the most popular edible flower. They’re very easy to grow from seed and are common on the fringes of veg patches or hanging baskets. The flowers have a…

Calvin Harris

10 Sep 2009

The Dumfries born disk jockey and all round music maestro is riding high on the success of his latest album ‘Ready For The Weekend’ charting at number one in the UK, cementing his position as the premier recording DJ in Britain. His first album, the 80s…

Sourcing local Scottish butter

In search of a product that really melts in your mouth

1 May 2009

It’s not too hard to track down Scotland’s many fine local cheeses, but uncovering farm-made butter can be a challenge. Why? According to Brenda Leddy at Stichill near Kelso, who has been making butter, cheese and clotted cream from her small herd of…

Taste Test - Meat Pies

17 Jul 2008

Gregg’s Scotch Pie Gregg’s, various outlets, Scotland wide 70p We couldn’t do a meat pie test without saying ‘aye’ tae a pie – a traditional Scottish mutton pie, that is. The hot water crust pastry is crunchier and more robust than the flakier…

Secondhand record shops in Glasgow and Edinburgh

1 Nov 2007

Shopping and I have always had a love-hate relationship. But we put aside our differences for record shopping: that ritualistic, solitary activity that’s at once sombre yet exhilarating. Secondhand records possess the same mystique as old books; they…

Rome on a budget

The cheap life

16 Jan 2007

The Romans have a saying: ‘you’d need a lifetime to see all that Rome has to offer’. This seemed a laughable notion as my partner and I only had a few days in Italy’s capital. After not having taken a holiday in over three years, I was determined to…

Steak, Edinburgh's new meat-loving eaterie

The brash new restaurant makes no claims of subtlety with full-on flavours and pumping music

26 Mar 2012

‘Where beauty meats the beast’ is the strap-line for brash new arrival Steak, archly attached to publicity shots of ladies, puckering their lips in readiness under dangling raw t-bones – although ‘where beauties eat the beast’ might be just as apt.

New Edinburgh restaurant The Mulroy brings touch of country-house class

Chef Damien Rolain's menu favours locally-sourced, seasonal dishes

3 Feb 2012

Not far from Spean Bridge, the Battle of Mulroy between the MacDonalds and the Mackintoshes took place in 1688. With fresh tête-à-tête daffodils on the tables blooming harmoniously with muted yellow walls, an Edinburgh restaurant bearing the name of the…

The best Scottish websites

The top 30 websites made for and by Scots

21 Jul 2011

When putting together this list, we weren’t necessarily looking for the biggest or the best-known cultural websites in Scotland. We were looking for unique and interesting ideas, cleverly realised and lovingly maintained on the web. This might mean that…

The rough guide to Portobello, Edinburgh's seaside

Neighbourhood Watch: The best bits by the beach

24 Mar 2011

What’s it like? An utterly charming, slightly wonky area of Edinburgh, characterised by the city’s only beach and a very distinct, anti-corporate local community ethos. Formerly the holiday destination of most Central Belters, a lack of investment in…

The best breadmakers (and sellers) in Edinburgh and Glasgow

Au Gourmand, Patisserie Dujardin and McGhee's Family Bakers

7 Mar 2011

The appearance of more small artisan bakeries points to an increasing awareness of and demand for proper bread, both from the public and the operations serving them. Around the sandwich shops of the capital Au Gourmand, the Gorgie-based but…

The Scottish clothes designers making a name for themselves

Jonathan Saunders, Christopher Kane, Deryck Walker and Holly Fulton

16 Feb 2011

Scotland has always been at the head of cutting-edge design – and today’s selection is just as good

Dead Island

The game behind the stunning trailer is finally ready for release

25 Aug 2011

A young girl’s body lies in the grass, the image intercut with her running down a corridor pursued by undead hordes; time rewinds as she flies up, back through the window her father just threw her through as she grapples him from behind, biting a huge…

Restaurant review: Glasgow's Barolo Grill

Unflashy elegance and a fine choice for Italian food in city centre

16 Aug 2011

It is an indication of the institution that L’Ariosto had become in Glasgow that even a month after being replaced by Barolo Grill the phone is answered with a cheery ‘Hello, L’Ariosto’. It also a reminder that the staff – some of whom have been around…

Foodies Festival at 2011 Edinburgh Fringe

3-day food and drink in Holrood Park runs 12 to 14 Aug

10 Aug 2011

For many years, the missing Edinburgh food festival was a void waiting to be filled. After all, it was festival season in August and lots of food was being eaten. And, of course, everywhere else in the country was running food festivals. Five years ago…

August games review round-up

Gran Turismo 5, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 and Bulletstorm reviewed

10 Aug 2011

Gran Turismo 5 ●●●● PS3 (Sony) After five years of protracted development, Gran Turismo 5 features over 1,000 cars and 71 tracks. It’s a petrolhead’s dream, although its claim to be ‘the real driving simulator’ is somewhat undermined by moronic AI…

Foodies Festival Edinburgh returns in 2011

27 Jul 2011

Celebrating the finest food, drink and culinary talents, Foodies Festival will celebrate its fifth anniversary when the event returns to Holyrood Park on August 12, 13, 14. Having launched in Edinburgh five years ago and enjoyed unprecedented…

Travel: top train trips

3 of the best places to ride the rails

22 Jul 2011

Cattle herd queues, hidden fees and draconian baggage restrictions: it seems we’ll put up with anything for a cheap escape, but while the budget airline bubble has yet to burst, you can always opt for a less stressful, more romantic way to go. Train…

Restaurant review - Heavenly

The newcomer to Glasgow’s vegan scene is a gift from above

21 Jul 2011

Glasgow’s vegetarian and vegan dining options are hardly extensive, so a new arrival such as this city centre café-bar is something of a godsend. Heavenly joins the city’s small but established vegan/veggie scene, offering a similar philosophy of…

Games contest Dare to be Digital attracts best of Scotland's gamers

University of Abertay comp is breeding ground for games industry talent

28 Jun 2011

Dare to be Digital, now entering its eleventh year, has become the breeding ground for Scotland’s games industry talent. Hosted by the University of Abertay, Dundee, 15 teams of five are already feverishly programming a working videogame before the…

Top ten ways to get in shape – and stay there!

27 Jun 2011

1. Go slow Whatever your goal, whether it’s losing weight, toning up or eating better, start slowly, says diet and fitness expert Laura Williams. “Wearing yourself out by overdoing it is unlikely to get results. You need an exercise routine and diet…

A guide to Edinburgh Castle

The capital's most iconic landmark is a must-see for any visitor

16 Feb 2011

Castle Rock, the plug of an extinct volcano, is estimated to be 350 million years old. Archaeologists say that its grassy shoulders were the site of a settlement at least as early as 900bc, and by ad600 there was probably a feasting hall on the…

A guide to Edinburgh's New Town

The largest example of Georgian town planning in the world

16 Feb 2011

Sitting elegantly to the north of Princes Street Gardens is Edinburgh’s grand and leafy New Town, the largest example of Georgian town planning in the world, which provides a well-ordered contrast to the chaos of the city’s medieval Old Town.

The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh

Newly renovated NMS showcases Scottish achievements

16 Feb 2011

A country with as many scientists, inventors and explorers as Scotland needs a place to show off all its achievements – and nowhere does the job better than the newly renovated National Museum

Gaming centres 1LevelUp and Twitch offer high-spec machines

Glasgow and Edinburgh centres blast loner stereotype

16 Feb 2011

There’s a tired stereotype that gamers are loners, locked in their bedrooms hunched over their consoles or PCs desperately trying to beat their high scores. However, gaming centres, such as the recently opened 1LevelUp in Glasgow and Twitch in…

Ubiquitous Chip chef Ian Brown strikes out on his own

New venture always fully booked despite the economic climate

16 Feb 2011

Aestled in an affluent Southside enclave, Ian Brown Food and Drink is a small and thoughtfully formed new restaurant. Inside the refurbished former Greek restaurant, wooden topped tables are arranged in a close and cosy fashion. Scottish landscapes and…

Ratho climbing centre in Edinburgh offers world-class facilities

World’s largest indoor climbing complex is just outside Edinburgh

16 Feb 2011

If you’re in the capital looking for adventure but the windy city’s climate has you running for cover, you’ll find activities to get your adrenalin pumping at the world’s largest indoor climbing complex at Ratho. Built in an old quarry by a stretch…

Sports, activities and exercise in Edinburgh

Wide range of public sports and leisure centres in Scottish capital

16 Feb 2011

The people of Edinburgh are an active bunch, and the city has an enviable range of public sports and leisure centres that don’t cost the earth to use. The good news is that most of the facilities run by Edinburgh Leisure offer one-off classes and…

Friday Night Dinner a bit hard to digest - Channel Hopper

New Channel Four comedy one of worst ever opening episodes of a sitcom

16 Feb 2011

'In the best traditions of Channel Four comedy, it successfully marries the ground-breaking with the familiar and best of all, it’s really, really funny.’ Grand claims made there on behalf of Friday Night Dinner (Channel 4, Fri 25 Feb, 10pm) by a very…

Duddingston - The village within Edinburgh

12th century village home to Sheep Heid pub and loch from Henry Raeburn painting

16 Feb 2011

Duddingston, next to Holyrood Park on the southeastern slope of Arthur’s Seat, is a pretty village that dates back to the 12th century and is a dedicated conservation area. The village’s oldest surviving building is Duddingston Kirk, which still…

Farmers’ markets in Edinburgh offer the best Scottish foods

Do as the locals do and head to Edinburgh’s weekly farmers’ market

16 Feb 2011

Farmers’ markets have been held in Scotland for over ten years, and have become a mainstay of any serious foodie’s calendar. Edinburgh farmers’ market, in the shadow of the castle, is so popular it takes place every Saturday, allowing locals to make it…

We saw you: George Miller

'My haircut is quite often done by myself.'

16 Feb 2011

George Miller, 48, production designer/musician My haircut is quite often done by myself. The shirt is from Hardy Amies, when they had a shop on George Street [Edinburgh.] It’s called ‘the Jagger’, but that’s not why I bought it. The cardigan is…

People of Glasgow and Edinburgh talk frankly about their sex lives

The List's 2011 survey documents attitudes to sex in Scotland

1 Feb 2011

We asked 200 people – 100 in Glasgow and 100 in Edinburgh – to reveal all about their sex lives.

How to avoid writing bad sex scenes in fiction, by Ewan Morrison

'Avoid using medical words to describe genitalia'

1 Feb 2011

We’re talking literary sex, of course. Author Ewan Morrison explains how to avoid bad sex scenes in fiction

Alternative Valentine's Day presents and ideas

Four unique and romantic ways to celebrate this year

26 Jan 2011

Being a List reader you’ve had the infinite good taste to pick a partner who can’t be doing with the corny hearts, flowers and factory-line V-Day dining experience we’re sold as ‘romance’. All well and good, but how on earth do you celebrate February…

The List Sex Survey 2011

Good people of Glasgow and Edinburgh – let us into your bedrooms!

21 Jan 2011

On 2 Feb 2011 The List is printing a special Sex Issue to coincide with Valentine's Day. As part of this we've commissioned a survey into the sex lives of folks in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Want to represent your city? To build up a good impression of…

Glasgow curry house Green Chilli Café explores pot-style home cooking

Succinct menu is dominated by Indian tapas or small plates

19 Jan 2011

Glasgow does love a curry. Recently crowned Curry Capital of Britain for a record fourth time, the city’s passion for the spice has yielded a long and illustrious history of curry houses. What began with Green Gates and Taj Mahal in the 1950s, exploded…

New exhibition The Inventors of Tradition examines Scotland’s textile past

Glasgow exhibition of samples, promotional materials and films

19 Jan 2011

The glory days of Scotland’s textile industry, when the Borders whirred with knitting machines and tweed was a viable alternative to central heating, seem a long time ago. Post-globalisation, garments with the ‘Made in Scotland’ label are about as…

Global Cool event encourages 'rebooting' a jumper to save money and reduce fuel usage

Artist collective Garterstitch100 to create 10m stitch blanket to mark International Women’s Day

12 Jan 2011

Tempting though it may be to break out the high-neck Damart thermals at this time of year, and bury yourself beneath layers of wadding and fleece, there are ways of staying draft-free and still exposing a hint of waistline/ dress sense/ youthful abandon…

More 3D, tablets and Panasonic's Jungle game system all set for 2011

The technology that we can expect in the year ahead

11 Jan 2011

Rule of three There’s no denying that 3D was a game changer at the cinema in 2010, from the megahit of Avatar, to smaller kids pictures such as Despicable Me and horror films such as Saw 3D everyone seemed to want in on the act and the lucrative…

2011's most anticipated gaming releases

Gears of War 3, Batman: Arkham City, Little Big Planet 2, LA Noire

16 Dec 2010

It’s January so the perfect time to look ahead at the videogames that will be rocking your console in 2011. As per usual sequels are big news. Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360, Microsoft, 8 Apr) will be making a full frontal assault on the first person shooter…

Christmas shopping bargains to be had from local retailer in Edinburgh and Glasgow

The best neighbourhood Christmas markets for last-minute shopping

15 Dec 2010

So, just like every other year, you were sort of probably planning to leave your Christmas shopping until, like a week beforehand or something, yeah? Ah. Might be a problem: 2010 isn’t like any other year. First off, the weather will thwart your online…

The independent design and craft shops springing up across the UK

Edinburgh shop Technicolour interviews Glasgow shop Welcome Home for tips

15 Dec 2010

Ever dreamt of opening your own shop? Or maybe turning your online mini-empire into a real-life bricks and mortar boutique? Jo Richardson is one of three ECA graduate designers who has just opened Technicolour in Edinburgh’s Tollcross. She asks Mhari…

How to spend Hogmanay in Edinburgh 2010/2011

The best events in Edinburgh for bringing in the New Year

15 Dec 2010

Kick off your new year revels by heading to the temporarily renamed Resolution Square (otherwise known as The Mound precinct) at 5pm and enjoying some traditional Scots and Irish folk tunes courtesy of the Island Sessions. Then, walk up to Parliament…

The best books to give for Christmas 2010

A look at some leftfield seasonal offerings - no celebrity autobiographies or TV annuals

30 Nov 2010

When bestselling memoirist Augusten Burroughs was a kid, he had something of an identity crisis. For him, Jesus Christ and Santa Claus were the same person. He couldn’t quite figure out which one of them came down the chimney on Christmas Eve and which…

Edinburgh arts space The Forest under threat after landlord's bankruptcy

Volunteer-run space raising money to buy building

19 Nov 2010

It’s important not to be fatalistic about these things, because nothing ever really ends; yet, the potential loss of the Forest Café and the Roxy could be a big setback for the vibrant underground music and arts scene scene in the capital. In terms of…

Glasgow's An Lochan has heaps of wintry and Scottish comforters

Restaurant review

19 Nov 2010

This season, winter heartiness is what you get at An Lochan. The restaurant is not a new feature of the West End, but new to the premises are the team from Blas (pron. blass, from the Gaelic for flavour), formerly at Kelvingrove. In essence the…

Coleen Rooney fronts Littlewoods 2010 Christmas campaign

Star continues her ambassadorial role for retailer

4 Nov 2010

Coleen Rooney is set to continue her ambassadorial role for the Littlewoods brand by fronting their enchanting 2010 Christmas campaign. The campaign is certainly not without an element of the magical, as the girls, and children, wait expectantly for the…