Small Scottish distillery wins international recognition
The distillery in the Scottish Lowlands has won international recognition by taking home a gold medal at the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) for its Moffat Moonshine, which it says is a 'wood-fired, unaged spirit made entirely in Dumfries & Galloway'.
Moffat Distillery said it scored 96 points and 'the spirit stood out to judges for its depth, clarity and character - a remarkable result for a first release from a new distillery'.
'This is a huge moment for our small team,' said Nick Bullard, founder of Moffat Distillery. 'Moffat Moonshine is where our journey begins — raw, honest and full of character. We're proud it's been recognised on a global stage and we hope it puts our small but perfectly-formed corner of Scotland on the spirits map.'
Loganair launches new Glasgow route to Newquay in Cornwall
Regional airline Loganair has opened up a new route between Scotland's largest city and the very south of England.
Loganair has launched a new summer service between Glasgow and Newquay, offering Scots a direct route to Cornwall's coastline and vibrant seaside culture.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots with free bus passes issued expiry warning – don't get caught out
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTS with free bus passes are being urged to check the expiry date - make sure you don't get caught out. Disabled and elderly people are entitled to free travel, depending on their age and circumstances. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up National Entitlement Card Renewal forms are no longer being sent to disabled passholders ahead of the expiry date. A renewal can take at least five weeks - users are advised to apply in pleanty plenty of time. And Scots are being advised to allow ten working days for a new card. Pensioners' passes do not have an expiry date and are valid for life. However cards belonging to disabled people will need to be renewed. But after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a crackdown on benefits, several claimants may no longer meet the eligibility requirements. In the Spring Statement, Ms Reeves froze key DWP Universal Credit payments for those too ill to work until 2030, meaning they will get less help every year as prices rise. Meanwhile people claiming incapacity benefits through Universal Credit will see their payments slashed from £97 to £50 a week. The Chancellor also announced a tightening of restrictions around people claiming Personal Independence Payments, a benefit designed to support those with health conditions in England and Wales. Award-winning holiday park in St Ives In Scotland, PIP is being phased out after ministers launched its replacement - the Adult Disability Payment- in 2022. And 14 per cent of our working population receive it compared to nine per cent down south. But it remains unclear as to whether the Scottish Government will be forced to spend hundreds of millions to keep ADP at its current rate after the announcement confirmed cuts to PIP. The cuts to PIP payments in England and Wales have meant that some existing PIP recipients, as well as new applicants, may no longer meet the requirements and could lose access to the benefit. 1 The National Entitlement Card Citizen's Advice Scotland chief executive Derek Mitchell blasted the cuts to benefits. He said: "It's important to understand the context of this. The cost of living crisis hasn't gone away. "There are no circumstances in which ill and disabled people should bear the brunt of the problems in the wider economy. 'It's in all of our interests to ensure the system works and is properly funded. We need more investment in social security, not less. The cuts announced today are in complete contradiction to this and will only cause more hardship and harm.' With that in mind, it's important to know who qualifies for a free bus pass or a National Entitlement Card, as it's known in Scotland, to avoid missing out. You can get free bus and long-distance coach travel in Scotland if you're: 60 or over under 60, disabled and meet certain conditions. You'll be eligible on the grounds of disability if you: get Adult Disability Payment get Attendance Allowance get Child Disability Payment at the higher rate of the mobility component, or at the highest or middle rate of the care component get Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate of the mobility component, or at the higher or middle rate of the care component get Pension Age Disability Payment get Personal Independence Payment get Short-term Assistance while you challenge an Adult or Pension Age Disability Payment decision get Short-term Assistance while you challenge a Child Disability Payment decision about the higher rate of the mobility component, or the middle or highest rate of the care component have a blue badge are profoundly or severely deaf have been told not to drive on medical grounds or you would be refused a driving licence, for example if you would not meet the eyesight standard have a learning disability or mental health condition that has lasted for more than a year. You must need to travel to health or social care appointments as part of treatment activities, care or for rehabilitation. Your ability to travel must also be impaired are terminally ill have a progressive degenerative condition and mobility problems have lost one or more limbs are an injured veteran with mobility problems are under 16 and have a diagnosis of severe sight impairment that's been confirmed by an optician or doctor are 16 or over and registered blind or partially sighted. Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: "It is not yet clear what the UK Government cuts might mean for devolved disability benefits in Scotland and the people who rely on them. "The cuts announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall appear to be driven by a desire to save money and seek to balance the books by targeting the most vulnerable in our society. "Here in Scotland, we are taking a positive and compassionate approach to delivering the Adult Disability Payment and to help reduce any anxieties around the recent announcements. "This approach is ensuring that more disabled people get the support they are entitled to, whilst making sure accessing this support is as straightforward as possible. "That also means that more disabled people are eligible for free bus travel and I would hope Sun readers who are disabled and do not have a Saltire card might now apply for one. "Already, over 2 million older people, disabled people, children and young people in Scotland are benefiting from free bus travel, making over 3 million journeys every week. "Since January 2022, over 200 million bus journeys have been made across Scotland by children and young people under 22 using their free entitlement – connecting multiple generations with free bus use.
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Cost to repair CalMac ferry now costs £2m more than to buy replacement
The rejected ferry was similar in design to the 'emergency' catamaran ferry MV Alfred serving Arran that has now been chartered for a further five months to help state-owned ferry operator CalMac cope with lifeline services across the Clyde and Hebrides network. The usual Arran ferry MV Caledonian Isles was due out of its annual overhaul on February 17, last year but remains out of service. After a series of postponements, its latest scheduled return has been pencilled in for June 12. Some users had hoped it would be back on Monday and CalMac said it was always earmarked for the week beginning June 9. The ship has faced a series of issues including rust and twisted frames. In the meantime, the service to Brodick has had to move from Ardrossan and continue from Troon with a two-vessel service of the new much delayed and wildly over-budget Ferguson Marine-built MV Glen Sannox and MV Alfred. Four years ago the Scottish Government-owned owner of the ferry fleet demanded a foreign firm pay up to £100,000 to gain UK maritime approval before purchasing ferry for just £9m - and the insistence led to the deal collapsing. Discussions about acquiring the Indonesia-built vessel came before what was described at the time as a 'summer of chaos' across Scotland's ageing ferry network. READ MORE: Why has a 'rudderless' CalMac ferry been out of action for 16 months 'Final nail in coffin'. Scots fiasco firm loses out on big ferry contract to Poland 'Material uncertainty' over Scots ferry operator future amidst £45m funding hike 'Mismanagement': Public cost of Scots ferry fiasco firm hits £750m amidst overspends It was claimed that Scottish Government-owned procuring and ferry owning company Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) made an "incredible" move to have the overseas owners fork out for the official approvals for any modifications to make it suitable for Scottish waters which were estimated to have cost no more than £100,000. CalMac (Image: Newsquest) Scottish Labour's spokesman for community safety Katy Clark said: 'Spending almost £11m to repair a vessel that is 32 years old shows once again the wasteful nature of this SNP Scottish Government and poor decision making when it comes to spending public money and their utter lack of planning to ensure the CalMac fleet was renewed. "The SNP government quango, Caledonian Marine assets Limited (CMAL) rejected calls four years ago to buy a brand new £9m catamaran ferry to support the islanders of Arran and those that travel from the mainland to the island. "We now have ended up with a bill to the taxpayer of £10.8m for a vessel that's already months late in returning to service and which can't be guaranteed to even last the summer months given its history of breaking down." The West of Scotland MSP added: "This is another blow for the residents on Arran and the mainland. The Scottish Government have serious questions to answer again relating to their complete failure to ensure a reliable service between Arran and Ardrossan. "It is imperative that [transport secretary ] Fiona Hyslop gets to grips with this situation, provides a definitive business case for the redevelopment of Ardrossan Harbour to ensure there is a ferry service that people can rely on and that they put in place an adequate vessel building programme in Scotland. We need decisive action not further delays and vessels that aren't fit for purpose.' A ferry user group official said that the rising costs of repairs were "indicative of the mismanagement of Scotland's ferries" and called for CMAL to take the use of catamarans like MV Alfred seriously. "The cost of this repair really does beggar belief and the fact that the price of it would more than have paid for a catamaran like MV Alfred is incredible." The Mull & Iona Ferry Committee had been pushing the purchase of the ferry because of issues with the ferry services after local experts discovered the vessel had become available last year. MV Alfred (Image: NQ) The ferry would have been capable of taking two thirds of the number of cars that MV Glen Sannox would have been able to accommodate and a condition of the sale was that it would have had to be approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), which provides official certification for all ships. The over-200 foot metre roll-on roll off ferry could take 300 passengers and around 80 cars and was originally designed for a non-UK company, and was regulated for the Australian market. But the Scottish Government said that after a review of a Maritime Safety Innovations (MSI) report it was decided not to pursue the purchase of the vessel. The sellers, Hong Kong-base Sealease, criticised the handling of the failed potential purchase saying that it was common market practice that the buyer pays for regulatory approvals. The ferry committee had been introduced to the potential advantages of medium-speed catamarans by noted ferry experts Prof Alf Baird and Roy Pedersen. In May 2020, Mr Pedersen wrote to the CMAL alerting him to the opportunity to buy the catamaran that was under construction in Batam, Indonesia. The catamaran was similar in design to the MV Alfred owned by Pentland Ferries which before its operation as an 'emergency ferry' for Arran in the past two years was operating to and from Orkney. Dubbed the most environmentally-friendly ferry service of its kind in Scotland, MV Alfred was said to burn one third of the fuel of an equivalent CalMac ferry with space for up to 430 passengers and 98 cars, or 54 cars and 12 articulated vehicles/coaches. A shore-based wind turbine provides power when the vessel is docked overnight. It has, meanwhile been confirmed that the 'emergency' CalMac catamaran ferry which is being chartered for a further five months will be costing the taxpayer some £22m. Pentland Ferries has stated that it has signed an agreement with publicly funded CalMac to extend the charter of MV Alfred till the end of October. Pentland Ferries staff, who are operating services on behalf of Scottish Government-owned ferry operator CalMac, bought MV Alfred for £14m in 2019 to operate between Caithness and Orkney. It has previously emerged that Scotland's ageing ferries have been hit by a staggering 2,000% rise in cancellations due to breakdowns over 13 years. Crisis-hit CalMac was forced to axe 4,485 lifeline sailings due to technical faults in 2023 compared with just 217 in 2010 as it struggled to keep its fleet afloat. Meanwhile, the company running the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde has been dogged with issues with the delivery of major lifeline ferries Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa which were due online in the first half of 2018 when Ferguson Marine was under the control of tycoon Jim McColl. With both to serve Arran, they have been over seven years late, while Glen Rosa might won't see passengers till the middle of 2026 at the earliest. The last estimates suggest the costs of delivery have increased five-fold from the original £97m cost. A Transport Scotland spokesman said: 'The Scottish Government is investing in six new major vessels to serve Scotland's ferry network from 2025, alleviating the need for extensive repairs on older vessels and improving reliability. The first of these vessels, MV Glen Sannox, was delivered into service earlier this year and we expect the first of the Islay class vessels later this summer. 'CMAL have also awarded the contract for a further seven new smaller vessels which will serve routes across the west coast and have also just announced the start of procurement for two new vessels for the Northern Isles routes serving Orkney and Shetland. 'To improve service in the short term, we also purchased the MV Loch Frisa and extended the charter of the MV Alfred. We continue to work with operators and CMAL to improve resilience across our networks.'
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Scotland's 10 best fish and chip shops for summer 2025 takeaway
The Daily Record has put together a roundup of the top chippies across the country. Summer has officially arrived, which means so has peak fish and chip season. While a good fish supper is tasty no matter what time of year, there is something extra-special about one when the sun is shining. As June kicks off, the weather will hopefully start to pick up in the coming weeks. Many Scots will be looking to celebrate by heading to a fish and chip takeaway. If there is one thing Scotland has no shortage of, it is chippies. While you can head to your local fish and chip shop and probably get a tasty supper, there are some takeaways that are a cut above the rest. In honour of the start of the warmest season, the Daily Record has put together a roundup of some of the top fish and chip shops around Scotland. From the Scottish Borders to the Inner Hebrides, there are top-quality takeaways in every corner of the country—you just have to know where to look. Read on for our picks for the 10 best fish and chip shops in Scotland for summer 2025. The Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum The Real Food Cafe is an award-winning road-side diner that serves up top-quality salads, soups, and homemade treats. Of course, it is its fish and chips we are interested in. All of the eatery's haddock is sourced from sustainable MSC certified stocks, and is traditionally battered. The fish can be breaded for an additional cost, while extras include mushy peas, homemade tartare sauce, and battered large prawns. Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie Describing itself as Inverurie's "finest fish and chip shop" on its website, the Garioch Fish Bar sources the entirety of its produce locally to ensure that everything is as high-quality as possible. The chippy also prepares all of its food fresh to order. Customers can choose from haddock in a range of sizes, as well as lemon sole, rock turbot, and cod. Salt and pepper squid, fishcakes, scampi, and more are also available. Landy's Fish & Chips, Edinburgh Landy's Fish & Chips is a trendy venue in the Scottish capital that proves you don't need to sacrifice style for quality. While its interior is super modern and chic, its food is top-notch as well. In addition to classic battered or breaded haddock, Landy's Fish & Chips also offers Cajun spiced baked haddock and vegan options. All are served with twice-cooked chips and tartare sauce. The Seaforth, Ullapool Located in the heart of Ullapool in Ross and Cromarty, The Seaforth is a popular stopping point along the North Coast 500 scenic driving route. The venue offers both indoor and outdoor sitting areas, including a beer garden where visitors can admire the magnificent surrounding scenery. The award-winning eatery offers quality sourced seafood, with its Atlantic haddock fillet cooked in a crispy batter. Meanwhile, its chips are made from the highest-quality potatoes and are hand-cut and twice-fried. Oban Fish and Chip Shop, Oban Dating back to 2002, the Oban Fish and Chip Shop has been delighting both locals and visitors alike for decades. Over the years, it has received accolades from the Good Food Awards, National Geographic, VisitScotland, and more. The Oban Fish and Chip Shop's haddock and cod, which are sourced from Norway, are lightly battered or breadcrumbed and served with fresh-cut chips. Also available are local hake, local bass, and Mediterranean sea bass. The Bay Fish and Chips, Stonehaven The Bay Fish and Chips is another award-winning chippy that is both a local favourite and renowned across the country. It puts sustainability first, using only the freshest ingredients and sustainably sourced fish. Among the most popular dishes at The Bay Fish and Chips is its MSC certified North Sea Haddock—landed in Peterhead—that is hand-filleted. Customers can also enjoy fishcakes, scampi, fish burgers, and a range of other chippy classics. The Wee Chippy, Anstruther The family-owned Wee Chippy is one of the most popular fish and chip shops in the seaside Fife town of Anstruther, rivalled only by the famous Anstruther Fish Bar. It prides itself on serving up "the freshest of produce available" according to its website, with its food fried to order in vegetable oil. Visitors can enjoy battered or breaded haddock, as well as fishcakes, prawns, scampi, and more. In addition to its classic menu, The Wee Chippy also offers a gluten and dairy-free menu seven days a week for customers with dietary restrictions. The Chippy, Portree The Chippy has a lot of competition in Portree, but even amongst Skye's thriving food scene it stands tall. While unassuming from the outside, it has earned its reputation as a local favourite. If it is a simple no-nonsense fish and chips you are after, then this is the place. Set in a perfect position on Portree's harbour, The Chippy is the ideal spot to pick up a fresh supper to eat as you take in the beautiful coastal views. Alfonso's Takeaway, Earlston Alfonso's Takeaway is easily one of the standout fish and chip shops in the Scottish Borders, having previously been recognised at the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards. The family-run business specialises in fish, pizzas, kebabs, and burgers. The fish at Alfonso's Takeaway is perfectly cooked in a tasty crisp batter. The portions are also rather generous, perfect for those with a big appetite. Mcleod's Fish and Chips, Inverness If you find yourself in Inverness this summer, then you owe it to yourself to try out Mcleod's Fish and Chips. Fresh from the sea, all of the chippy's fish is fully sustainable and locally sourced. In terms of its seafood offerings, visitors can order haddock, scampi, scallops, and fishcakes with or without chips. Other options include fresh burgers, sausage suppers, and haggis pudding.
