Latest news with #FringebytheSea
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Full Fringe by the Sea programme announced - with Vic Reeves and Christopher Biggins
Fringe by the Sea has announced its final line up for the festival in August Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The final line-up for Fringe By The Sea has been announced, with performers including Vic Reeves and Christopher Biggins. With over 250 events across 10 days from 1 to 10 August, the festival spans music, comedy, conversation, film, and family entertainment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 17th Fringe By The Sea event takes place in North Berwick, in East Lothian, in August - alongside the main Edinburgh Fringe. The final programme includes Jim Moir, otherwise known as Vic Reeves, talking about his life as both an artist and one half of one of Britain's best loved comedy double acts; TV host Steph McGovern; Scottish comedian Fred MacAulay and an indie DJ set with Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite and Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch, who will also be talking about his book, Nobody's Empire. Meanwhile, Christopher Biggins will be in conversation with Patricia Hodge in a fundraising event in aid of Leuchie House. This follows earlier announcements of shows featuring Boomtown Rats star Bob Geldof, electronica band Air and politician Rory Stewart. Eddi Reader and cyclist Chris Hoy are also already announced as performers for this summer. New for 2025 is Wavelength, a music film festival strand supported by Screen Scotland. Running throughout the festival, it features Seaside Screenings, filmmaker talks, and gigs inspired by film. Guests include Irvine Welsh, director Tim Pope, and rising Scottish acts such as Redolent and the documentary Since Yesterday, featuring the untold story of Scotland's girl bands. The RSNO is performing the tunes from James Bond as the last show of the festival. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Christopher Biggins is to appear at Fringe by the Sea. Fringe By The Sea has this year attracted acts making their only appearance north of the border this summer, such as the Ezra Collective and AIR, who will be performing their seminal album Moon Safari. Former North Berwick resident Hamish Hawk will be returning to headline an incredible indie night also featuring Billy Nomates, Cloth and Blur's Dave Rowantree doing a DJ set Festival director Rory Steel said: 'As word of Fringe By The Sea's welcoming atmosphere and brilliant talent on show spreads year after year, we're always aiming to keep one step ahead with an ever more impressive line-up. And what a billing we have this year, with more than 250 events taking place in North Berwick this August, there's absolutely something for everyone. 'Of course none of this would happen without the magnificent team who work for the festival as well as our wonderful volunteers that provide such an important role.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad According to the Economic Impact Report conducted by MKA Economics for Fringe by the Sea 2024, the festival's visitor spending has contributed an additional £9.9 million to the local economy. This marks a 36 per cent increase over the 2023 figure.
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Full Fringe by the Sea programme announced - with Vic Reeves and Christopher Biggins
Fringe by the Sea has announced its final line up for the festival in August Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The final line-up for Fringe By The Sea has been announced, with performers including Vic Reeves and Christopher Biggins. With over 250 events across 10 days from 1 to 10 August, the festival spans music, comedy, conversation, film, and family entertainment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 17th Fringe By The Sea event takes place in North Berwick, in East Lothian, in August - alongside the main Edinburgh Fringe. The final programme includes Jim Moir, otherwise known as Vic Reeves, talking about his life as both an artist and one half of one of Britain's best loved comedy double acts; TV host Steph McGovern; Scottish comedian Fred MacAulay and an indie DJ set with Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite and Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch, who will also be talking about his book, Nobody's Empire. Meanwhile, Christopher Biggins will be in conversation with Patricia Hodge in a fundraising event in aid of Leuchie House. This follows earlier announcements of shows featuring Boomtown Rats star Bob Geldof, electronica band Air and politician Rory Stewart. Eddi Reader and cyclist Chris Hoy are also already announced as performers for this summer. New for 2025 is Wavelength, a music film festival strand supported by Screen Scotland. Running throughout the festival, it features Seaside Screenings, filmmaker talks, and gigs inspired by film. Guests include Irvine Welsh, director Tim Pope, and rising Scottish acts such as Redolent and the documentary Since Yesterday, featuring the untold story of Scotland's girl bands. The RSNO is performing the tunes from James Bond as the last show of the festival. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Christopher Biggins is to appear at Fringe by the Sea. Fringe By The Sea has this year attracted acts making their only appearance north of the border this summer, such as the Ezra Collective and AIR, who will be performing their seminal album Moon Safari. Former North Berwick resident Hamish Hawk will be returning to headline an incredible indie night also featuring Billy Nomates, Cloth and Blur's Dave Rowantree doing a DJ set Festival director Rory Steel said: 'As word of Fringe By The Sea's welcoming atmosphere and brilliant talent on show spreads year after year, we're always aiming to keep one step ahead with an ever more impressive line-up. And what a billing we have this year, with more than 250 events taking place in North Berwick this August, there's absolutely something for everyone. 'Of course none of this would happen without the magnificent team who work for the festival as well as our wonderful volunteers that provide such an important role.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad According to the Economic Impact Report conducted by MKA Economics for Fringe by the Sea 2024, the festival's visitor spending has contributed an additional £9.9 million to the local economy. This marks a 36 per cent increase over the 2023 figure.
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful UK seaside town is home to puffins, otters and the occasional shark
Brits looking for staycation inspiration make want to check out a beautiful UK seaside town where you can see puffins, seals and even whales if you're lucky A picturesque UK seaside town is worth having on your radar if you love wildlife, as it can be a great place to spot the likes of puffins, otters, seals and even whales and dolphins. North Berwick in Scotland, just half an hour away from Edinburgh, has long been a firm-favourite with birdwatchers thanks to its renowned Seabird Centre. Visitors can take a series of boat trips between April and the end of September to surrounding islands as well as birdwatching hotspots, and keep an eye out for the likes of gannets, gulls, terns and more. Meanwhile, puffins remain a big draw for tourists in the area. The best time to spot them is between March and August, with the Isle of May playing home to one of the largest puffin colonies in the UK (you can also find puffins on other Scottish islands such as Fidra, Craigleith, St Kilda, Orkney and Shetland). Meanwhile, Bass Rock is home to the world's largest Northern gannet colony, and makes for a very impressive sight. Plenty of visitors have taken to Tripadvisor to praise the Seabird Centre's boat trips, and noted that they spotted everything from puffins to dolphins and even the occasional whale during their holidays. In fact, it's also worth keeping your eyes peeled for the impressive basking sharks that have been known to make an appearance too! "We did the Bass Rock and Craigleith catamaran trip and saw lots of gannets, puffins, kittiwakes, eider ducks, seals and many more," one visitor wrote earlier this year. "Our guide was excellent, can highly recommend this 1h 15min trip, it didn't feel rushed and the boat rotated so we all got a chance to see everything." READ MORE: Europe's sunniest city is underrated gem - and Brits can get there with £16 flights Another added: "Even on a cold rainy miserable day the scenery is beautiful the whole sea front just looks completely different than when the sun is shining." North Berwick also plays host to a series of fun events throughout the year, whether you want to watch locals take on impressive feats during the Highland Games, watch entertaining shows at the Fringe by the Sea festival, or want to go all-in on a bird-themed getaway during the town's annual Puffin Fest. Still, it's not just the wildlife that makes North Berwick such a tempting destination to visit. The charming town is home to heaps of pretty tea rooms, classic fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours and coffee spots, as well as plenty of shops and hotels. The harbour is also well worth a visit especially at sunset for those Instagram-worthy views. On the sunnier days, you can also take in gorgeous coastal setting from the town's picturesque beaches including Gullane Bents, Seacliff beach, North Berwick Milsey Bay and North Berwick West Beach to name a few. Meanwhile, there are also historic castles and ruins to discover, with plenty of scenic walks and hikes in the area if you want to get those 10,000 steps in.
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Daily Record
Scotland's 'best seaside town' crowned by National Geographic ahead of summer
Scotland's "best seaside town" has been crowned ahead of summer. The coastal spot was named one of the best in the UK by National Geographic. On April 25, National Geographic published an article detailing "seven of the best beach towns" in the UK. This list includes destinations across Scotland, England, and Wales. The only Scottish town to be included on the roundup is North Berwick. The seaside East Lothian town is located around 20 miles from Edinburgh. National Geographic praised North Berwick's "long sandy beach". North Berwick West Beach features long stretches of sand, offering views out to the island of Craigleith and Bass Rock. The beach is also a popular spot amongst families, as well as dog walkers. You can often see visitors sunbathing, bird watching, and paddling in the water. National Geographic also singled out the town's "nation-leading living standards". As previously reported by the Daily Record, North Berwick was named Scotland's "best place to live" by The Times. Additionally, the magazine praised the town for its food offerings. North Berwick is home to a wide selection of cafés, restaurants, and takeaways. One eatery singled out by National Geographic was the Lobster Shack, situated along North Berwick's harbour. The takeaway serves up lobster and crab rolls, smoked haddock, salmon fishcakes, and more. Meanwhile, in terms of places to stay, National Geographic praised Marine North Berwick. The "quintessential Scottish coastal hotel" is home to a range of suites and rooms with views out over the Firth of Forth, as well as a popular restaurant and bar. Another aspect of North Berwick that was applauded was its Fringe by the Sea festival, which takes place every year in August. The 10-day programme features comedy, music, literature, and more. Finally, the magazine noted the Scottish Seabird Centre as one of the town's top tourist attractions. The award-winning centre features interactive live cameras that allow visitors to get up close with wildlife on the Firth of Forth islands. National Geographic wrote: "Granted, there are coastal resorts that have suffered greater travails than this affluent East Lothian town. "But it still had to endure a choppy few decades at the close of the 20th century as its 'Biarritz of the North' epithet slipped, hotels closed and local tensions around the courting of tourists grew. "A healthy truce has since descended and visitors can enjoy a town that's lauded for everything from its long sandy beach to its nation-leading living standards." 14 old Scottish phrases you don't hear much anymore and what they mean View gallery Elsewhere, other towns featured on National Geographic's roundup include Whitley Bay in North Tyneside and Barmouth in North Wales. The former was praised for offering "some of the North East's best indie-store shopping", while Barmouth was applauded for its "sense of pride and community". The full list of the seven "best" beach towns in the UK can be found on the National Geographic website.
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish spot named one of the best seaside towns in the UK
Introducing the ranking, the prestigious travel magazine said that while many seaside towns went into decline at the turn of the century, a number of these spots are starting to make a comeback. It added that this "resurgence" has been driven by a complex web of influences, including the cost-of-living crisis and climate-conscious travel. North Berwick was named alongside beach towns like Weymouth (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) North Berwick named one of the best beach towns in the UK by National Geographic North Berwick, which was the only seaside town in Scotland named by National Geographic, was praised for its Fringe by the Sea festival and amazing foodie spots. Discussing the East Lothian town, the publication said that like other coastal resorts, the location endured a choppy few decades at the close of the 20th century as its "Biarritz of the North" epithet slipped. However, in the years since, the town has rebounded and been "lauded" for its long sandy beaches and "nation-leading" living standards. The magazine went to highlight the Fringe by the Sea festival, an annual event featuring comedy, live music and culinary masterclasses. The Scottish Seabird Centre is located in the East Lothian town (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Another big draw is the Scottish Seabird Centre, a great place to learn about the gannets that reside on the famous Bass Rock. The town also has a "well-deserved" foodie reputation thanks to harbour-front eateries like the Lobster Shack, which serves all kinds of seafood like crab rolls and smoked haddock. There is also Drift, a "cliff-edge medley of upcycled shipping containers with rousing Firth of Forth views and an indecently good brunch."
