Latest news with #GleneaglesHotel
Daily Record
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Robbie Williams gig at Murrayfield - Everything you need to know from start time to support act
Robbie Williams kicks off his 2025 European tour this weekend at Edinburgh's Murrayfield stadium - here's everything you need to know if you have tickets to the gig. Robbie Williams is kicking off his European tour in Edinburgh this weekend, as the singer is set to take the stage at Edinburgh's Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium. If you've managed to get your hands on a ticket, you're in for an unforgettable evening. Known for his chart-topping hits and legendary stage presence, Robbie always brings the energy and atmosphere where ever he goes. His highly anticipated performance in Edinburgh marks the opening night of his 'Britpop' tour, before the star heads to London, Manchester and Bath followed by dates in Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Sweden. The Rock DJ singer and his wife, Ayda Williams, arrived in Scotland earlier this week staying at the luxurious Gleneagles Hotel. Robbie has been enjoying his time in Scotland before he takes the stage to perform for over 50,000 people. Here is everything you need to know about Robbie's Edinburgh gig... Where and when is Robbie William's performing? Robbie will kick off his 2025 tour at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on Saturday, May 31. Doors will open at 4pm Support acts begin at 6pm Robbie takes the stage at 8:30pm Who's supporting Robbie? Before Robbie hits the stage, the crowd will be warmed up by two very different acts. The Indie pop band Lottery Winners will be the first to preform kicking off the show at 6:00pm, and then pop soul singer Rag 'n' Bone Man will take to the stage at 7pm. Murrayfield bag policy Murrayfield does not have any locker room's or bag drop facilities in or outside the stadium, and they strongly encourage visitors not to bring a bag. Although this is not always a feasible plan for people travelling to and from the gig via public transport. The stadium does allow one bag per ticket holder, and it must be smaller than A4 size. There are a several items that are banned by Murrayfield: Bags larger than A4 size. Knives, weapons, dangerous or hazardous items. Food and drinks, including alcohol. Sealed bottles of water smaller than 500ml are permitted. Fireworks, flares, smoke bombs and pyrotechnics. Banners or flags 'which contain slogans considered to be offensive or abusive'. Musical instruments. Air horns, balloons, party poppers & silly string. Laser pointers and flashlights. Animals other than registered guide/assistance dogs. Cameras with a lens of more than 3 inches in length or with a detachable lens. Audio recording equipment including laptops and iPads. Tripods & selfie sticks. Any other items that we deem to pose a risk of injury or annoyance to other customers. What to expect from the weather Planning your outfit from the event, then it is best to expect mixed weather conditions. The Met Office forecasts a 40% - 90% chance of rain between 4pm and 10pm, and temperatures set between 12C and 15C with a light breeze throughout the day. It may be best to take a waterproof jacket, or a disposable poncho in your bag to be prepared for the weather. Although it is Scotland after all, so you might need to pack a sun cream too just incase. Travelling by train... As thousands are expected to attend the gig, ScotRail is taking measures to ensure fans travel to Edinburgh smoothly. There will be extra carriages on the trains on key routes in and out of Edinburgh Waverley, as well as additional late night services to Glasgow. The train company is advising fans to travel early as trains and stations will be particularly busy from the afternoon onwards. Edinburgh Haymarket will be your stop if you are planning on heading straight to the stadium from the train, with easy walking routes and tram's available to take your straight to the concert. To avoid any issues, ScotRail recommends purchasing your return ticket via the ScotRail app before you leave your house to begin your journey. What songs can you expect? While Robbie hasn't released an official setlist for his tour yet, has a recent setlist from earlier this year to grasp an idea of what he tends to play live. Let Me Entertain You Land of 1000 Dances (Chris Kenner cover) Strong Come Undone Better Man Could It Be Magic (Barry Manilow cover) Don't Look Back in Anger (Oasis cover) Back for Good (Take That song) Love My Life Candy Supreme Millennium Feel Kids Rock DJ No Regrets She's the One (World Party cover) Angels Although there is no doubt, fans will be treated to an electric show from the former Take That singer. Can you still get tickets? There are a few tickets left for the gig on Saturday, which can be purchased on Ticketmaster. The tickets start from around £85, always be wary of buying tickets from anyone outside the gig or online if you are not buying them from an official ticket website.
The Courier
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Camp 21 Cafe opens at Cultybraggan in Perthshire
A Perthshire prisoner of war camp has welcomed a stream of new customers thanks to the opening of a new cafe. Ken McCutcheon and his partner Karen Sinclair have opened Camp 21 Cafe at Cultybraggan Camp in Comrie. The cafe joins the museum and B&B facilities that operate in the grounds. Ken said: 'I used to have the lease on Frandy Fishery, down in Glen Devon. 'When it came up for renewal I lost that to Gleneagles Hotel – obviously, I couldn't compete with them. 'Karen is a chef and worked at Kippen House nursing home.' Ken added: 'I didn't want to retire and we were going to get a food trailer. One of Karen's friends had told her about the cafe at Cultybraggan. 'We had a look at it and thought, 'we can probably make a go of this'. 'It needed a bit of money spent on it and that may have put other people off. It didn't have a kitchen in it so we needed to put a fully working one in.' The couple have welcomed a steady stream of customers since they opened the cafe doors. Ken said: 'The weekend we opened, they were having their VE celebrations at the camp so it really was a baptism of fire. 'As well as that, last weekend they had a vintage bike event on, so again it was all systems go. 'It's been a busy stretch but the cafe is looking good.' Karen's menu options include gourmet burgers, toasties, cold-filled rolls and breakfasts, as well as vegan and vegetarian options. Customers have been enjoying what is on offer. Ken said: 'It has been very good so far. 'The camp were after a cafe, it was one thing they thought was missing. 'It now has one and it's proven to be quite popular, not just by visitors but local people as well. 'The camp are good at letting us know when they have events on so we can cater for that a bit better. 'The first weekend we were thrown into the deep end and we didn't know what to expect. We got through it but just.' The village took ownership of the camp in 2007 and it is currently run by the Comrie Development Trust. Last year, the trust backed the managers of the B&B facilities at Cultybraggan after they came last on Channel 4 show Four in a Bed.
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Johnnie Walker Opens Door To Ultra-Premium With First 'Vault' Release
Inside the Johnnie Walker Vault below Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh, Scotland. In March 2025, Johnnie Walker announced a new experiment in premiumization: the Johnnie Walker Vault, an ultra-exclusive 'Bespoke Private Blend Experience.' In the short time since the announcement, the Diageo-owned company has already put together its first release. The Johnnie Walker Couture Expression, with four Scotch blends priced at $20,000 per crystal decanter, is another effort from the number one Scotch brand to maintain dominance amid a softening market for Scotch whisky sales by value. Located under their current tourist attraction in Edinburgh, the Johnnie Walker Vault is both a physical space and a collaboration platform. Guests can commission private blends (which some reports say start at more than $50,000) and are offered a stay at the Gleneagles Hotel, plus Michelin-starred dining. At any time, the Vault can hold up to 500 whiskies, though parent company Diageo has said that the team has access to 10 million casks at large. Meanwhile, the Vault also operates as a platform to target ultra-high-end brand crossovers. Their first partner is Olivier Rousteing, creative director at French luxury fashion house Balmain since 2011. It's not an odd choice, since Johnnie Walker's Blue Label recently targeted both an après-ski release and a crossover with Taiwanese artist James Jean (Black Label got its own team up with Netflix's Squid Game). The Johnnie Walker Vault's new Couture Expression, with four different, $20,000 blends representing different seasons. Rousteing collaborated with Master Distiller Dr. Emma Walker to produce not one, but four, different blends, each corresponding to a different season. Although there are only 25 bottles of each available, this is the first of a two-part collaboration, and executives seems hopeful that they can leverage this into a recurring tactic. 'Johnnie Walker Vault is allowing us to make our mark on the world of luxury spirits in an exciting new way, as well as opening the door to a new era of progress for the brand,' Managing Director Julie Bramham said in an online release. Across the global spirits industry, premiumization has been a core strategy: selling pricier, aged bottles to make up for flat or declining volumes. Diageo and rivals have leaned into this trend, acquiring high-end brands and rolling out limited editions. However, that premium boom may have peaked—RBC analysts said late last year that they 'estimate that the proportion of sales from high-end reserve brands fell from 29% in 2023 to 27% in 2024,' adding that they 'expect this decline to continue' for Diageo. On top of that, CEO Debra Crew cautioned in recent interim results that inflationary pressures and high interest rates are forcing consumers to cut back on pricier bottles, and had already said in mid-2024 it was 'hard to say when current challenges will recede.' The company also removed medium-term guidance in response to 'current macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.' Ultimately, it's a mixed bag, but ultra-premium releases like Couture Expression can be seen as a defensive play, targeting affluent collectors and luxury seekers who are less price-sensitive. This ultra-premium push coincides with renewed tariff volatility. On April 5, 2025, the Trump administration began collecting a 10% levy on all British exports, including Scotch whisky, threatening to inflate U.S. retail prices. Across the Atlantic, the European Commission reinstated a 50% tariff on American whiskey from the same date—retaliatory measures linked to U.S. steel and aluminum duties—casting uncertainty over transatlantic spirits flows. The Distilled Spirits Council of the US, an industry group, warned that ongoing trade disputes risk 'curtailing growth and complicating market dynamics,' even as temporary suspensions offer some reprieve. Nonetheless, U.S. spirits exports climbed 10% in 2024 to $2.4 billion, driven by a 60% surge in shipments to the EU, as distillers raced to secure market share ahead of potential tariff escalation. With Couture Expression, Johnnie Walker is wagering that ultra-premium exclusivity can still outpace both market softness and tariff uncertainties. As global spirits conglomerates continue their upmarket migration, the Johnnie Walker Vault could provide a template for maintaining premium cachet even as mainstream premium sales soften. The real measure of success will come in the long term amid an increasingly crowded luxury landscape.
The Courier
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Strathearn Cheese saved as ex-Gleneagles chef takes on business
A much-loved Perthshire cheese has been brought back from the brink. Ben Hodgson is the new boss of Strathearn Cheese after the brand's founder announced he was quitting at the end of last year. Ben, 25, had been working for the Comrie company after a number of years at Gleneagles Hotel. He has now taken it over from his old boss, Pierre Leger. And the first batch of cheeses in the new era will be rolling off the production line at Cultybraggan next week. Ben says he's been heartened by the response since he announced Strathearn Cheese is back in business. 'Everyone has been so nice,' he said. 'It's really taken me by surprise how much people care about it.' Ben worked as demi chef de partie at Gleneagles for three and a half years. He joined Strathearn Cheese in March 2024 and was one of five employees when Pierre announced he was selling up in the autumn. The business had outgrown its base at the former prisoner of war camp at Cultybraggan, just outside Comrie. And Pierre had been unable to find large enough new premises anywhere in the area. At the time, he told The Courier: 'The premises here are too small for our needs now. But it may be that they are suitable for someone who wants to come in and just make cheese themselves.' And that's where Ben comes in. He is now running the business with long-time cheese-maker Kirsty McCabe. The pair are focusing on Strathearn's most popular cheese, the award-winning Wee Comrie, for now. The first batch should be ready next Tuesday and more are already in production for the following weeks. Butter production is also about to resume. And a number of long-standing stockists, including Hansen's Kitchen, Comrie Croft and the Crieff Food Company, are also on board, with more to follow in the weeks and months to come. 'We're really excited to get going,' said Ben. 'We're starting with the Wee Comrie and the butter, and then we'll see what happens.' Strathearn Cheese started production at Cultybraggan in 2016. Their first cheese was The Strathearn. The range expanded over the years to include The Lady Mary, The Wee Comrie and The Braggan, as well as a range of butters. The Wee Comrie became the most popular with around 1,500 units in production every month before the business changed hands.
