Latest news with #PrestwickAirport
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Scots seaside takeaway's 'criminal' dish has people travelling 80 miles to try it
Scran in Troon went viral after sharing a quirky new creation on TikTok. A seaside takeaway in Ayrshire has sent social media into a spin with its latest concoction, ice cream loaded fries topped with sprinkles. Scran, a popular food spot in Troon, unveiled the unusual treat in a short video online, and it has quickly become a viral sensation. Their TikTok post has now clocked up more than 300,000 views. Co-owner Kyle shared a clip of the dish, made with vanilla whippy ice cream poured over fries and finished with a scattering of multicoloured sprinkles. Viewers were quickly divided over the quirky offering. Some viewers branded the combo 'criminal,' while others were all for it, comparing it to dipping chips into a milkshake. One fan said: 'It's a yes from me." But what started as a lighthearted stunt has quickly become a surprise hit. Kyle said: 'We're quite big on social media, so we were trying to come up with a way to promote the ice cream unit. 'We came up with the idea of combining the fries and ice cream, it was meant to be a wee funny video to try and get some interaction, but it blew up. 'We've actually had people travelling down from Edinburgh to try and get some after seeing it on TikTok. "It was meant to be a gimmick, but it's turned into something bigger. We've been selling them pretty consistently now!' Some customers have travelled as far as 80 miles just to sample the bizarre creation, proving once again that Scotland's love for delights from the fryer knows no bounds. Just under 45 minutes by train or car from Glasgow, Troon has long been a magnet for beachgoers, families and day-trippers. At weekends, it's bustling with life, but during the week, it offers a quieter, more laid-back charm. Even when the beach is busy, its sheer size means you'll often find a spot to stretch out, especially at low tide when the Firth of Clyde reveals vast rippling sands. The view from the coast is a showstopper. On clear days, the dramatic silhouette of Arran looms in the distance, and Ailsa Craig's volcanic dome sits ghostlike on the horizon. Troon's golden beach stretches for over a mile, from the busy town centre in the north down to the world-famous Royal Troon Golf Club in the south, a regular host of the Open Championship. But it's not all sand and swings. The town is dotted with independent cafés, shops and restaurants, offering plenty to explore between cones and chips. With Prestwick Airport nearby, planes sweep gently overhead, adding a touch of theatre to the skies. And for anyone planning a seaside trip that won't break the bank, Troon is an easy win, regular trains from Glasgow Central take under 45 minutes, and with four free car parks in town, getting there by car is just as hassle-free.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
All to know about Alan Cumming's The High Life amid new play
Discussing the stage production, Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson (who also starred in the show) said: 'We are both beyond excited to be donning those nylon slacks and crimpelene blazers and connecting with our inner trolly dollies after all these years." They added that returning to these characters has been a "joyful experience" and that they can't wait to share what madness they've come up with around Scotland. What was the classic BBC sitcom The High Life about? The BBC comedy series followed the crew of a cut-price airline shuttle service between Prestwick Airport in Scotland and Heathrow Airport on the outskirts of London. In the stage version of the show, Air Scotia has been sold, and the crew must fight for their future. When did The High Life first air and how many seasons did it last? The High Life first aired all the way back in 1994 but was short-lived, remaining on our screens for a single season. Despite there only being seven episodes (including the pilot), the show's impact has been massive. The High Life first aired all the way back in 1994 (Image: National Theatre of Scotland/PA Wire) The main cast and crew for The High Life on the BBC This is the main cast and crew for the classic sitcom The High Life on the BBC. Cast Alan Cumming – Sebastian Flight Forbes Masson – Steve McCracken Siobhan Redmond – Shona Spurtle Patrick Ryecart – Captain Hilary Duff Recommended Reading: Crew Alan Cumming – Writer Forbes Masson – Writer Tony Dow - Director (pilot) Angela deChastelai Smith – Director (series) Tony Dow – Producer The High Life will return for a stage musical in the spring of 2026.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
China Southern Air Logistics starts service to Prestwick
Scheduled cargo flights will start at four flights a week, with plans to increase to a daily service. The agreement means the airport doubles its current scheduled freighter movements, in a move described as a "game changer" by Prestwick's chief executive Ian Forgie. Read more: He said: 'This is welcome news. The airport team have been working hard over the last 12 months to showcase the Prestwick solution as an alternative cargo gateway into the UK, and the board is delighted that a flagship carrier China Southern Air Logistics has established a scheduled service from China to Prestwick. 'We anticipate this new trade route will grow rapidly in 2025 as Prestwick delivers on it plans and the market responds to an alternative cargo gateway into the UK and a new direct export route to China from Scotland for high value Scottish seafood and whisky. "We are in discussions with other airlines and expect to make further announcements soon." The Airport has invested £2.3 million in equipment in the last 12 months and is continuing to invest in ground handling equipment and cool chain supply facilities as well as employing more staff, to maximise its capabilities in handling large freighters. Colin Dai, the airport's country sales director for Greater China, said: 'The airport has a long history and reputation for handling wide bodied freighters, providing fast aircraft turnaround and cargo handling, delivered through our in-house team. 'We are proud to announce this landmark agreement between China Southern Air Logistics and Prestwick Airport, and I know there is a lot of excitement from both sides to see the success of these flights.'
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Optimism that Scottish airport sale close as process reaches its 'most intensive'
Prestwick has been state owned since being saved from closure 12 years ago Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport 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 Scottish Government has said the sale process for nationalised Prestwick Airport is "at its most intensive", prompting an MSP to predict a deal 'could be very close'. Ministers have been attempting to return the South Ayrshire site to the private sector since buying it for a nominal £1 in 2013 to avert closure and the loss of hundreds of jobs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Prestwick Airport was bought by the Scottish Government for a nominal £1 in 2013 to avert its closure. Picture: John Devlin | John Devlin/The Scotsman Gregor Irwin, director-general economy for the Scottish Government, told the Scottish Parliament's public audit committee on Wednesday: 'There is a process that's underway that began last year where we saw expressions of interest in the airport's market testing exercise. 'We are at the stage in the process where it is at its most intensive and we are doing what we can to ensure that we reach a satisfactory conclusion. The Deputy First Minister [Kate Forbes] is to come back at the appropriate time and inform Parliament if there are significant developments in that process. 'That is being progressed in a professional and satisfactory manner and I would hope that in the near future we would be able to tell you more.' Ryanair is the Prestwick's sole passenger airline and also has a significant aircraft maintenance base there, while the airport also handles cargo flights. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It has racked up Scottish Government loans totalling £55 million up to 2020, including £12m of interest. A question mark remains over whether all or part would be repaid as part of any sale. The airport has since made a profit for the past four years, but said the surplus was needed to fund operations rather than pay off the debt. A number of previous attempts to sell the airport have fallen through. 'Extremely positive remarks' Scottish Conservatives Central Scotland MSP and committee member Graham Simpson said: 'The remarks from this senior civil servant were extremely positive in relation to the sale of Prestwick Airport. 'They suggest that a deal could be very close now to be being done. The SNP Government should inform Parliament at the earliest opportunity if that is the case and what the future holds for this major asset.
The Herald Scotland
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Prestwick Airport China flights game changer amid sale talks
While we wait to see what transpires on this front, with First Minister John Swinney having in late March acknowledged the existence of an 'active bid', the team at Prestwick Airport has been continuing with its drive to win business and push profits higher. For all the griping from some people about the Scottish Government's ownership, Prestwick Airport was able to reveal last November that it had made a fifth consecutive annual profit. Going airside with Prestwick Airport's head of cargo operations, Nico Le Roux, in February, what was plain was the heavy investment being made to attract new flights. By that time, Prestwick Airport was already starting to reap the rewards of this investment and planning. The investment has included equipment to handle the wide-door Airbus A350 cargo aircraft. Mr Le Roux in February highlighted the airport's expectations of more than trebling cargo revenues to in excess of £10 million a year. He flagged e-commerce flights as a 'game changer', after winning major business from Hong Kong. The cargo sector veteran said: 'This new business is going to be a game changer for the airport. It will totally transform the airport basically.' The airport is the subject of an 'active bid' (Image: Colin Mearns) Cargo revenues at Prestwick Airport totalled £3.228m in the year to March 31, 2024. Mr Le Roux revealed his expectation that cargo revenues would be more than treble that level in the airport's financial year to March 31, 2026, on the back of recent business wins. And he was confident of securing further major wins in the wake of the Hong Kong Air Cargo deal. Mr Le Roux, in this February interview hours before the arrival of the first Hong Kong Air Cargo flight, highlighted Prestwick Airport's advantages for cargo operators. He listed many, and they certainly seem like important factors. Mr Le Roux flagged in this regard quick turnaround times, lower costs, and flexibility given the airport's 24/7 operation and absence of any curfews or extra charges for landing at night. He also highlighted the fact that the airport's operations were all handled in-house by its own employees, including ground-handling, fuelling, air-traffic control and fire services. This makes it easier to coordinate things swiftly, and react quickly to airlines' requirements, he observed. Mr Le Roux noted the bonded warehouses were on site, and also highlighted the proximity of the cargo facilities to the ramps. He also flagged the fact that the airport was not congested, and its ability to accommodate large freighters. Continuing to rhyme off the competitive advantages, Mr Le Roux highlighted Prestwick Airport's ability to have a cargo plane back in the air within two hours of landing. Read more He underlined the speed with which cargo planes were unloaded once they arrived, contrasting this with the situation at some other airports. Mr Le Roux declared: 'Within two hours, we basically guarantee aircraft arrive and take off again.' He observed this was very important to operators 'because that aircraft only makes money when it is in the air'. These are surely attractive features for existing and potential customers. Given all this, it was not particularly surprising to hear of Prestwick Airport's latest success on the cargo side of its operations on Friday night. However, that does not mean the arrival of China Southern Air Logistics is any less of a big deal. Prestwick Airport's chief executive, Ian Forgie, described the agreement as a 'game changer' as it was announced just ahead of the weekend. The airport declared the deal had delivered the 'first-ever direct scheduled freighter services between China and Scotland'. The agreement between the airport and China Southern Air Logistics has seen the carrier start scheduled cargo flights at four per week between Guangzhou and Prestwick, with plans for this to increase to a daily service. The first scheduled flight landed on Friday at Prestwick Airport. The airport also flagged the China Southern Air Logistics freighter services as 'a new direct export route to China from Scotland for high-value Scottish seafood and whisky'. Read more In February, while highlighting Prestwick Airport's success in winning the Hong Kong Air Cargo flights bringing packages ordered by UK and Irish consumers on the likes of the Temu, SHEIN, and TikTok platforms, Mr Le Roux was enthusiastic about the potential for Scottish seafood and whisky to be exported on return journeys. He revealed that logistics providers serving the seafood industry and the Scotch whisky sector had been in touch on the back of news of the launch of the cargo flights from Hong Kong to Prestwick Airport, expressing interest in transporting exports on the return legs. And he flagged expectations that the workforce at Prestwick Airport would rise from 354 to about 400 on the back of the planned expansion of the cargo operations. Prestwick Airport noted on Friday night that it had invested £2.3m in equipment in the last 12 months and was continuing to invest in ground-handling equipment and cool chain supply facilities as well as employing more staff, to maximise its capabilities in handling large freighters. It is most encouraging to see all the planning and investment at Prestwick Airport coming together. The airport makes a very important economic contribution to Ayrshire and more broadly to Scotland, one that is too often disregarded by the politically motivated carpers. These detractors also seem to forget that the airport supports an aerospace cluster in and around it which employs about 4,000 people, or maybe they just do not really care about this. Prestwick Airport's growing success is all the more reason for the Scottish Government to ensure that any sale is made with the future prosperity of this strategic asset, including on the employment front, in mind. There is no reason to believe that will not be the case. When I asked Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes in late April about the importance of the jobs at Prestwick Airport and the employment supported by the airport, in the context of any potential sale, she replied: 'We have obviously saved Prestwick Airport more than a decade ago, precisely because of its strategic importance to the Scottish economy… 'If and when Prestwick is sold, it will be for the new owner to develop a business case.' Ms Forbes, who highlighted Prestwick Airport's cargo operations, declared: 'We have set out very clear lines that we want Prestwick to continue to operate as an airport.' She added: 'My view is Scotland is small enough to be able to support multiple airports but for those airports to be complementary to one another.' We will have to wait and see what emerges from the bid talks around Prestwick Airport. In the meantime, we should celebrate the airport's successes.
