Latest news with #Shetland
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Cruise ship with gastroenteritis outbreak on board allowed to dock at tiny island town
Passengers on the Costa Favolosa cruise ship reported symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness during a seven-day Northern European voyage from Hamburg before docking in Lerwick, Shetland. NHS Shetland and the Lerwick Port Authority stated they were not informed of any public health issues before the ship's arrival on May 20. Shore excursions in Lerwick were cancelled after a guest was visibly sick, raising concerns about the potential impact on local businesses. Almost 3,000 passengers crowded Lerwick's town centre before businesses were alerted to the gastroenteritis outbreak on board. Lerwick Port Authority has since contacted involved parties to tighten procedures for reporting passenger health concerns before future port calls.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Fury as cruise ship hit by sickness bug outbreak allows passengers out on Shetland town
An Italian cruise line has come under fire after thousands of passengers exposed to a sickness bug were allowed to disembark in a town in Shetland. Passengers on board Costa Cruises Costa Favolosa ship had reported symptoms of 'mild gastrointestinal illness ' during a seven-day Northern European voyage from Hamburg before the vessel docked in Lerwick, Shetland, earlier this month. Both NHS Shetland and the Lerwick Port Authority said they had not been advised of any public health issues before the arrival of the cruise ship on 20 May. Dr Susan Laidlaw, director of Public Health at NHS Shetland, said that the body only received notification of illness on board Costa Favolosa 'through the Port Health route late in the afternoon of Tuesday 20 May'. 'However, we now understand that a small number of passengers with symptoms of gastroenteritis were being appropriately managed by the medical team on-board the vessel,' added Dr Laidlaw. Lerwick Port Authority added that 'vessels calling at the harbour are required to declare any concerns relating to passenger health' but on this occasion, the authority 'was not notified of any passenger ill-health on board the cruise ship Costa Favolosa '. Shore excursions for passengers in Lerwick were quickly cancelled by local operators when guests showed visible symptoms of a stomach bug. Sonia Robertson, managing director of R. Robertson and Son bus company, said that all island tours were stopped after a guest left a coach to be 'violently sick three times'. 'Something like this could have crippled the whole company and affect a lot of our staff and services,' she added, according to The Times. Almost 3,000 passengers crowded Lerwick's town centre before businesses were made aware that passengers had been taken ill with gastroenteritis on board. Celia Smith, owner of coffee shop Blyde Welcome, told The Shetland Times that locals had 'absolutely no warning' of the gastroenteritis breakout. She said: 'We could've been better prepared, we could've had more sanitiser and some businesses had face masks.' The 290-metre-long Costa Favolosa ship can carry almost 4,000 passengers. Dr Laidlaw advised hand washing and bleach-based cleaning products to help prevent the spread of gastrointestinal infections. Cruise operator Costa Cruises insisted that it had been permitted to dock in Lerwick. The cruise line said in a statement: 'During the May 15-22 cruise on Costa Favolosa, some guests reported mild gastrointestinal symptoms to the ship's medical centre. As a precaution, we immediately implemented enhanced disinfection and sanitation measures.' According to Lerwick Port Authority: 'The Authority has contacted parties involved, and agreed measures which will tighten up procedures ensuring documentation is completed correctly and timeously prior to a port call, to prevent recurrence.'
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh woman's 'incredible' time on Netflix set to offer her unique expertise
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh womans unique experience led her to the set of the newly-released Netflix series Department Q. Heather Muir, a contact lens technician at independent practice in the capital, played a behind-the-scenes role in the show - which was filmed in and around Edinburgh. A 'seasoned expert' in handling contact lenses, Heather was brought on for specalist support. She worked closely with actors and makeup artists for the series, with hit Netflix on Thursday, April 29. The thriller show follows a former top detective who takes on a cold- case, transforming an Edinburgh basement into a 'well-oiled machine' filled with misfit officers. Heather commented on her experience while on set, saying: "It was an incredible experience to collaborate with such a talented production team. "Blending medical expertise with the creative world of television was a unique opportunity, and it was a memorable experience to be on location with the production team." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Heather works with Cameron Optometry, and also worked on Guillermo Del Toro's latest blockbuster which was filmed in Edinburgh. Department Q features plenty of familiar faces from shows such as Downton Abbey, Shetland and Call the Midwife. You'll spot the likes of Matthew Goode, Kelly MacDonald, Alexej Manvelov, Leah Byrne and Jamie Sives. Filming for the series took place in early 2024, with cast and crew descending on spots around the city including housing estates in Wester Hailes, City Chambers, and The Signet Library. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. Leah Byrne, who plays Rose, spoke exclusively to Reach about her experience on set with fellow actor Alexej Manvelov, who plays Akram. Speaking about the abundance of Scottish talent on the show, she said: "It was so cool, such a joy for me. I'm from Glasgow so I just had to nip down the road and we were filming this amazing show. "But it's so authentically Scottish as well. It doesn't feel like it's trying to be something it's not. It doesn't have to try hard and it's just in its blood."
The National
2 days ago
- The National
How Skye has 'flourished' in the 30 years since the bridge opened
The Isle of Skye is the second most visited destination in Scotland after Edinburgh. This year the Skye bridge is 30 years old and is the gateway to the island for the majority of visitors. For an island with single-track roads and rural infrastructure, it's a lot to manage. Visit Scotland works hard to market other parts of Scotland yet the pull of the Cuillins is magnetic. The dramatic cliffs and peaks of Skye, the miles of coastline, the constantly changing light . . . there's nowhere quite like it. I'm far from immune. Growing up in Lochaber, the mountains of Skye were always on my horizon and, as an adult, I take every opportunity to visit, particularly out of season. Whether out hiking, visiting distilleries or eating my way around Skye, every visit I discover somewhere new and fall a little further under the island's spell. In the 30 years since the bridge opened, the hospitality industry has flourished. Today Skye's restaurants, cafés and distilleries are as much of a draw as the mountains and beauty spots. Isabella Macdonald runs Kinloch Lodge ( at the end of a single-track road on the Sleat peninsula. It's one of my favourite hotels in Scotland. Isabella remembers Skye before the bridge. 'I have so many childhood memories of queuing for ferries, or just missing the last one,' she says. 'A lot of the dislike for the project was because of the tolls. I'd liken it to the Edinburgh trams: initial grumbling but very quickly people grew to love it. Now we wouldn't be without it. It's made Skye so much more accessible. As a business owner you're not worrying about your guests missing the ferry or booking one in time. It definitely helps with attracting visitors year round too.' Dinner at Kinloch Lodge is a treat, with the menu changing daily depending on available produce, the weather and what chef Jordan Webb and his creative team dream up. When I visit that's Skye venison tacos as a snack, a beautiful seared Skye scallop in a light dashi with pak choi and peanuts, then poached Shetland cod with home-smoked lobster. (Image: UNKNOWN) The hotel still feels like the Clan Macdonald family home with portraits ranging from ancient oil paintings to recent school photos of the current youngest generation. It also offers a tapas-style lunch menu. I delight in west coast crab with foraged Alexanders on toast, and scallop sashimi, all in the idyllic garden overlooking Loch na Dal. A little further south on the Sleat peninsula is Torabhaig Distillery ( a newer rival to the island's mighty Talisker. Both make fine whisky but I prefer the intimate tour experience at Torabhaig. When the distillery opened it trained up members of the local community for all the new roles including the distillers. 'We meld into the community because we brought the community here,' tour guide manager Anne says. Having the bridge meant building this new island distillery was far easier, particularly when transporting huge wooden washbacks. The café at Torabhaig is excellent, with tasty soup and sandwiches, and whisky-infused traybake to fuel walks. Talisker is still worth a visit, particularly with a booking at The Three Chimneys at Talisker ( which has just been made a permanent fixture in the lochside building opposite the distillery. I've eaten at The Three Chimneys restaurant before and adore it but it's a big budget treat of a place. This café style offering brings the talent of this famous kitchen to a bigger audience. I sit at the elegant bar and enjoy oysters with a spritz of Talisker 10 and a hearty bowl of Cullen Skink. (Image: Lynne Kennedy Photography) On the road to Talisker is Café Cùil ( run by Skye local Clare Coghill, who relocated her café from London after the pandemic. In the iconic red-roofed building I sip a dried flower topped 'machair matcha' and eat delicious blood orange and beetroot cured local trout with crowdie creme fraiche, and hot sweetcorn fritters with chilli. It's a café that arguably could thrive anywhere but here on Skye with local ingredients and Gaelic language and culture celebrated, is where it truly belongs. It's a bright, joyful place to eat and everyone in the queue knows it. Clare says: 'The bridge is our link to civilization. It does more than you think it does. It makes island living more realistic and more appealing to younger people too.' Chef Calum Montgomery at Edinbane Lodge ( agrees: 'Having the bridge has helped my career too. I can finish service then drive to Edinburgh or Glasgow for an event or a meeting and get back on the island when I want, without worrying about missing the last boat.' Calum and Claire are part of a young generation of returning homegrown culinary talent. Calum says: 'We're all deeply rooted in Skye. A lot of us left and worked elsewhere. We'd be seeing the produce we knew arrive miles from where it was landed and it's just not as good as what we grew up eating. I'm so proud of the whole place now.' At Edinbane Lodge I eat an enormous scallop with a dulse butter sauce, and local hake with wild garlic. Calum calls his menu 'A Taste of Skye', and it's exactly that: an embrace of the very best Skye ingredients. The menu shows the distances the produce travels to the restaurant, for the scallops hand dived in Loch Greshornish, the Edinbane venison, the sea herbs and garden vegetables, it's zero miles. Skye can get busy, that's undeniable, but by visiting off-season and exploring beyond the island's tick-box attractions it doesn't have to feel that way. It's a big island with so much to see. Part of the joy of the bridge is visiting Skye is easier year-round: you never need worry about a rocky winter crossing, just look forward to a quiet week of big skies and dramatic scenery. (Image: Michael_Dickie_Square_Foot) More businesses are staying open in winter than ever before, which also creates permanent rather than seasonal jobs. Upgrading infrastructure takes time, and money, but it is happening. There are now good car parks at the Fairy Pools, the Quiraing, the Old Man of Storr, and Neist Point (but only a small heavily rutted one at Coral Beach so be aware). Car park fees help maintain and improve facilities and contribute toconservation and community projects. Potholes do remain an ongoing issue. I try to stay somewhere different each time I'm on Skye. This time it's Bracken Hide Hotel ( on the hill overlooking Portree. Above a spacious hotel restaurant and bar, little wooden 'hides' are dotted up the hillside. Inside the rooms are surprisingly spacious and fitted out in a luxurious Scandi-Scot style. From my front deck I have a panorama of the sky and mountains to myself. The hotel restaurant Am Braigh ( is a great new discovery. I eat leggy langoustines with garlic butter and local samphire. Later my wee deck is a perfect stargazing spot. I also stay a night at sister-hotel Marmalade ( on the other side of Portree. The rooms here are large and lovely, overlooking trees with a distant view of the Cullins. It's an ideal location for exploring Portree, and just a five minute walk from Birch Cafe ( one of Skye's best spots for coffee or brunch. I leave here with a hearty slice of topped focaccia and a perfect pistachio pastel de nata to sustain me on the drive home. As I cross back over the bridge, I glance longingly in my rear-view mirror, already plotting my next trip.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
River City did not pass value for money test, BBC Scotland boss tells MSPs
Axed soap River City 'did not pass the value for money test', the head of the BBC in Scotland has said. Bosses announced plans to cancel the show, which has been running since 2002, next year, claiming viewing patterns had shifted. The decision has raised concerns about impacts on the screen sector in Scotland. But, appearing at Holyrood's Culture Committee on Thursday, BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine said: 'I didn't take this lightly and I did think about the consequences for cast, for crew, for people who are impacted by the decision, of course I did. 'However, we have to put our audience's needs first and the audience for River City has declined significantly over the past five years.' Ms Valentine pointed to a number of new dramas set to be produced by the broadcaster, saying: 'What we'll do with these new dramas, which will absolutely cost more to make, but we'd expect them to deliver much bigger audiences than River City does. 'In terms of value for money for the audience, I'm afraid that River City didn't pass that test for us any longer, and the new dramas, we really hope will.' The police drama, Shetland, Ms Valentine said, brings in about 700,000 viewers in Scotland and up to eight million elsewhere in the UK, compared to just 200,000 for River City. Addressing concerns about the future of the sector, she said: 'River City is not the only game in town in terms of access to drama in Scotland, whether you're an actor, whether you're a director, whether you're a producer, whether you're a trainee. 'We offer these opportunities across a really wide range of content, it's not just River City that does that for us.' Ms Valentine also pointed to budgetary issues at the broadcaster, telling MSPs she doesn't 'have the money to do everything that I want to'. 'There are a million things that I'd like to do that aren't possible. 'So I have to make difficult decisions. 'This decision was made on the basis that the audience figures are not performing for us in the way that we need them to.' Cast and crew, as well as actors' union Equity, have already appeared before the committee to warn of the impact of the soap's cancellation.
