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Best Luxury Hotels in Edinburgh – Fingal Tops World’s Best Hotels List

Edinburgh’s Fingal has sailed to the top of the world’s best luxury hotels list in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards 2024.

Permanently berthed in the Port of Leith, Scotland’s only luxury floating hotel has been singled out by reviewers on the world’s largest travel guidance platform as one of the highest rated hotels on the planet and ‘Best of the Best’ in the UK.

The five-star hotel has been named among best Small and Boutique hotels in the world by TripAdvisor reviewers, taking first and second place in the UK and Europe lists, respectively.

The Travellers’ Choice Awards ‘Best of the Best’ title celebrates the highest level of excellence in travel. It is awarded to those who receive a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the TripAdvisor community over a 12-month period. Out of 8 million listings, fewer than 1 per cent achieve this milestone.

Opened in 2019, the former Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) tender was developed and is managed by the award-winning team at The Royal Yacht Britannia. Fingal is now a world-class foodie destination with all the glamour and style of a superyacht, but with an air of old-world Art Deco luxury ocean liner elegance. 

Fingal is also ‘AA Hotel of the Year Scotland 2023-24’, as awarded by the internationally recognised Automobile Association (AA).

Director of Hospitality, Franck Bruyère said: 

“We’re committed to offering a world-class visitor experience to all our UK and international guests, so it’s a great honour to have been recognised by them as one of the world’s best hotels and the UK’s ‘Best of the Best’ in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards 2024.

“This latest accolade is yet further evidence of the dedication and professionalism of our entire crew, who work tirelessly to ensure everything is shipshape onboard Scotland’s only five-star luxury floating hotel.”

Analysing 12-months of review data for over 1.6 million hotels listed on TripAdvisor, winners of the Travellers’ Choice awards span nine categories from top hotels, to best all-inclusive, B&Bs, luxury, family-friendly and small and boutique. 

Dan Mitchell, Vice President & General Manager Hotels, TripAdvisor, said: 

“Our Best of the Best Hotels are marvels, acclaimed by thousands of travellers for their remarkable service, stunning design, and wealth of amenities that redefine what it means to have an exceptional hotel experience. 

“According to our Tripadvisor reviewers, each of the world’s best hotels caters to the traveller looking for accessible luxury and unique, tailored experiences.”

Open to non-residents for afternoon tea, dinner and cocktails, Fingal’s Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar offers a choice of self-contained private dining booths for small pre-booked groups. 

Fingal’s 22 luxury cabins are each named after Stevenson lighthouses, inspired by Fingal’s rich maritime heritage. The ship is now the ultimate in luxury accommodation and dining with a nautical twist.

Fingal’s double-height ballroom and bridge provide dedicated dining spaces for private events, corporate celebrations and weddings.

Fingal is located opposite the Port of Leith tram stop, which offers a direct and quick transport link between Leith and Edinburgh city centre. 

For more information on Fingal, visit www.fingal.co.uk and follow on social media, including Twitter https://twitter.com/fingaledinburgh

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EFS Good Food Youth Club in Craigmillar Summer 2024

CommunityFood & Drink

Support Edinburgh Food Social on National Food Bank Day

On National Food Bank Day, Edinburgh Food Social invites the community to join in their mission of empowering children through essential food education. As a dedicated social enterprise, Edinburgh Food Social plays a crucial role in teaching children vital cooking skills and ensuring that young people facing food poverty have access to healthy, nutritious local food.

The organisation’s community food projects provide invaluable opportunities for local youth to develop cooking skills, fostering healthy habits and strengthening communities in Craigmillar, Niddrie, and beyond. By supporting Edinburgh Food Social, you contribute to a brighter future where young people are equipped with the knowledge and resources to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

There are two impactful ways to support this important cause:

  1. Donate Now: Make a difference in the fight against youth food poverty in Edinburgh by donating at edinburghfoodsocial.org.
  2. Spread the Word: Help inspire and educate the next generation by sharing this message with your network.

To learn more about Edinburgh Food Social’s community food projects and to sign up for their newsletter, please visit edinburghfoodsocial.org. Together, we can build healthier communities and ensure that every child in Edinburgh has the opportunity to thrive.

About Edinburgh Food Social

Edinburgh Food Social is a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to empowering young people through food education. Through hands-on cooking workshops and community initiatives, the organisation aims to combat food poverty, promote healthy living, and strengthen local communities in Edinburgh.

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Pleasance at EICC Edinburgh

EdFringeFood & Drink

EICC teams up with Johnnie Walker and Cold Town Beer as Fringe Foodie Destination

One of the Fringe’s most luxurious venues is back for 2024 with a bigger and better line-up than ever before.

The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), which transforms into Pleasance at EICC during the Fringe, is partnering with an array of high-profile local businesses to create a dining and drinking hub in the heart of the city during August, to complement its stellar line up of world-renowned artists.

In collaboration with catering partner, Leith’s, the event catering division of Compass Scotland, the EICC will have a street food style offering, serving festival favourites, tacos, toasties and waffles. Toasties will be on offer throughout the day, with tacos and waffles available from 4pm.

The food is in line with Compass Scotland and the EICC’s commitment to sustainability, showcasing Scottish produce and working with local suppliers. Toastie options include venison, haggis and masses of local cheese, while taco flavours include fish and plant-based, banana blossom. Waffles will be available, with sweet and savoury toppings, including Cranachan, Biscoffee and Blue cheese and fig.

Enhancing the food options, the EICC is working with much-loved local partners, including Johnnie Walker, Cold Town Beer and The Little Parlour from South Queensferry; as well as Aperol and London Essence from further afield. The partners are working collaboratively, and the chef at the EICC has worked with Cold Town Beer and Johnnie Walker to create bespoke dips for the toasties, while London Essence has formulated a range of perfect serves with Johnnie Walker. 

Johnnie Walker will bring a modern whisky vibe to the venue. A ‘grabber’ games machine offering merchandise and discount prizes and a Skee ball machine will be providing entertainment. Visitors will also be able to enjoy Johnnie Walker’s ‘perfect serves’, Johnnie & Ginger (Johnnie Walker Black, London Essence Ginger Ale), Pina Colada Highball (Johnnie Walker Black Label, London Essence Roasted Pineapple Soda, Coconut Water & Lime) Brown Derby Highball (Johnnie Walker Black, London Essence Grapefruit Soda, Honey Syrup). Meanwhile, Aperol is bringing the outside inside, with a Spritz Garden.

Cold Town Beer will be providing freshly brewed local beer, aligning perfectly with the EICC’s sustainable approach to hospitality, as the beer is brewed just half a mile away at the Grassmarket venue – keeping travel extremely low and championing local supply. Cold Town Beer is also working with the EICC creating ‘reverse stencilling’ to promote the partnership, getting the details out to audiences through the use of biodegradable paint on surrounding paving slabs.

In addition, Cold Town Beer will be hosting ‘meet the brewer’ sessions on Thursday 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd August from 7:45pm to 8:45pm and Sunday 4th and 11th August from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, allowing visitors to sample the beers and ask some burning questions.

With a new outdoor seating area, the EICC can cater for any weather, offering a sunny corner of the Capital or maintaining the Festival atmosphere in a safe haven from the rain.

The line up of shows at the venue for 2024 includes the return of sell-out shows from 2023, Trainspotting Live and Sh!t-faced Shakespeare, along with Italian illusionist, Arturo Brachetti with SOLO; a new show from Miriam Margolyes; and Buffy Revamped, among others.

The first shows for the Fringe at the EICC begin on 31 July and run until 25 August.

Claire McHardy, Leith’s General Manager at EICC said: “We’ve got a fantastic food and drink offering this year – along with a full range of incredible shows. Our chefs have been working hard over the last few months to create mouth-watering items for the street food stalls. The tacos are always a favourite; the waffles are impossible to resist, and we’ve perfected the toasties to ensure an unbeatable cheese pull!

“We’re bringing all the fun and atmosphere of George Square into our world-class venue – so whatever the weather, we’ve got audiences covered and entertained. We can’t wait to get started!”

David Hay, Managing Director of Compass Scotland added: “August in Edinburgh is like nowhere else – it’s little wonder people flock from all over the world to experience it. We’re proud that the EICC is playing a central role in entertaining the visitors to the Capital and working with such amazing partners, with everyone pulling out the stops to make the EICC a destination for all to enjoy.”

Marshall Dallas, Chief Executive at EICC, said: “We’re really excited about what’s on here at Pleasance at EICC this August – from the diverse line-up of artists to our exceptional street food and bar offering. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at the EICC, so we’re thrilled to be partnering with a collection of well-loved local food and drink brands to create something really special for visitors and locals as they enjoy this year’s Fringe.” 

Under the brand Leith’s, Compass has been catering partner at EICC since it opened in 1995. Working collaboratively, they continuing to enhance the food offering to focus on sustainable, local Scottish produce in line with the company’s journey to net zero.

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