TER Rooftops

Round the World Street Food Lunch

Today at the Usher Hall

Reel Rock

Volunteer with Barnardo’s

On the Borders Railway

At Stockbridge Market today you can sample part of Edinburgh Restaurant Festival as there will be some of the best street food from all around the world.

The market traders cook right in front of you and represent various cuisines, all in one location. Sample Indian, Japanese, Brazilian, French, Greek and even Scottish all in the ambience of the three markets.

Buy an event ticket at the Olive stall in the market and redeem your lunch at any participating stall. You can starter at one stall, main at the next and dessert at a third! Check the menu and eat your way around the world, from Caithness Scottish smoked salmon on a fresh French croissant to Japanese dumplings or Bombay Street Food, to Brazilian brigadeiros. Feel free to browse and shop the wide range of stalls while you eat your globetrotting lunch.

More about the festival which only lasts till 18 October here.

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Sunday Classics: Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra
Sunday 11 October | 3pm

Wagner Meistersinger Overture
Elgar Cello Concerto
Beethoven Symphony No.3

Michael Sanderling Conductor
Sol Gabetta Cello

Ticket details here

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The Reel Rock Film Tour, one of the world’s fastest growing adventure film festivals, is ready to once again thrill audiences this autumn with five films and more than 15 screenings across the UK and Ireland.

For the past decade, the REEL ROCK Film Tour has defined the standard for adventure films, providing audiences with an annual offering of stunning big screen action, compelling stories and some of the most remarkable alpine and climbing accomplishments of our time. In its landmark 10th year, REEL ROCK 10 is set to raise the bar once again, as it kicks off its worldwide tour to over 450 locations across all seven continents.

REEL ROCK 10 includes exclusive premieres of short adventure films that tell the stories and struggles of the most exciting vertical achievements from the past year, including an exclusive look at the history-making Dawn Wall free ascent and an epic traverse across the jagged peaks of Patagonia.

For Reel Rock Film Tour tickets, the trailer and further information go to www.reelrock.co.uk

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Barnardo’s Scotland is encouraging local people to join their team of ‘Volunteer Heroes’ and give their time to help keep the tills running and rails full in their local Edinburgh store at 106 Nicholson Street.

The boutique-style shop which sells a range of gents and ladies clothes, shoes, accessories, household goods and children’s items is keen to attract people from all walks of life to join the existing team.

Volunteers get involved for many reasons – to support Barnardo’s Scotland’s work and cause; to do something unusual and inspiring or to learn new skills and improve their CV. It is also an opportunity to meet new people.

Nicholson Street store manager Carolyn McLay added: “Volunteers are vital to keep our shop going. Every penny raised through our store goes directly to support Barnardo’s Scotland work with local children including support for 16+ Edinburgh.

“We are in need of more volunteers to join our small friendly team in Nicholson Street to help keep the tills ringing, although we have a range of front and back of store tasks to suit all. We have a particular need for volunteers throughout the week and on weekends but are looking for people with different levels of time to give from all walks of life and of all ages – as little as two hours a week can make a big difference. Volunteers make a huge contribution to the charity’s work from retired professionals to students and young people and in return for your time you get to learn new skills and be part of our team helping support our work with children.”

Anyone interested in being a ‘Volunteer Hero’ in a Barnardo’s Scotland store is invited to visitwww.barnardos.org.uk/volunteering_retail  for more information. Alternatively email retail-volunteering@barnardos.org.uk or call Carolyn McLay on 0131 668 2288.

 

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VISITSCOT-borders-ra#966747

Visitors from across the world have been flocking to Scotland to discover the country’s latest tourism experience – the Borders Railway.

VisitScotland has revealed that tourism businesses in Midlothian and the Scottish Borders have reported significant growth since the line was opened just over a month ago, with some even celebrating a 100% increase in takings.

After global media coverage around the launch of Scotland’s latest Great Scenic Rail Journey – which connects Edinburgh to Tweedbank – visitors from America, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and the UK have stepped on board, stayed in accommodation nearby, and visited the many attractions on offer, from Abbotsford House to the National Mining Museum Scotland.

Tourism highlights from the first month of the Borders Railway include:

–       Abbotsford House reporting an 18.4% increase on 2014 in visitor numbers leading to an extension in the attraction’s summer opening hours into October

–       4 out of 5 shops in Galashiels reporting takings to have doubled

–       The County House Hotel in Selkirk employing a dedicated Sir Walter Scott impersonator to greet passengers

–       The Hope Scott Wing in Abbotsford reporting a 2% increase in business directly through the opening of the railway or through people reading about Abbotsford in the media

–       Herges on the Loch in Tweedbank reporting a 50% increase in its lunches with the steam train packages having a particular impact

–       National Mining Museum Scotland reporting a real ‘buzz’ and increased interest, welcoming school trips by rail for the first time

–       Scottish Borders Council specially-appointed Borders Railway Ambassadors reporting over 600 face-to-face tourism enquiries in one week

–       Burts and Townhouse Hotels in Melrose stating that the Railway has ‘exceeded expectations’ and introducing seven new packages to coincide with the line opening

–       20,000 visits to the Borders Railway dedicated page on VisitScotland.com

–       17 sold out steam train journeys, carrying around 6,200 passengers

–       Galashiels Museum extending hours to open on a Sunday solely due to upsurge in visitors

–       Significant global press trips including travel journalists representing influential publications in France, Germany, US, Canada, Ireland

–       Commencement of new shuttle taxi service from Eskbank to Rosslyn Chapel

–       Scottish Borders Food Network launching a food and drink trail of the Borders’ best eateries and suppliers, accessible from the railway

 

Scotrail has reported this week that more than 125,000 passenger journeys have been made on The Borders Railway since opening, with demand so high that extra carriages have had to be added to many services especially at weekends, with day-trippers jumping on board to experience all that Midlothian and the Scottish Borders have to offer.

The Borders Railway started public service on 6 September 2015, and was formally opened by HM The Queen on Wednesday 9 September. The project is being delivered as part of the ‘Borders Railway Blueprint’ that sets out an ambition to fully realise the economic benefits of the Borders Railway, transform tourism opportunities and open up communities in South-East Scotland as new places to live, work, learn, play and grow.

VisitScotland is investing £367,000 in a unique three-year international marketing campaign to put the new Borders Railway on the map. The funding, provided by Scottish Borders Council and Midlothian Council, and with match funding from the Scottish Government, will be used to promote the Borders Railway and surrounding regions to national and international markets.

The original Waverley Route ran south from Edinburgh, through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, to Carlisle. The line was named after a series of novels by Sir Walter Scott and served as an important export channel for both the wool and coal industries of that time.

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland said:

“The opening of the Borders Railway was an emotional moment for many, and such great results from just one month in service is absolutely fantastic news and more than we could ever have wished for.  However, this is just the beginning and to ensure continued tourism success, we must continue to invest in and promote the experience, listening to visitor feedback and adapting as necessary. 

“It is evident already that tourism is breathing new life into these regions touching on every industry, business and community and we look forward to continuing our work with partners to make the Borders Railway a success.”

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