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Edinburgh Reporter
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Director of Mischief appointed at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh has created a new role, adding the first ever 'Director of Mischief' position to its team. Get ready for an unforgettable summer, because Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is about to make family holidays more memorable than ever! The team are on the hunt for their very own 'Director of Mischief' – a local child who knows Edinburgh inside out and is eager to share their top tips for fun with families exploring the vibrant city. Situated right in the heart of the Capital, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is the perfect base for family adventures. With top family tourist attractions, like Edinburgh Castle and Camera Obscura just a stone's throw away, it's the must-choose destination for a luxury stay that parents love and kids will never forget. The 'Director of Mischief' will join the team as the ultimate fun ambassador, providing real and trusted recommendations to even the youngest guests. The chosen child will not only boast the coolest title in town but will also get to share their favourite summer spots and activities with visiting families. Working with the team to curate a series of kid-friendly travel guides, from the best things to do on a rainy day to hidden local gems and even Harry Potter-themed adventures. Mafalda Albuquerque, General Manager at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, said: 'With the Scottish summer holidays kicking off, there's no better time to launch this initiative. Families and kids will be planning their holiday itineraries, and we want to inspire them with exciting activities and adventures to keep the fun rolling all summer long. 'From the best places to play, the yummiest spots for treats, and the most thrilling adventures – we want our Director to ensure every child's experience in Edinburgh is absolutely unforgettable! 'Are you a young Edinburgh explorer with a knack for fun? Do you have a great sense of adventure and love discovering new places? Then we need YOU.' In collaboration with Museum Context, the successful applicant will receive a magical prize package, including: Complimentary Access to Top Edinburgh Attractions: Free entry to five of the city's most exciting, family-friendly destinations – from animal encounters and castle expeditions to immersive museum experiences Free entry to five of the city's most exciting, family-friendly destinations – from animal encounters and castle expeditions to immersive museum experiences Luxury Family Stay at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh: An overnight stay in the hotel's Family King Suite, featuring bunk beds and a minibar filled with sweet treats and kid-friendly surprises An overnight stay in the hotel's Family King Suite, featuring bunk beds and a minibar filled with sweet treats and kid-friendly surprises Exclusive Backstage Access at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh: A behind-the-scenes tour of the hotel, including a meet-and-greet with the team and the hotel's beloved dog and Director of Waggy Welcomes, Bonnar. The winner will also take part in creating engaging family-focused content for future guests A behind-the-scenes tour of the hotel, including a meet-and-greet with the team and the hotel's beloved dog and Director of Waggy Welcomes, Bonnar. The winner will also take part in creating engaging family-focused content for future guests Private After-Hours Visit to Museum Context: A VIP experience inside one of Edinburgh's most enchanting locations. The winner will explore a treasure trove of magical items and will be invited to select a special keepsake – perhaps a wand, cloak, or mystical companion – to take home A VIP experience inside one of Edinburgh's most enchanting locations. The winner will explore a treasure trove of magical items and will be invited to select a special keepsake – perhaps a wand, cloak, or mystical companion – to take home The Official Title of 'Director of Mischief': With the role comes recognition, responsibility (of the fun variety), and memories to last a lifetime . Parents and guardians, don't miss out on this unique opportunity! Applications are now open for children who would like to be considered as the first Director of Mischief. To apply, simply film a video of your child sharing their favourite places to visit in and around Edinburgh. For more information and to submit your application, please visit: Applications must be submitted by Sunday 31st August, with the lucky winner revealed on Monday 22nd September. Instagram and Facebook . Follow along with Virgin Hotels Edinburgh's family-friendly events all summer long on social media here:and Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
07-07-2025
- Daily Record
The 'wonderful' Edinburgh city break you can book for almost half off
The accommodation is within walking distance of iconic attractions. A stay at a popular Scottish city hotel can currently be booked for almost half off. The accommodation has been praised by recent guests for its central location and "friendly" staff. The Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge is a modern hotel situated in the centre of Scotland's capital. The hotel features more than 250 rooms, as well as a bar, a restaurant, and a 24-hour front desk. At the moment, Wowcher is offering an overnight stay for two at the Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge for as little as £135 plus a £6.99 admin fee. With the normal cost for a one-night stay at the hotel being £245, this results in savings of 45 per cent. All of the standard double rooms at the Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge come equipped with air conditioning, hot drink making facilities, flatscreen televisions, and hair dryers. Guests can also enjoy a full Scottish breakfast in the morning. Also included in the Wowcher deal is a £5 per person food and drink voucher at the hotel's on-site restaurant. The restaurant offers a varied a la carte menu and is open for both lunch and dinner. If the Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge does not appeal, there are countless other hotels within walking distance. Among the most popular are the five-star Fingal Hotel, the Edinburgh City Centre Radisson Blu Hotel, and the Premier Inn on Princes Street. In terms of things to do near the hotel, the legendary Edinburgh Castle is just a short walk away. Dominating the city's skyline, the castle includes highlights such as The Royal Palace, St Margaret's Chapel, and the Honours of Scotland. Elsewhere, other nearby popular attractions include the Blair Street Underground Vaults and Camera Obscura and World of Illusions. The former were once used as storage areas for merchants and shopkeepers, while Camera Obscura and World of Illusions features more than 100 optical illusions over five floors. Edinburgh is also renowned for its shopping opportunities, with Princes Street being around just 15 minutes on foot from the Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge. The iconic street is home to many big-name chains such as H&M, HMV, Uniqlo, and Waterstones. On travel website Tripadvisor, the Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge has earned mostly positive feedback. The hotel has an overall rating of 4.1 out of five based on 3,681 reviews. One recent guest posted: "I traveled recently with my adult children and we all stayed at the Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge. This hotel is a great location, close to Waverly station and the royal mile. Rooms are comfortable and clean. "What sets this hotel apart from other hotels during my travels is the customer service. From check in to check out the staff was friendly, professional and focused on the customer. For me that quality of service warranted notice. Thank you Ibis team!" On the other hand, a negative review reads: "The hotel is ok; staff are friendly and the room was clean. However the mattress was sunken and uncomfortable. "The noise from the nightclub was intolerable. We stayed on a Friday and Saturday night and the noise went on until after 3am. I slept very little." Another positive write-up states: "A wonderful anniversary stay—thank you to the amazing team! From the moment we arrived, our check-in experience was smooth and welcoming, thanks to the friendly and professional staff—especially Ru, who made us feel right at home." More information about the Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge deal can be found on the Wowcher website.
Scotsman
05-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scotsman
Watch as we climb the steepest street in Edinburgh
This video More videos Edinburgh is traditionally said to have been 'built on seven hills' and counts several volcanic hills among its most iconic landmarks. Keep up with the latest new videos with the Shots! Newsletter. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... So it comes as no surprise that some streets in the city can leave visitors and residents huffing and puffing when they explore the city centre. The steepest street in Edinburgh is Ramsay Lane, which is located just off The Mound in Edinburgh city centre. It also lays claim to being one of the steepest streets in Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ramsay Lane, off the Mound The busy street connects to the Royal Mile and provides a link between Edinburgh's Old and New Towns. It is located just a stone's throw away from some of the capital's most famous buildings, with one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, Camera Obscura, located at the top of the lane. One of our reporters visited Ramsay Lane back in 2023 to see if it was as steep to climb as people said. And as you can see in the video above, she was left out of breath by the time she got to the top.
San Francisco Chronicle
26-06-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Introducing the Chronicle's new deputy editorial page editor
If you remember the scandal over the 'pink slime' meat product being served in schools, you can thank journalist David Knowles for breaking the story. We in the Chronicle Opinion section certainly remembered, and we're fortunate to have the talented journalist join our team as its new deputy editorial page editor. In 2012, Knowles, as a reporter for the Daily, wrote about McDonald's dropping 'lean finely textured beef' — beef treated with ammonia — from its products. The story was noteworthy because it wasn't widely known at the time that what one U.S. Department of Agriculture food inspector derisively called 'pink slime' was being used in the nation's food system. 'My editor asked for a follow-up, and I started talking to the USDA and the scientists at the Food Safety Inspection Service who first gave the product its 'pink slime' nickname,' Knowles told me. 'The USDA, I learned, had ordered millions of dollars worth of it for use in the national school lunch program.' Knowles, who started at the Chronicle on June 16, is now an editor himself — and will be responsible for curating op-ed contributions. He will also be a member of the editorial board, helping it make decisions about who to support during its political endorsement process. While plenty of political opinions are offered as op-eds, Knowles said he is also drawn to pieces that tell a unique story that elicit empathy from a reader. 'They can be personal reflections, policy positions from an expert or conclusions born of a life experience,' Knowles said. 'What I'm not interested in are pieces that don't make a good faith effort to understand the points being made by others on a given topic.' Knowles said he's excited to help inform readers from the opinion side of journalism. 'People are bombarded with information in their daily lives,' he said. 'Newspaper opinion sections can help them focus on what's important, delight them with stories they wouldn't have heard otherwise and provide a platform where people can chime in on the issues that help shape the community.' Knowles is a longtime Bay Area resident and grew up in San Francisco. 'The Outer Sunset was colder and less inviting back then,' he said. 'Today, you have more options for where to eat and what to do. Fortunately, some things haven't changed. The Camera Obscura, the subject of my first novel, is still standing.' Have an idea for an op-ed? Run it by Questions about Letters to the Editor or the Opinion section: hmok@
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- Daily Record
The charming Scottish market town that was named 'happiest town' in Scotland
The former royal burgh is perfect for a family day out. Scotland is home to many iconic destinations, from Edinburgh to Glasgow, that are popular holiday spots. However, there are also countless lesser-known locations in the country that are ideal for a quieter day out or staycation. One Scottish destination that is under-appreciated is Dumfries. The market town and former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway is known as the 'Queen of the South', and was even previously crowned among the most happy destinations in the country. As reported by the Daily Record, Dumfries was named the "happiest" town in Scotland by experts at Rightmove. It was also revealed as the second-most happy place in the country, only behind the city of Stirling. Dumfries is situated in the south of Dumfries and Galloway, a short drive from the English border. Home to a population of around 33,000 people, it is the largest settlement in Dumfries and Galloway. Thanks to its big size, Dumfries has a wealth of things to get up to for a day out. From outdoor activities for when the sun is shining to fascinating indoor attractions to escape the rain, visitors will have no trouble finding something to do. One of the top things to do for the whole family is Dalscone Farm Fun, which has received VisitScotland's Five Star Visitor Attraction Award. The family adventure farm, which is located on the outskirts of town, offers a wide range of activities for visitors of all ages. The farm is home to an 'Exotic Animal House' that opened in 2024. This features rare animal species such as porcupines, monkeys, sugar gliders, snakes, chameleons and more. Dalscone Farm Fun also features award-winning soft play and outdoor play facilities. According to the farm's website, new attractions for 2025 include a giant castle, a climbing frame with an aerial glider, a 12-hole mini-golf course, and, bumper boats. Elsewhere, another must-visit destination is the Dumfries Museum—which is the biggest museum in the region. It tells the story and history of the region, including everything from prehistoric fossil footprints to stone carvings and farm tools. The highlight of Dumfries Museum, however, is its Camera Obscura. The oldest working in the world, the astronomical instrument is housed within the top level of an old windmill. Another historic highlight of the area is Caerlaverock Castle, which can be reached from Dumfries in less than 20 minutes by car. The moated castle, which is described by Historic Environment Scotland as "the epitome of the medieval stronghold", dates back to the 13th century. Meanwhile, Dumfries has no shortage of yummy food spots for a sit-down meal. The town also features a wide variety of pubs and bars to suit every taste. Among the top food and drink venues in Dumfries is The Globe Inn, which dates back to the 17th century and is said to have been a favourite of Robert Burns himself. The historic restaurant and bar serves up dishes such as fillet of beef with mushroom tartelette, hash brown, and Louis Du Vin and guineafowl and lobster roulade with polenta, beetroot, and sauce Américaine. Elsewhere, Casa Mia Dumfries is another popular eatery. The stylish restaurant specialises in modern European cuisine, with dishes like Tagliatelle Aglio e olio fruitti di mare, pan seared duck breast, and baked monkfish and scallop thermidor. For lighter bites and lunches, The Station Cafe Dumfries is a local favourite. The café offers hot and cold drinks, as well as rolls, sandwiches, and more. More information about things to see and do around Dumfries can be found on the VisitScotland website.
