As part of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) expanded national offering, it is launching a new Insights Unit to provide businesses with best-in-class intelligence on the big strategic issues impacting the UK economy.  

 

Following on from the recent announcement of the BCC’s new Business Council, the organisation is continuing to expand its offering to UK firms through the launch of a new research unit.  

 

The BCC Insights Unit will bring together all of the strands of research the BCC currently undertakes, including the Quarterly Economic Survey, the largest private sector business survey in the UK; the Quarterly Economic Forecast, currently ranked by the Sunday Times as the country’s second most accurate; as well as a leading programme of business surveys which inform the national economic debate. 

  

The BCC will leverage its extensive data, expertise and research platforms to help organisations understand business and consumers views and wider market trends. 

 

Announcing the launch of the Insights Unit, Shevaun Haviland, BCC Director General, said:  

 

“It was great to announce our national campaign ‘Where Business Belongs’ at our Global Annual Conference in May, and I’m delighted to share the latest development as part of that campaign with the launch of our new Insights Unit today.  

 

“Over the last two months, we have set up our expert Economic Advisory Council and developed our Business Council offering as part of the national campaign. The BCC Insights Unit further strengthens the value and power of the BCC for British businesses.   

 

“We know there is significant demand for top class research from businesses looking to gain invaluable insights into consumer trends and opportunities. With the BCC running some of the largest and most accurate research programmes in the UK, we are perfectly situated to cater to this need.” 

 

David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said: 

 

“The economic turmoil of recent years has shown that strong intelligence rooted in clear evidence has never been more important. 

  

“Our current suite of surveys, which receive tens of thousands of business responses, is used extensively by the Government, Bank of England and private sector to help with their planning and policy development.  

  

“The Insights Unit brings our research together and builds on this by developing a broader range of polling and analysis services to help organisations get answers to the questions they have.” 

Audiences at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this summer will be treated to the spectacular sounds of traditional and contemporary music from across the globe, and now they can do so for half-price thanks to new tickets on sale soon.

Organisers have revealed The United States Air Force Band will wow the crowds with a freestyle musical performance depicting America’s great songbook while The Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra feature contemporary Caribbean music from artists like Freetown Collective, DJ Private Ryan, Nailah Blackman and Skinny Fabulous.

Lead Service the Royal Air Force Massed Military Bands, HM Royal Marines and The King’s Colour Squadron this year present popular gaming tracks from Battlefield 2, Final Fantasy VII and Dragon Age: Inquisition. The music of Scotland also features heavily with traditional tunes from the Massed Pipes & Drums.

As preparations for the spectacular return of the Tattoo continue, with just one month to go, organisers have pledged to ensure the celebrated cultural attraction can be enjoyed by all. Half -price tickets for their Preview Night go on sale from 10am Tuesday 4 July, for the performance beginning at 9:30 pm on Thursday 3 August.

Preview Night tickets offer both local and international audiences the very first chance to witness the seminal spectacle, as talented performers from across the world gather on the iconic Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.

The half-price Preview Night tickets have been a regular Show feature in recent years, and whilst enjoying discounted entry to the Show, Preview Night audiences can still expect to see the full line-up of international acts performing throughout August.

Michael Braithwaite, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, says:

“Storytelling is at the heart of this year’s Tattoo. We’re presenting an enticing array of tales, myths and legends through music, dance, sound, and light. Stories features a huge range of musical styles, genres and artists and I’m looking forward to audiences catching the magic in August.

As an international cultural celebration, the Tattoo is a show we want everyone to experience and enjoy. Our half-price Preview Night tickets are a great way for people to be part of the excitement and are always snapped up quickly.”

Stories is a celebration of storytelling, giving a stage to performers and acts to share those stories that mean the most to them, communicated through innovative music, dance, and performance. Stories draws inspiration from the sagas, myths, and legends that people across the globe have shared with each other for centuries.

Over 800 performers from across the globe will take part in this year’s Tattoo, bringing with them extraordinary music, dance, and performance talents. There will be vivid and exciting acts from Trinidad & Tobago, The United States, Switzerland, and Norway, along with homegrown talent from the UK. Military musicians continue to play a central role in the performance, with the RAF as the lead Service this year. Audiences can expect to hear the skirl of the Massed Pipes and Drums that echo around the Esplanade as part of Stories, supported by Tattoo Performers and musicians from UK Military Regiments.

In addition to this, the Tattoo are also launching their new membership scheme, during the week of 3 July, featuring a two-tiered approach, with Friend of the Tattoo, and Patron of the Tattoo costing – with benefits including pre-sale access to 2024 tickets and exclusive Tattoo Behind the Scenes Tours.

Preview performance tickets can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone at 0131 225 1188 from 10am on Tuesday 4 July. Prices start from £20. The Show runs from 4-26 August 2023, with Innis & Gunn once again offering a bar service at the event. Drinks pre-order is available now from edintattoodrinks.co.uk.

More hubs will follow as part of a new regionally focussed strategy.

SSE Energy Solutions has today announced the creation of a new business hub in Manchester to deliver innovative energy projects, skilled jobs, and training opportunities for local communities. 

Greater Manchester is the first of several regional hubs the company plans to launch across the UK with the aim of creating jobs for local talent from diverse backgrounds in areas where SSE is delivering energy infrastructure. 

SSE is already working closely with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and its Mayor, Andy Burnham, to help it achieve its target of being a net zero city by 2038. Critical to that mission is the speedy roll-out of EV charging infrastructure with several sites under consideration for the installation of flagship hubs.

SSE is also developing a ground source heating system for a large public facing venue in Manchester city centre as well as having recently installed a state-of-the-art Buildings Energy Management System at Bridgewater Hall, a major classical music venue and home to the Halle Orchestra. The system can be operated remotely by the Council.

The company has opened a new office in Manchester and is forging close relationships with local organisations and charities to diversify and upskill its workforce. Two new employees have been recruited as part of its work with the city’s Blair Project and the Manchester Innovations Activity Hub. SSE is also forging close relationships with the city’s Green Skills Academy, the Growth Company’s centre for green technologies, and a number of higher education bodies through the GM Higher collaborative network.

A ‘Skills Summit’ is planned for later in the year to be hosted at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Fuel Cell Innovation Centre. Students, business leaders and local authority representatives will all be invited to attend. 

In addition, SSE is a founding partner of Greater Manchester’s Energy Innovation Agency. The agency supports a cohort of around 40 individuals and companies working in areas such as smart building technology, energy efficiency, and EV charging infrastructure, to commercialise and deploy their innovations. It has also secured funding for two projects through Innovate UK – one with the University of Salford on future Net Zero homes and another focussing on creating a series of real-world demonstrators for low carbon innovations in the non-domestic building sector.

The regional strategy will see SSE focus on working with local contractors and suppliers where possible and further hubs will be launched soon in West Yorkshire, Liverpool, the West Midlands, and Sunderland.

SSE will spend around £10 million a day to deliver the low-carbon infrastructure that the UK needs for its net zero transition and has committed to £18 billion in clean energy investments by 2026/27. As part of its Green Jobs pledge, the company aims to generate an additional 1000 jobs every year until 2025. 

Neil Kirkby is Managing Director of Enterprise at SSE Energy Solutions. He said:

“We have forged a strong relationship with Mayor Andy Burnham and his authority in Manchester and we are working closely with his team on their ambitious decarbonisation agenda for the area.

 “At SSE, we want to make a difference in each of these areas by ensuring we invest in the communities we work in. By creating regional hubs across the country and bringing green jobs to the areas where we are building energy infrastructure, we’re able to demonstrate our commitment to communities right across the UK.

“Through our new Social Value strategy, we aim to champion a fair and just energy transition.  It’s essential that we become a trusted partner of the community so together we can bring in local talent from a diverse range of backgrounds as part of that commitment. Our aim is to upskill managers, engineers, or apprentices and get them working on renewable energy and low carbon infrastructure projects that are close to home.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: 

“In Greater Manchester we’re serious about our target of reaching net zero carbon by 2038.

“As well as the clear environmental improvements we need to make, we must also seize the opportunities presented to us by the climate crisis. So, I’m really pleased to see more investments like this through SSE coming to Greater Manchester which will help us to unlock new, good quality green jobs whilst making our city-region a greener place for all.”

Amer Gaffar, at Manchester Metropolitan University, said:

“I am really excited about working with SSE on multiple strands that focus on decarbonisation and skills which are of equal importance in the regional and global challenge of achieving Net Zero. 

Supply chains in multiple sectors will need to come together to create new value as part of the energy transition. It’s not just about technology, there needs to be a clear focus on developing skills and people as part of a whole system approach.”

Daniel Dickinson, Development Lead for the Energy Innovation Agency, said:

“The agency is effectively a vehicle to help steer policy development in Greater Manchester and we already have a strong relationship with Mayor Burnham and the Combined Authority. 2038 is not far off now and we need as many innovative solutions as we can get to keep on track, and crucially to deploy these solutions at scale across the region.

“Our relationship with SSE demonstrates how the public and private sector can work together and engage with local businesses and their communities and, ultimately, the whole of Greater Manchester.” 

Joel Habteselassie, who along with Senthil Raman will start a summer placement with SSE today,  said of the opportunity:

“This is really exciting for me as a graduate engineer. From this experience I hope to learn everything about the green energy sector, from the research process all the way to production. As someone who is passionate about sustainability, I hope to gain enough knowledge to start developing my own ideas for producing greener energy.

“SSE’s plan to focus on local communities is great. This gives the people who live locally the ability to work within the energy sector without having to separate from their family or from their community.”

Senthil Raman added:

“I was looking for a position with a company that supports underserved communities, which is a personal passion of mine. At SSE, there is a strong sense of community and inclusion isn’t just a catchphrase; everyone feels supported and heard. 

“Also, the company respects who you are, listens to your ideas, and helps you feel like a member of the team no matter where you are from or what background you have.”

Despite the challenging economic environment, Shepherd and Wedderburn’s banking and finance team has reported a busy 12 months, supporting clients with a mix of strong deal volumes and advisory work.

In the 12 months to 30 April 2023, the team advised clients including banks, funds, financial institutions, alternative lenders, public bodies, corporate borrowers and sponsors, on over 140 deals with a total value of more than £125 billion.

Fiona Buchanan, Head of Banking and Finance at Shepherd and Wedderburn, said the positive deal volume illustrates the banking and finance team’s effectiveness in winning new mandates from new and existing clients.

“Despite the economic challenges, cost of living and higher interest rate environment, our clients have remained active in the clean energy, healthcare, technology, retail, real estate and financial sectors, reflecting the strength of the firm’s expertise in these sectors, which are of critical importance to the economy.”

During the year in review, the banking and finance team completed notable deals across a broad range of sectors, including acting for:

  • HSBC UK Bank plc on facilities provided to business water supplier Castle Water Limited;
  • Moray Offshore Windfarm (West) Limited in relation to various aspects of the £2 billion project financing of their 882MW offshore wind project;
  • Carbon Plantation Limited in relation to financing through crowdfunder Abundance Investments of a carbon-capturing tree plantation in Surrey;
  • Assured Guaranty on their wrap of a £210 million bond issue for Glasgow City Council.

In addition, the banking and finance team was named Transaction Team of the Year at the Law Awards of Scotland 2022 for the fifth consecutive year.

Looking ahead, Buchanan said her team’s main objective is to continue to assist clients in navigating the ever-shifting landscape.

“We have continued to invest in developing our team, with several new hires during the year, and in technology that enables us to better support our clients. Collaborating with clients on the full range of mandates, from bilateral bank facilities to large-scale infrastructure projects, whilst continually striving to innovate how we deliver excellent service, is key” she said.

“Looking ahead, with the green recovery a core part of many clients’ agendas, our experience advising on some of the UK’s largest clean energy projects to date sees us well placed to assist clients towards a more sustainable and resilient future. We are also ideally positioned to advise clients in relation to major changes in the law which were recently enacted in the Scottish Parliament, and which will make it easier for businesses to raise finance in Scotland.”

Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Banking and Finance Deals Review 2022/23 can be accessed here: https://shepwedd.com/expertise/banking-and-finance

Television presenter and award-winning designer Anna Campbell-Jones will be the star guest at this year’s Green Home Festival, which starts in 50 days as part of the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The co-host and judge of hit BBC Scotland show Scotland’s Home of the Year has been announced as be a key speaker at the second week-long event, which is again being organised by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV).

Anna will discuss low-carbon living as part of the Ingredients for a Greener Kitchen show on the first day of the free festival, which will host 11 in-person and virtual sessions from 14-18 August to help consumers on the journey to net zero.

The interior designer – who won Scottish Influencer of the Year last October – said: “I am delighted to be taking part in this year’s Green Home Festival and to be able to help raise the profile of eco-friendly living for consumers across Scotland.

“Finding greener ways of designing, decorating and renewing our homes will be vital for us all going forward and creating more low-carbon kitchens will be a key part of that.

“In particular, I feel passionately that the era of ‘fast fashion’ for interiors must come to an end. Kitchens are a significant contributor to unrecyclable landfill and I’m going to talk about alternative approaches to the concept of what we mean by ‘getting a new kitchen’.”

Anna starred in the grand finale of Scotland’s Home of the Year on Monday night (26 June), and also won the interiors and design award at the inaugural Scottish Influencer Awards in Glasgow in October 2022.

She will now star alongside experts from Scottish Water, plumbing body SNIPEF, electrical trade association SELECT and James Alan Construction, who will all share their first-hand knowledge and advise on what to consider when planning and renovating a kitchen.

Festival co-organiser Gordon Nelson, Scotland Director of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said: “We are delighted to welcome Anna to this year’s Green Home Festival and look forward to hearing her invaluable input and expertise on greener living.

“Like all our shows, Ingredients for a Greener Kitchen will deliver a wealth of practical advice, focusing on the vital areas that can make kitchens eco-friendly – water efficiency, electrical efficiency and sustainably sourced materials and units.”

Other Green Home Festival shows to be delivered during the week include green garden rooms and offices, making retrofit projects eco-friendly, the potential of microwave heating, converting churches, and how the home of the future will be powered.

The event will also include a dedicated heat pump day, with experts hosting two separate shows to advise on how to reduce bills, access grants and install the new technology, as well as the options for hybrid heating.

Plus the experts from Built Environment – Smarter Transformation will host an in-person show on the advantages of community heat networks and an online webinar that will advise what consumers can do to reduce both their energy consumption and energy bills.

Mr Nelson added: “With 50 days to go, and with all the events now confirmed, the second Green Home Festival is shaping up to be as big a success as last year’s inaugural event.

“With a strong focus on accessing funding and saving money, our experts will offer practical demonstrations of low-carbon technology that consumers can put into action as we move towards becoming a net zero nation.”

The Green Home Festival is the latest in a string of practical and constructive initiatives launched by the CICV since its creation as the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum in March 2020.

Made up of 28 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies, it has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and maintaining close dialogue with Scottish Government ministers.

  • Tickets for all Green Home Festival events are free and can be reserved here. The series finale of Scotland’s Home of the Year can be viewed again here.

— Caspar MacRae comes to the helm, as Thomas Moradpour assumes Dom Pérignon Presidency —

After five record-breaking years at the helm of The Glenmorangie Company, President and CEO Thomas Moradpour is moving on to take the lead at prestigious champagne brand Dom Pérignon, also part of LVMH. He will be succeeded in post by Caspar MacRae, currently Global Marketing and Business Development Director, from July 3.

The Company, which owns Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky and Ardbeg Islay single malt Scotch whisky, has thrived under Thomas’s leadership. Since he joined the Company in 2018, it has more than doubled profits, delivering unprecedented year-on-year growth each year. Despite global instability, Thomas has created a stronger, more sustainable business, championing innovation and successfully executing ambitious expansion plans. Ably supported by Caspar and the executive team he has:

  • Launched Glenmorangie’s ground-breaking innovation Distillery
  • Overseen the expansion of Ardbeg Distillery
  • Doubled the Company’s bottling capacity
  • Transformed Glenmorangie’s boutique hotel and purchased a hotel near Ardbeg
  • Established the Company’s prestige strategy, including the record-breaking £16million sale of Ardbeg Cask No. 3
  • Set the Company on course to become one of the best places to work in the UK, with a raft of life-friendly policies and a culture which fosters creativity and innovation

Caspar, who has worked hand-in-hand with Thomas, is committed to continuing the Company’s upward trajectory, in line with its long-term vision for growth. With 20 years’ industry experience, he has already played an instrumental role in the Company’s success. As head of its marketing and commercial teams since 2018, Caspar has overseen the transformation of the Glenmorangie and Ardbeg brands, and the development of award-winning campaigns for both whiskies. And he has super-charged its e-commerce business which has grown seven-fold since 2020.

Jonas Tåhlin, President and CEO of the Spirits Division at Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits arm of LVMH, said: “Congratulations to Thomas for his achievements at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg. Driving innovation and excellence, he has enabled the brands to flourish and grow, more than doubling their profits. I wish him success as he moves on within the LVMH family to Dom Pérignon. Caspar has already demonstrated his exceptional talent and leadership skills, and I have full confidence that the business will continue to thrive with him at the helm.”

Thomas said: “I’m very proud that since I joined The Company we have made it a more sustainable business, a greater place to work and the business is in even better shape. With Caspar’s leadership abilities and vision, I’m sure Glenmorangie and Ardbeg will raise the bar ever higher in the next chapter.”

Caspar said: “I have always dreamed of leading brands as renowned as Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, so I am thrilled to take the baton from Thomas. I look forward to working with the teams here in Scotland and around the world as we continue on our mission to ensure the success of our brands, our workforce and the communities around our Distilleries, long into the future.”

Net-zero ambitions along with post-pandemic working patterns are prompting owners of commercial real estate across Scotland to scrutinise how building performance helps address societal outcomes. A digital-first approach is vital in order to overcome such hurdles. Smart technology can respond to that demand, providing the data to inform new approaches and enabling buildings to be made more energy efficient, improving health and well-being.

Commercial real estate in Scotland is changing as forward-thinking investors, owners and occupiers look to prioritise environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives, enhance building performance and re-appraise their space requirements to improve the working environment. Buildings needs to get smarter by incorporating technologies that will help meet these goals and more.

These factors have been highlighted by changes in working practices in the wake of the pandemic. That has prompted the increased focus on digitalisation, although organisations are likely to have very different technologies in their real estate and their own drivers for action and objectives.

There are good reasons for every organisation to embrace technology, but it needs to be a priority, putting users at the heart, to enable commercial real estate in Scotland to remain relevant and resilient for the future.

What is a smart building?

The term ‘smart building’ is commonly associated with the building management systems that control services, such as lighting and heating, and the array of sensors and monitors gathering data on how a building is functioning and being used.

Deployment of these technologies in an office fit-out is designed to deliver clear benefits for people, enabling more comfortable and productive environments to be created for building users, while also helping to drive more effective use of energy and other resources.

A smart building is much more than its IT hardware, software and sensors. Its intelligence comes from the connectivity of its systems and the data collected on a building’s energy use, temperature, lighting and other everyday operations.

Smarter buildings make sense

Inevitably, cost can be a barrier to making buildings smarter and there can also be questions around introducing new, unfamiliar technologies. But investment can be repaid in many ways, including:

  • Driving building performance and environmental objectives
  • Enhancing comfort, productivity and well-being for users
  • Improving portfolio management Strategy matters

A strategic approach can help organisations to realise these benefits effectively. At Turner & Townsend we work with clients to formulate a strategy, appraising their buildings’ current technology level and business objectives to develop a tailored route map that drives targeted results.

Defining the strategy is important in ensuring buy-in for digitalisation at all levels of an organisation, providing boards with the evidence to support investment and facilities management teams with the confidence to embrace new technology. Once the strategy is in place, our set-up capability paves the way for new technology to be embedded in buildings.

Time for action

Technology is moving fast – it’s now time to embrace a digital-first approach. There’s scope for all commercial landlords to make their buildings smarter and for the broader real estate sector to secure tangible benefits, including ultimately making the built environment better for our economy, society and environment.

 

 

Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline and the country’s flag carrier, has been announced as the official travel partner of Canada Day London 2023. Canada Day London, the world’s largest international celebration of Canadian culture, is returning to Trafalgar Square on 29 June 2023. 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the free and family-friendly event in celebration of all things Canadian, including Canadian-inspired food and drink, live music, and cultural performances. Doors open to visitors at 11:00 a.m.

“At Air Canada, we are proud to be announced as the official travel partner of Canada Day London 2023,” said Stephen Gerrard, Air Canada General Manager Sales, U.K. and Ireland. “This is a great opportunity for us to showcase the best of Canada in the heart of London, as well as our flights from London Heathrow to five airports in Canada, with onward connections to our extensive route network in Canada and beyond. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Canada Day London 2023 from across the U.K. and around the world.”

At the Air Canada stand, guests will be greeted by flight attendants, can watch the carving of a large ice sculpture in the shape of an aircraft, receive complimentary maple candies, and take photos on the Air Canada ski chairlift. The first 500 attendees visiting the Air Canada booth will be offered poutine vouchers, which permits one free serving of poutine, with a choice of the vegetarian poutine from the Summit Tasty food truck or a venison poutine from the Gamekeeper food truck, between 11:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

The Canadian favourite, poutine, in its classic form is a dish consisting of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy that first emerged in rural Quebec in the 1950s. It has become popular across Canada and beyond since the 1990s.

Visitors of Canada Day London 2023 also have a chance to win two Air Canada Economy tickets from London Heathrow to Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary or Halifax, upon completion of an online survey which can be accessed via a QR code located around the festival on the day. Air Canada offers more daily flights from the U.K. to Canada than any other airline, with up to nine daily flights between London Heathrow and Canada during the summer peak.

For more information about Canada Day London, including a full schedule of events and performances, visit Canada Day London’s website at www.canadaday.london

HR is a big part of any business with employees.

It includes managing the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment, hiring and onboarding, to training, disciplining, and firing. Not to mention payroll, policies, keeping records, and managing benefits.

It’s a big job, and if you’re currently doing it yourself alongside your day-to-day tasks, you might be struggling. Or worse, missing something out.

Have you considered delegating your business’ HR duties?

You’ve got a few different options available to you, all of which would free up your time to focus on other things, like growing your business!

Your first option is to retrain one of your employees to handle your HR. This might take a while, and will take someone away from their usual tasks, but you have the benefit of trusting someone who already understands your business and knows your people.

You may decide to hire someone to do the role internally. This means hiring someone full or part time to take over your HR function. The benefit of this is that you have someone whose sole purpose is to handle all things HR. However, it’s another salary you’ll need to pay, and one person alone may not have all the skills you need in an HR department.

Another option is to outsource your HR to an external company. The benefits of this can be huge. Usually, it’s a far more cost-effective way of handling your HR. And for less than the cost of a full time employee, you’ll have access to many different HR professionals, all with different skills and areas of expertise.

You can choose to outsource to a national HR provider, who will have hundreds of HR professionals working with them, or a smaller independent team. The benefits of choosing an independent company include working with a team that you get to know and who gets to know you and your business, bespoke information and advice, and the personal touch. A larger outfit may have more manpower, but it’s rare you’ll deal with the same advisor, and the advice you receive will be standardised.

If outsourcing your HR is something you’ve been considering, let’s talk. Give me a call to arrange a conversation about how my team can help you.

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is bringing the States to Scotland with its Fourth of July, American-themed celebration.

Hosted within the hotel’s dining and event space, Eve, and in its recently opened suntrap courtyard, guests will be able to celebrate Fourth of July in style with live music, city-themed cocktails and classic BBQ serves.

Running from 7:30pm till late, the free ticketed event is taking place on Tuesday, the 4th of July. With a USA theme, guests can enjoy live entertainment from The Banjo Lounge giving hip-hop classics a bluegrass twist, providing the perfect soundtrack to get up and dance.

Paying homage to its American counterparts, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh guests can enjoy themed cocktails from each of the US Virgin Hotels. From the Nashville Peach Julep cocktail to the Watermelon flavoured Miami Heat, Virgin Hotels will be bringing the taste of America to the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

No Fourth of July celebration is complete without the perfect menu, and Virgin Hotels’ acclaimed chefs will be serving up US staples; fried chicken wings, burgers, grilled corn on the cob, apple pie and the true American classic, smores.

The US-themed celebration will also see American-style pop-ups take over Eve, with a Corn Hole game, hot dog stand and a special VIP area complete with props, hats and all things red, white and blue, serving as the perfect backdrop for the ultimate Instagrammable moment.

David Moth, Virgin Hotels Vice President of Operations and Interim General Manager of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh said: “As an international brand, Virgin Hotels loves to treat its guests to experiences from around the world and this time we’re tying into our American roots with a traditional US Fourth of July celebration. From a line dancing worthy band to hot dogs and US themed cocktails, we’re ready to bring all things USA to Edinburgh and mix up our usual menu with a special limited time offering.

“With a glorious open-air courtyard, there’s really no better place to celebrate this summer occasion than at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, we’re just keeping our fingers crossed for that US sunshine!”

For more information and to book free tickets please visit:
https://virginhotels.com/edinburgh/event/4th-july-party/ 

Fourth of July is just one of many events taking place at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, including a host of seasonal activations and brand takeovers throughout the year. To stay up to date with the latest news and events, follow Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s channels on social media here: