A rare opportunity has arisen to rent a highly regarded business premises in what is widely considered one of Ayr’s strongest and most established independent trading areas. The premises are between Jools and Strictly Bridal in Newmarket Street. Properties of this quality and scale seldom become available in this part of the town centre. The premises has been continuously occupied for many years, a clear reflection of both its practicality and its desirability for a wide rang

A new creative space has opened its doors in Newmilns, offering local residents the chance to explore hands-on crafts and artistic experiences while bringing fresh energy to the high street. The Inglenook Studio marks a new chapter for Little Prints Scotland, the bespoke gift business known for personalised family and pet keepsakes. Following a successful period in Mauchline, the business has relocated to a larger premises, allowing for expanded workshops, retail space and cr

Leading Scottish hospitality group Buzzworks has reported another resilient year of trading and investment, with revenue rising 8.4 per cent to £37.3m for the 53 weeks to 4 May 2025. This compares with revenue of £34.4m in the previous year. The company, renowned for its exceptional food and customer service, continues to go from strength to strength, delivering resilient trading in challenging market conditions. Underlying EBITDA was £3.32m. This compares with £3.77m in the

A new chapter in health and fitness has begun at Seamill Hydro Hotel, with the official opening of Hydro Health Club Phase 1. The development marks a significant investment by the RAD Hotel Group  and introduces a modern training environment designed for both hotel guests and the wider community. Phase 1 brings a purpose built health and performance space equipped with world leading Technogym equipment, alongside intelligent training zones that support a broad range of fitnes

An Ayrshire dairy business that began with little more than a fridge, a Facebook page and a belief in fairer food is marking its tenth anniversary this week, reflecting on a journey that has transformed both the company and its role in Scotland’s food sector. A photograph taken on 22 January 2016 shows the very beginning of Mossgiel Milk , when the idea was first put into action at the family farm. At the time, the business was operating from a conservatory honesty shop, foll

Arriving at Lairds of Troon, it was immediately clear this was going to be far more than a routine visit. What had been scheduled as a simple catch-up quickly unfolded into a deep and absorbing journey through technology, storytelling, and lived experience, shaped steadily over many years. Over conversation, Mark spoke candidly about how the business began alongside his wife Johanna, long before immersive cinemas and podcast studios became central to what they offer today. Fr

Ryanair Engineering is inviting people across Ayrshire and beyond to explore a wide range of career opportunities within one of Scotlanvd’s most established aviation employers. The event, running from 11:00am to 7:00pm, offers an opportunity to meet the engineering and recruitment teams, learn more about roles across aircraft maintenance, structures, specialist workshops, training, planning, document control and graduate pathways, and marks the official launch of the 2026 App

Doug Maclean - business writer The Scottish Government has confirmed that it is in advanced talks to take Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership. First Minister John Swinney told the Press Association “It’s a very complex process, but I keep a very close eye on the acquisiition of Ardrossan Harbour. It’s necessary because of the Goverment’s long-term commitment to the delivery of ferry services for Arran from Ardrossan.” Image - Visit Scotland Ardrossan has an integrated ra

Nando’s has announced it will open its first restaurant in Ayrshire at Kilmarnock Retail Park on Wednesday 21 January. In a news release, the restaurant chain said: “Want PERi-PERi (and Sagres) on tap? We’re on it and opening on Wednesday 21st January.” The new restaurant will offer eat-in, collection and delivery options. It will be located at Kilmarnock Retail Park, next to the Odeon cinema and close to ASDA. Nando’s confirmed that the restaurant will include a Sagres beer

A remarkable event took place at Ayrshire College this week. Doug Maclean Aviation Editor 12th December 2025. AERALIS are the pioneering aircraft design company who aim to build the replacement for the Red Arrows jets at Prestwick airport. They have the backing of world class engineering and manufacturing companies and can attract finance from across the globe. Anton Burford and Callum Watson of AERALIS made a presentation at Ayrshire College. The room was full of an apparent

Buzzworks has confirmed a new corporate sponsorship agreement with the Master Chefs of Great Britain, strengthening the company’s commitment to culinary excellence and the development of the next generation of chefs. The partnership, announced on 4 December, marks a significant step for the hospitality group as it continues to invest in training, skills and opportunities across its expanding portfolio of 22 venues. The Master Chefs of Great Britain, a respected non-profit org

Ayrshire’s independent travel agency LAH Travel is celebrating national recognition after receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award at the recent Hays Travel Conference. Left to right: Heather Kerr (LAH Manager), Harriet Grainger (Hays IG Manager), Dame Irene Hays and Linda Mackenzie (LAH Travel Consultant) The business, which operates branches in West Kilbride and Kilmarnock, has been part of the Hays Independence Group for almost 22 years. The award acknowledges the agen

Renaldos Ices in Ayr has been crowned Scotland’s Best Gelateria at the Scottish Italian Awards 2025. The family-run business took the top spot ahead of six other finalists in the category. Photo: Renaldos/ Facebook (Public) The team shared their excitement in a post on Facebook, stating: “WE WON BEST GELATERIA IN SCOTLAND!!! We are all so happy! We couldnt have done other without all our lovely customers, staff, families and friends! Thank you every one of you! Now we are off

Farmlay welcomed North East MSPs and councillors to Cockmuir Farm outside Strichen last Friday 21 st November as part of Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) ‘Meating Our Potential’ campaign, which encourages Scotland’s beef farmers to add just two more cows to their herd each year to help ensure the supply of beef meets the ongoing buoyant consumer demand. The visit offered the attendees – many of whom were visiting a working farm for the first time – insight into how Scotland’s i

The independent firm, which has more than a century of experience and operates 11 practices across Scotland, was named Marketing Practice of the Year for its group-wide achievements and Contact Lens Practice of the Year for its Ayr branch. The awards highlight the team’s commitment to high-quality clinical care, specialist expertise and strong community engagement. Hosted in Glasgow by Vision Scotland and The Scottish Optical Conference, the inaugural Scottish Optometry Award

Winning streak continues for top Ayrshire family business  One of Ayrshire’s leading family-owned firms is celebrating a record-breaking year for industry awards after being crowned ‘Boutique Spa Hotel of the Year’ in London and ‘Family Business of the Year’ in Glasgow in the last week alone.    These two accolades are just the latest additions to a growing list of industry awards achieved by SimpsInns in 2025, including ‘Scotland’s Best Spa & Golf Hotel’ of the year at the S

Ayrshire food brand Tempura is celebrating its fifth anniversary, reflecting on a period of rapid growth that has seen the business expand across the region, created up to 70 jobs and raised significant funds for various charities. Photo Credit: Tempura Cafe/Bar/2go Facebook (Public) In a post shared on social media, the company said: “Today we turn 5… 5 years ago Brandon started this journey with a dream and a Mark. We opened the doors to the Ayr Restaurant on the 16th of No

Ayrshire’s very own Joannas Fish & Chippy Van has been crowned Best Mobile Fish & Chips in Scotland at this year’s prestigious Scottish Fish & Chip Awards. The much-loved mobile chippy, known for its fresh local produce, golden chips, and friendly service, continues to make waves across Ayrshire and beyond. Judges praised Joannas for its outstanding quality, community focus, and ability to deliver restaurant-standard fish and chips wherever it goes. Adding to the celebrations

The Reel Plaice in Ayr has been named one of five national finalists in the prestigious Peter Hill Award 2025, organised by Middleton Foods. The award, created in memory of the company’s late CEO Peter Hill, celebrates excellence and passion within the fish and chip industry. This year’s competition received a large number of entries from across the UK, with The Reel Plaice earning its place among the top contenders. Ryan Baker, Sales Manager at Middleton Foods, said: “We lau

A star of BBC’s The Apprentice will swap the boardroom for the ballroom when he visits Ayrshire next year for one of the region’s most prestigious business events. Mike Soutar, best known as one of Lord Sugar’s trusted advisers who grills candidates during the hit show’s interview stage, will be the guest speaker at the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner. The event, set to take place at Trump Turnberry Resort on Friday, March 27, will bring together up to 500 business