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

C Fayre Crowned ‘Best in Scotland’ at National Fishmonger Awards 2025 There’s something to celebrate in Largs this week as local favourite C Fayre has been officially named ‘Best in Scotland’ at the prestigious National Federation of Fishmongers – Fishmonger of the Year Awards 2025. The judges praised C Fayre as “a shining example of Scottish fishmongery,” recognising the business’s remarkable five-decade journey under the leadership of John Watson, Scotland’s first Master Fi

Ayrshire Businesses Join Forces on Journey to Net Zero Businesses across North Ayrshire are uniting to tackle climate change through the Net Zero Accelerator, a year-long programme designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises reduce their carbon emissions and adopt sustainable practices. Delivered by North Ayrshire Council in partnership with Net Zero Nation and part-funded by Zero Waste Scotland, the initiative offers workshops, carbon-accounting tools, and one-to-one

Congratulations to SimpsInns, winner of the Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year Award at the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce...

South Ayrshire Council’s flagship event, the International Ayr Show – Festival of Flight, has been crowned “Best Community Tourism &...

In a major boost to employment and the local economy in East Ayrshire, two national food chains will open their doors before Christmas in...

A skilled heating and plumbing engineer from Ayr has been named as a finalist in the Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2025 competition. Photo:...

Miller Road is about to get a whole lot smokier as Homestead Smokehouse prepares to open its doors, bringing a brand-new dining...

Ayr dance school LJM Dances has vowed to keep fighting after South Ayrshire Council rejected its plans to transform an empty North...