Celebrate the colours of spring at Dobbies’ Spring Shopping Evening, a free-to-attend evening event dedicated to outdoor living and seasonal inspiration, taking place on Thursday 2 April at the Ayr store. Bring friends and family together to join the local community to mark the start of the season, with entertainment from local groups, hands-on workshops, delicious samples from Dobbies’ new foodhall, and in-store garden inspiration.   Start the evening with a complimentary dr

A new addition to Ayr’s town centre is already making an impression, as Scottish burger franchise Chilo’s opens its doors on Alloway Place. With a growing presence across the country, the brand has built a reputation around bold, flavour-led food and generous portions. Its arrival in Ayr adds another dimension to the town’s evolving food scene, offering a modern take on classic comfort food in a relaxed, contemporary setting. At the heart of the menu are smashed burgers made

Yesterday Air China Cargo quietly expanded its freight flights to Prestwick yet again and now has daily services to Chengdu in Western China. This is in addition to both Air China and China Southern airlines operating a total of 8 scheduled freight flights from Guangzhou in South East China, near Hong Kong. By Aviation Editor Doug Maclean Image - Glasgow Prestwick Airport On May 16th 2025 the first scheduled freight flights from Scotland to China started from Prestwick when

A property buying firm with offices across Scotland is highlighting its fast and flexible service for homeowners and commercial sellers looking for a quick sale. Sell To Us Property says it can purchase all types of property, in any condition, offering a hassle-free alternative for those who want to avoid the stress and uncertainty often associated with the traditional property market. The company, which operates through selltousproperty.com , says sellers can receive a fast

This week marks an exciting new chapter for Ayrshire’s specialty coffee scene as Espresso Kart opens the doors to its brand-new Prestwick Coffee Bar. Founded by Stuart and Lyndsey Pell, Espresso Kart began in 2018 with a single mobile coffee van and a simple mission: bring exceptional specialty coffee to Ayrshire. Since then, the independent family business has grown steadily, opening its first coffee bar in Kilmarnock in 2021, followed by a Prestwick takeaway bar in 2023. No

6 million items processed by Royal Mail. What brought them together with Prestwick airport and 3 key airlines to create this bright new business future?   Doug Maclean – Aviation Editor and business writer - 19thFebruary 2026.   As aviation editor for Ayrshire Daily News, I get to attend some interesting events and meet interesting people. As a business writer I get to ask questions about why certain people develop their businesses in ways we can’t quite understand. Recently

Its as part of the upcoming launch of Ayrshire360. East Ayrshire Leisure Trust has been evolving and expanding in recent years, and from April 2026 the organisation will move forward under the new Ayrshire360 collective. The change represents more than a rebrand, with organisers describing it as a unified vision focused on creating opportunities across East Ayrshire and strengthening local communities. The ambitious initiative aims to help generate £7 million worth of additio

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