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 fire which has destroyed the former Irvine forum building in Irvine is being treated as wilful police have confirmed this evening. In a statement police Scotland said: Chief Inspector Judith Macgregor, Local Commander for North Ayrshire, said: “We were called to a report of a fire at a premises on West Road, Irvine, around 11.50pm on Monday, 2 February, 2026. “Emergency services remain in attendance, but no injuries have been reported. “The fire is being treated as wilful,

The Irvine Rivergate shopping centre will remain closed to the public this morning following a major fire overnight in the former forum building which is located next door to the Rivergate. The centre said via Facebook: 🚨 Urgent Update: Due to a fire at the Forum last night, the centre is currently closed. Please be aware of the following: No Access: There is currently no access through the Rivergate & all stores will remain closed at the moment. If you usually walk through

Scots and Ukrainians working side by side in Ayr   Doug Maclean reports –   Spending time with the Ukrainian community in Ayr brings the war into sharp focus in a way headlines never can. It stops being a distant conflict measured in maps, statistics or political statements and becomes something far more human, personal and immediate.   One of the people who brought this home to me was Anatolia Artemenko, a 79-year-old Ukrainian scientist who now lives as a refugee in Troon.

At around 10.40pm on Saturday, 13 September, 2025, an accelerant was thrown at a property in Whiteford resulting in a fire. A member of the public forced entry to the building and assisted a 21-year-old woman within. There were no injuries. A male was seen running away from the scene, towards Assel Place, around the time of the incident. He is described as being in his late teens and was wearing dark-coloured clothing and a black baseball cap. Detective Constable Stewart Gord

A Stagecoach South Scotland–backed dementia programme has successfully achieved its goal of establishing a sustainable, ongoing community activity for people living with the syndrome and their carers after celebrating its one-year anniversary. Launched last year in partnership with club charity, Ayr United Football Academy, the Dementia Friendly Walking Football initiative has grown from a six-week pilot into a well-attended, permanent programme. Many of those taking part are

Local pupils helped to remember those who were involved in all aspects of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides as part of an event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Pupils from Auchinleck Primary and St Joseph’s, Kilmarnock, Stewarton, Loudoun, Doon, Robert Burns and Grange Academies delivered powerful presentations, lit candles and held a minute’s silence at East Ayrshire Council HQ in memory of all those who lost their lives during the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and in gen

A long anticipated moment has arrived for the Alloway Railway Tunnel  project, with the unveiling of a dramatic new mural scene that brings one of Scotland’s most famous literary moments vividly to life. The latest artwork reveals the climactic finale of Tam o’ Shanter , depicting Tam and Meg in full flight across the bridge, pursued by a frenzy of witches. The scene captures the tension, energy and fear of the poem’s closing moments, set just a short distance from the real B

DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE STUDIO AUDIENCE OF A BBC TV PROGRAMME?   Debate Night is   BBC Scotland’s political discussion show and we want the people from across  Scotland  to have their say.   The programme is travelling around the country on Wednesday evenings, and we would love to welcome local audiences at a location near you:   Upcoming Filming Dates:   Wed 04 Feb   LANARK                  Wed 11 Feb   FORT WILLIAM    Wed 18 Feb   EDINBURGH          Wed 25 Feb  AYR       

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

Aviation Editor Doug Maclean – 21st January 2021 On December 8th a press release from the Airbus SE announced they had completed the acquisition of many aircraft manufacturing sites owned by Spirit Aerosystems. The Spirit manufacturing site at Prestwick had been working for both Airbus and Boeing. Prestwick Aerosystems proudly takes its place at a historic site - Image Eddie Wallace Picture Eddie Wallace Prestwick Aerosystems is the new name for aircraft manufacturing at the

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

Ayr SNP MSP Siobhian Brown has welcomed the introduction of body worn video cameras for Police Scotland officers across Ayrshire.   The initiative, which started on 20 January 2026, will see frontline officers and police staff using the body worn devices as part of a national roll-out aimed at improving transparency, public confidence and safety.   More than 10,500 cameras are being introduced across Scotland, meaning once the roll-out is complete every frontline uniformed of

A youth-led group of filmmakers in North Ayrshire are getting ready to direct their next short film. It follows the success of their recent production Piece of Mind filmed in locations across Scotland, including at the walled garden of Eglinton Country Park. Piece of Mind was designed and delivered by young filmmakers of Next Take, these included Max McGregor, Archie Nelson, and BAFTA award-winner Daniel Kerr, supported by Screen Scotland’s Screen Education Fund, North Ayrshi

The incident happened around 4.30pm on Friday, 16 January, 2026, at a shop on Knockinlaw Road, near the junction to Western Road. Nothing was taken. The suspect is described as a man wearing black clothing and a black balaclava. Detective Constable Chris Pringle said: “Thankfully, no-one was injured however staff were left shaken by the incident. “Enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us. “We’d also ask anyone with private

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

Ayr SNP MSP Siobhian Brown has welcomed the £88.2m increase in health spending in NHS Ayrshire and Arran in the SNP Scottish Government’s recent Budget. Image - UniMed   The funding - part of a record investment of almost £22.5 billion in the NHS in the Budget - will see funding for NHS Ayrshire and Arran increase from £1,006.6m in 2025-26, to £1,094.8m in 2026-2027 - an 8.8% increase.    The funding will help enable the expansion of the number of Hospital at Home beds to at

A youth-led filmmaking group based in North Ayrshire is preparing to begin work on its next short film, following the success of a recent production that reached audiences across Scotland. The group, Next Take, recently completed Piece of Mind, a short film shot at locations across the country, including the walled garden at Eglinton Country Park . The project was written and delivered by young filmmakers including Max McGregor, Archie Nelson and BAFTA award-winner Daniel Ker

North Ayrshire Council has published an interim progress report on action that has been planned to help reduce flood risk. The Interim Progress Report on the 2nd Ayrshire Local Flood Risk Management Plan focuses on options to minimise the impact of flooding across Ayrshire, Arran and Great Cumbrae between 2022 and 2028. Under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, 12 Local Plan Districts across the country are responsible for assessing and managing flood risk. Ayrshir