Blair Esate Classical Concert

Enjoy the Easter Classical Concert on Sunday 17th April in aid of the Glasgow Passion 2011 at Blair Estate in Ayrshire.

Following their successful “Winter Tales” afternoon in December, Blair Esate are delighted to host another recital of classical music with Eleanor Lamont and Amy McMillan who will be joined this time by Isabella Dovaston, a local mezzo-soprano.

Included in the evening will be local up and coming tenor, Matthew Todd. Matthew is presently studying at the RSAMD and he is very much looking forward to his first performance at Blair.

The event takes place from 5.00pm through until 9.00pm with tickets priced at £20.00 per person, to include the cncert, buffet supper & a glass of wine.

Come and enjoy a special musical evening in our spectacular 1668 Drawing Room. Tickets are limited for the event and you should contact Blair directly for further information office@blairtrust.co.uk or visit their website

University of the West of Scotland Business Roadshow

An invitation from the University of the West of Scotland came in the email this morning...

Please accept our invitation and come along to the:

University of the West of Scotland Business Roadshow 2011– Ayrshire

Thursday 31 March 2011, 2pm

West of Scotland Management Centre, Ayr Campus

The Roadshow is ideal opportunity to find out about the wide-range of expertise and services offered by UWS to aid business growth and access solutions with funded assistance.

Who should attend?

If you are already in business and looking for professional advice to help grow your service or develop new products, this free event gives a complete overview on how UWS can help.


Directors and managers of small to medium sized or large organisations will have the chance to meet the specialists who can provide the tailored support required for organisational and professional development.

What’s happening?

The Roadshow uses "The Elevator Pitch” to show you all we have to offer to businesses in Ayrshire. This is a series of two minute pitches from our funding and advice teams and partners. Guidance will be available on:

• access to practical help for your company
• finding funds to move your business forward with UWS
• finding experts to help with short and long term development goals
• product design, development and testing
• training opportunities
• how enabling technologies can support your business

Following the short presentations there will be ample opportunity to network with UWS staff and partner organisations and benefit from their experience.

Why should we be working together?

The University’s vision is to be a University of choice in all that it does. UWS will make a full contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of the West of Scotland and beyond.

To book a place at the event please visit http://www.uws.ac.uk/research/register.asp Or book by telephone on 0141 848 3680 or email roadshow@uws.ac.uk

We look forward to showing you all that we can offer to make UWS your business partner of choice.

Councillor Shows Commitment to One Ayrshire...

What's the old saying about the proof of the pudding...

Well, little more than a fortnight after the three separate Ayrshire councils signed a declaration to work together in promoting a single destination Ayrshire message, what happens but one council already breaks ranks at the first big press and PR opportunity that comes around.

The cynics have argued that they heard this "joint working exercise" business spouted before and doubted the likelihood of seeing anything more than words. Do they have grounds for this scepticism? Make your own minds up...

This paragraph is lifted from the R & A press release announcing Turnberry as venue for the 2012 Seniors Open. (Which in itself is great news for Ayrshire and the rest of Scottish tourism.

"Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, said: "Turnberry is an iconic golf location and I am thrilled The Senior Open Championship is returning to South Ayrshire next year. We are, of course, the birthplace and home of Open Golf and we are also well-known for hosting major international events, so it’s going to be a fabulous sporting occasion.

“I look forward to welcoming players, staff, fans, family and friends to South Ayrshire for this wonderful event and will ensure a great time is had by all here on Scotland’s very own golf coast.”

So much for the value of that commitment and pledge then. They really just can't help themselves can they?

Martin Cheyne, Councillor David O'Neill, Councillor Bill McIntosh, Councillor Douglas Reid, and Jill Farrell sign the new Ayrshire Tourism Charter

Councillor McIntosh, just in case you forgot what you signed up for - There's Only One Ayrshire.

The Cook School at BBC Food Show

The Cook School Scotland are attending this year's BBC good Food Show and they want to see you there!

They will be providing substantial discounts on their products and "something for everyone" on Stand F40.

You can win tickets by answering the following Question.

What is their recipe of the month for May?

Email your reply complete with name, address and telephone number to info@cookschool.org - you've only got til 5pm today (19th October to get your answer in)

MP Calls For "One Ayrshire" Tourism Activity

AN MP has called on Ayrshire’s three local authorities to get together to promote the area as a tourist destination.

Central Ayrshire MP Brian Donohoe said the three councils currently worked separately to promote “their own particular jewel in their crown.”

He said North Ayrshire has Arran, while South Ayrshire has Burns and golf and East Ayrshire has Kilmarnock Football Club.

Speaking at his annual tourism summit in Prestwick, Mr Donohoe said: “All three authorities must work together to treat Ayrshire as a whole rather than an area with three different parts.”

Local businesses complained organisations such as VisitScotland put too much onus on Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Mr Donohoe went on: “Many of them feel it is only the cities which are benefiting from the input of the tourism ‘experts’.

“We must get pan-Ayrshire support for a solely Ayrshire based tourism board or forum.

“Tourists arriving at Prestwick find absolutely no representation for the place. There is no promotion for Ayrshire. So how can we expect tourists to come here?”

The loss of Ryanair flights is another major blow to the tourism industry, said Mr Donohoe.

He added: “The cut-backs in the airline’s winter schedules has had a marked effect on the number of tourists coming to Ayrshire especially from the Scandanavian countries.

“I intend to promote a cross-party pan-Ayrshire effort in the hope that a body such at the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce can perhaps look at organising a more structured meet up for the future.”

Dalquharran Castle is Used as Security

Interesting article from the Irish Indepedant last week. Interesting for the main story but also for the fact that Ayrshire has been relocated by the journalist to the Scottish highlands.

"A castle in the Scottish highlands (sic), valuable paintings by Irish artists Sean Keating, Donald Tesky and George K Gillespie, as well as any proceeds from an upcoming court battle, have all been put up as security for borrowings from Anglo Irish Bank by indebted developer Seamus Ross of Menolly Homes.

Mr Ross has pledged Dalquharran Castle in Ayrshire as security against borrowings from the bank. The ruined castle, built by Robert Adam in 1780, is earmarked for major redevelopment as a golf resort, subject to funding.

Menolly has also pledged land in Montenegro as security, as well as a number of insurance policies, according to mortgage documents.

The image comes from a great site about derelict buildings and has some great photos of a magnificent ruin that most of us remain blissfully unaware of.

What's the old saying about the proof of the pudding...

Well, little more than a fortnight after the three separate Ayrshire councils signed a declaration to work together in promoting a single destination Ayrshire message, what happens but one council already breaks ranks at the first big press and PR opportunity that comes around.

The cynics have argued that they heard this "joint working exercise" business spouted before and doubted the likelihood of seeing anything more than words. Do they have grounds for this scepticism? Make your own minds up...

This paragraph is lifted from the R & A press release announcing Turnberry as venue for the 2012 Seniors Open. (Which in itself is great news for Ayrshire and the rest of Scottish tourism.

"Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, said: "Turnberry is an iconic golf location and I am thrilled The Senior Open Championship is returning to South Ayrshire next year. We are, of course, the birthplace and home of Open Golf and we are also well-known for hosting major international events, so it’s going to be a fabulous sporting occasion.

“I look forward to welcoming players, staff, fans, family and friends to South Ayrshire for this wonderful event and will ensure a great time is had by all here on Scotland’s very own golf coast.”

So much for the value of that commitment and pledge then. They really just can't help themselves can they?

Martin Cheyne, Councillor David O'Neill, Councillor Bill McIntosh, Councillor Douglas Reid, and Jill Farrell sign the new Ayrshire Tourism Charter

Councillor McIntosh, just in case you forgot what you signed up for - there is only one Ayrshire.