1 The Botany, a new restaurant by Alan Tompkins, the entrepreneur behind Blue Dog and Urban Brasserie is set to open a new restaurant in a Maryhill glasshouse setting. The name is a nod to the prisoners who once set off from this very canal to a life of penal servitude in Australia. This trip to Maryhill seems well worth it for foodies… a promise of fresh, seasonal, locally sourced high-end ingredients and an extensive wine list could tempt you to take a fresh new look at the canals of maryhill…soon to rival those of Amsterdam if Tompkins is to be believed. Opening September 12.
www.botanyglasgow.co.uk
2 Caorunn Gin are holding a fairytale gin garden at Hotel du Vin Edinburgh, from 11am until 11pm every day until mid-September. The Caorunn Summer Garden has been kitted out with an eye-catching, apple-strewn, cute wooden bar. Over the later summer months, a programme of live acoustic music, entertainment and barbecue evenings will entertain visitors.
www.hotelduvin.com/locations/edinburgh
3 If Brigadoon is your thing, this is the perfect time to head for Pitlochry, which is hosting Highland Games on Saturday, complete with tug of war, sabre throwing and plenty of men in kilts. Go on pretend you’re an extra in Outlander…
www.pitlochryhighlandgames.co.uk
4 Streetfood Pop-UP – The Platform at the Arches & Banksy Restoration Project
In 2001, Banksy created three murals inside The Arches in Glasgow as well as one on the outside of the venue. After the murals were painted over and The Arches shut down, it looked like Scotland’s only recorded Banksy artworks would be lost.
Now The Arches has reopened as Argyle Street Arches, plans have been put in place to fundraise the restoration and save these important artworks.
From August to November, the Banksy murals will be restored on site so the public can watch the progress. There will be plenty to eat and drink as 10 of Scotlands best street food providers will be on hand.
www.argylestreetarches.com
5 Aberdeen Restaurant Week
More than 30 of Aberdeen’s finest eateries are offering meals at the crazy low price of £20 for a 3 course dinner. Including 12 different types of cuisines from high end to street food.
www.aberdeenrestaurantweek.com
6 Tasting Menu, Six by Nico In Edinburgh or Glasgow
A new six- course tasting menu every 6 weeks offers a slightly magical approach to cooking. The current “cooking the 70s” menu doesn’t finish until September 16. It aims to transport guests through the decade of disco with each dish. Sampling far-out delights from good old prawn cocktail and summer berry trifle to Nico’s contemporary take on Spam.
7 Cruise liner at SWG3
For one night only (September 13) enjoy the love boat with magic, karaoke, piano bar, late night DJ set by SWG3 favourites – babestation. Guests include Pocket Knife, Dominic Hale and Clare Archibald. Nobody does cool cheese better than SWG3.
swg3.tv/events/2018/september/spam-zine-8-issue-launch
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here