New: the Port of Leith Distillery, Edinburgh

Take a tour around the Port of Leith Distillery, a whisky haven in the heart of Edinburgh where passion and innovation blend seamlessly in every dram. This isn’t just any distillery; it’s the UK’s first vertical distillery, with each stage of whisky production unfolding on different floors of a captivating building.

Expect a unique journey as the Port of Leith Distillery employs a range of innovative techniques, from using barley sourced from a nearby farm to experimenting with yeast strains and fermentation methods in their custom-built mash tun and lab. Offering a variety of single malts, blended whiskies, and whisky cocktails, the Port of Leith Distillery stands as a beacon of innovation, excellence, and celebration of whisky in Edinburgh – all ready for you and your group to try.

Trending: the London tour you’ll never find in a guidebook.

With Unseen London Tours we offer a very different way of seeing London – through the eyes and the knowledge of tour guides who really know the streets they show you around. The tours are all led by people who have experienced homelessness. The tour narratives touch upon their experiences, providing a safe space for dialogue that results in increased understanding about homelessness, improving attitudes in the process. Plus they’re a great way to rediscover London’s quirky facts and less-known stories that you’d never find in a guidebook!

Unseen Tours’ aim is to see a world where there are better opportunities for people who have experienced homelessness and other forms of discrimination and marginalisation. Each tour is created by the tour guide, so they choose the route, the stories, and the conversations that take place along the way. Take a tour and offer an opportunity for people affected by homelessness, so that they can do a job they love and chart a path out of vulnerability.

The tours you could choose from include:

Soho & St. Giles, Behind The Masks
Brick Lane, Multicultural Mixing Pot
Kings Cross to Clerkenwell, Building Monuments, Building Communities
London Bridge, Mysterious Alleys, Hidden Pathways
Covent Garden, Famous Places, Famous Faces

One new hotel and two restaurants on trend for the perfect experience

W Hotel Scotland

Opened late 2023 and located in the heart of Edinburgh’s St James Quarter, this captivating hotel offers an immersive experience for both leisure and business travelers. Here’s why it’s an excellent choice for incentives and events:

Unique Design and Architecture

Comprising three distinct buildings, including a historic one, W Edinburgh’s architectural presence is a blend of modernity and tradition. The Ribbon Building, resembling coiled ribbons, adds a touch of whimsy to the cityscape. The hotel features 244 stylish guest rooms, including 45 suites, each designed with flair.

Very well fed and watered

W Edinburgh offers “a playful twist to Scottish culinary culture” with three innovative dining concepts. There is SUSHISAMBA, born of the energy and spirit of the three distinct cultures of Japan, Brazil, and Peru. There is the social epicenter of the hotel, the destination W Lounge, reimagining Gaelic cuisine, and with its access to the unique rooftop W Deck, rewarding visitors with the finest, unfettered 360-degree views of Edinburgh. And there is João’s Place, a secret apartment speakeasy, offering guests colourful evenings of music, sunset sessions, and incredible cocktails inside the intimate studio.

Inspiring event spaces

W Edinburgh boasts state-of-the-art event studios, perfect for meetings, product launches, and celebrations. Their five flexible spaces overlook St James Square and feature a wraparound terrace, allowing fresh air breaks during sessions. It also has the popular Sound Suite – where the more digitally minded groups – musicians, podcasters, and creatives alike – can harness the energy of the city and the hotel to create buzzworthy content.

Montrose Restaurant

Montrose was also opened in late 2023, but wasted no time in getting into the Michelin Guide. A truly family affair that already built a great reputation through the very successful Timberyard (also in Edinburgh), this gastro delight is set in a late 19th-century building, originally an inn. There is a busy wine bar downstairs and an intimate restaurant upstairs. They boast of delivering ingredient-led cooking created with respect to nature and produce, sourced from local, artisan suppliers. It was more than enough to impress the MG inspectors. Let it impress you.

ASKR Restaurant

If the most on-trend way of preparing and delivering dishes is by cooking over fire and embers, it is understandable that since February 2024 ASKR has been so talked about and popular. Fronted by ‘culinary luminary’ chef Dan Ashmore and named after and inspired by the old Norse word for ash, this port of Leith restaurant has so far delivered dishes in its 12 course tasting menu that are all cooked over coals and flames. Look out too for their dry agers – you’ll see what’s on the menu right there hanging in front of you!

And another thing – down in London England

We are looking forward to the opening of Virgin Hotels London- Shoreditch. Located in the “achingly hip hotspot in London’s eclectic East End” (their words) its due to open August 2024.

Trending: the unique coastal immersive interactive experience for groups

Ocean Vertical is a unique adventure-oriented company that provides an exciting and immersive experience for MICE, corporate, and FITs. Nestled in a scenic coastal location, Ocean Vertical offers a stunning base for adventure activities, creating an unforgettable experience for those seeking thrilling and adrenaline-pumping adventures.

The location is full of breathtaking natural beauty, with the majestic ocean as a backdrop, and cliffs, rocky shores, or sandy beaches as part of the landscape. The facilities have been designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment, with eco-friendly or sustainable features that prioritize the preservation of the natural surroundings. Ocean Vertical’s offer a wide range of thrilling adventures, such as rock climbing, abseiling, sea kayaking, coasteering, paddleboarding, or other outdoor activities that allow participants to explore the coastal environment and experience the thrill of pushing their boundaries. Expert guides and instructors are on hand to provide instruction, guidance, and ensure the safety of participants throughout their adventures.

The atmosphere at Ocean Vertical is energetic, with a sense of camaraderie and team spirit, as participants engage in challenging activities, build connections, and create lasting memories. The experience may cater to various types of travelers, including corporate teams on team-building retreats, incentive groups looking for unique and adventurous experiences, or independent travelers seeking an adrenaline-pumping getaway.