New look for Royal Highland Show bars

The celebration of the best in farming, food and rural life - which runs from June 23- 26 - will welcome a new bar, The Botanical Garden, which has been established in a nod to the gin revolution that’s sweeping the country.

Run by award winning Edinburgh catering company Hickory, The Botanical Garden will provide a juniper lover’s sanctuary in the sout east of the showground.

It will offer a range of artisan Scottish gins, with mixologists, in one section and craft beers and live music in the other, all in ‘secret garden’ surroundings.

Another newcomer is The Stetson, the Show’s first country music themed bar and licensed food outlet, which will sit behind the Lowland Hall. Managed by Gilchrist’s and with a capacity of 1000, there will be plenty of room for line dancing when the live country music starts up.

And in the upmarket 13th Avenue Arcade, shoppers can look forward to enjoying a glass of fizz at the new Prosecco bar, run by award-winning gin producer, Gordon Castle.

For those with a taste for real ale, craft beer and cider, Eden Brewery will be returning to host the Real Ale bar in the Lifestyle Village, the German Bar, run by Gilchrists, will be back on 4th Avenue (opposite the Forestry Arena) and there will be an always popular Cider Bar in the Countryside Area.

Old favourites such as Cheers Bar, Quaich Bar, Strathmore Restaurant, Stockmans Bar & Restaurant on Avenue M, MacPhersons Bar & Grill off the Floral Walkway and The Stag, will all be returning in 2016 at their usual locations.

For those looking for somewhere to dance away the day’s losses, or continue the win celebrations, the Show Dance returns in 2016. Under the cover of a marquee, the dance will have extended opening hours this year and will also now open on Wednesday 22 June from 6-11pm.

David Jackson, show manager, said: “Our new direction means that we are focusing on quality, not quantity, which will make things more socially orientated. We feel that by introducing these new smaller venues we can offer people real variety in their choice of where they head to drink, eat and socialise.

“I know that some people are disappointed that the Herdsman won’t be back, but all I ask is for them to give these new venues a chance, they won’t be disappointed.”

For full details of what’s on offer and when visit www.royalhighlandshow.org.