Day: 12 May 2026

Glasgow West End favourite Five March is shaking up Thursday nights with the launch of a brand-new Burger Night, running every Thursday from 5 pm to 9 pm from 9 April. The special burger menu will be available in addition to the a la carte menu.

Five March owner, Jo Nethery said, 

“Five March is all about offering a warm and welcoming space for friends to come enjoy each other’s company while enjoying delicious food made from local and seasonal produce. We’ve put the same care and creativity into our burger menu as we do everything else – expect bold flavours, quality ingredients, and a few surprises along the way.”

The menu includes: 

• Fried chicken sandwich, Katsu, shredded hispi, pickled ginger
• Korean fried chicken sandwich, gochujang, BB pickles
• Smash burger, cheese, aioli
• Smash burger, cheese, aioli, pickles, shredded lettuce, crispy onions, burger sauce.

Tucked away in Glasgow’s West End, just moments from Kelvingrove Park, Five March is best known for its flavourful small plates. Menus are designed for sharing and driven by seasonality, with thoughtful options for vegetarians and vegans, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

The minimalist interiors offer a refined yet laid-back atmosphere, while the outdoor terrace provides a bright spot for al fresco dining during the Scottish summer and the perfect place to enjoy a drink from the bar’s experimental cocktail list or curated selection of organic wines.

For more information and to book a table, please visit fivemarch.co.uk

Isle of Barra Distillers has unveiled its most atmospheric release yet, Island Dark Rum: Black Forest. The new expression takes the distillery’s award-winning Island Dark Rum to new depths, offering a more layered experience, inspired by a wilder place.

Drawing inspiration from the darker, more mystical side of Barra, Black Forest captures the depth and richness of dark forest flavours. The rum has been built around the bold intensity of wild cherry and blackcurrant, lifted with bright orange peel and mellowed by smooth coconut. The new rum balances the rich flavours of the dark fruits with the familiar, tropical warmth of Island Dark Rum.

Founded in 2017 by Katie and Michael Morrison, the husband and wife Barra natives wanted to create a future for their family and generations to come and, in doing so, founded Scotland’s most westerly distillery. 

Island Dark Rum: Black Forest is priced at £36 and is available to purchase now via the Isle of Barra Distillers website: https://isleofbarradistillers.com/products/island-dark-rum-black-forest 

Website: https://isleofbarradistillers.com/ 

Isle of Barra Distillers has announced that Isle of Barra Gin and Island Dark Rum are now available in Tesco stores around Scotland. This marks the second major supermarket listing for Scotland’s most westerly distillery in the last six months, following its launch in Sainsbury’s in October 2025.

Isle of Barra Gin will be available in 85 Tesco stores and Dark Island Rum will be available in 65 stores, taking Isle of Barra Distiller’s total retail presence from around 299 stockists across the UK to over 620, including  Waitrose, Co-op, Booths and The Whisky Shop. 

Colleen Bowring, UK Head of Sales for Isle of Barra Distillers, said: 

“This year, we’re incredibly excited to continue to see strong growth in the off-trade across the UK, particularly within the grocery sector. For a small independent distillery from the Outer Hebrides, securing listings in both of the UK’s top two grocers within six months is something we couldn’t be more proud of. It shows that consumer demand for spirits with real provenance and a genuine story behind them is stronger than ever and we’re thrilled to be bringing a true taste of Barra to even more shelves across Scotland and beyond.”

Founded in 2017 by Katie and Michael Morrison, the husband and wife Barra natives wanted to create a future for their family and generations to come, and in doing so, founded Scotland’s most westerly distillery. Isle of Barra Distillers produces Isle of Barra Gin, Hebridean Vodka and Island Dark Rum from Castlebay on Barra. Isle of Barra Gin is distilled using locally hand-harvested Carrageen seaweed sourced sustainably from the shores surrounding the distillery’s island home.

The Isle of Barra Distillers has announced a landmark export agreement marking the distillery’s entry into the United States market just in time for Scotland’s first World Cup match in 27 years.

From June 2026, The Isle of Barra Distillers’ award-winning spirit will be available in over 25 states, including key markets in New York, Boston and Texas.

Michael Morrison, Co-Founder and CEO of Isle of Barra Distillers, said:

“This is one of the most significant milestones for our business with international export continuing to be a key area of growth. This is a challenging time for the drinks industry so we’re particularly pleased to have secured this deal in this climate. We’re partnering with Total Wine & More which brings our products to 268 retail stores and online.

“Launching in the US in the same month that Scotland will be playing at the World Cup is so special for us and for our island. Every bottle produced by the distillery carries the essence of its island home – its wild Atlantic waters, its close-knit community and its enduring spirit. So we hope we’ll be able to give the Tartan Army visiting the US a wee taste of home and introduce our Barra Gin to a new audience as we travel across the pond for our launch tour.”

Founded in 2017 by Katie and Michael Morrison, the husband and wife Barra natives wanted to create a future for their family and generations to come, and in doing so, founded Scotland’s most westerly distillery. Isle of Barra Distillers produces Isle of Barra Gin, Hebridean Vodka and Island Dark Rum from Castlebay on Barra. Isle of Barra Gin is distilled using locally hand-harvested Carrageen seaweed sourced sustainably from the shores surrounding the distillery’s island home.

Isle of Barra Distillers is available in 10 countries around the world.

Fife farm shop, Balgove Larder is expanding its award-winning butchery, reflecting continued growth in demand for high-quality, locally sourced produce. 

Balgove Larder is a farm shop, butchery and food destination located on the Strathtyrum Estate by St Andrews. Particularly known for its high quality meat, traditionally butchered by their skilled in-house team, the butchery counter takes centre stage in the shop and also supplies their popular Steak Barn restaurant.

Currently nearing completion, the development totals 100 square metres, more than doubling in size and comprising new butchery space and an upgraded storeroom. This will increase production capacity, improve efficiency in deliveries and stock management, and allow the butchery team more space to process and house more of the estate’s own reared meat. 

While output will increase, the focus remains on maintaining craftsmanship, provenance, and product quality. The expansion is designed to support traditional butchery skills while improving workflow and consistency.

The investment will also add around four additional jobs to the existing eight-strong butchery team.

The butcher at Balgove Larder has also been named a finalist in this year’s Countryside Alliance Best Butcher in Scotland award, recognising the skill, consistency, and quality of the team. The winning butchery will be announced in May.

Balgove Larder has seen a consistent increase in demand for its high quality produce. This is in keeping with a recent survey marking Great British Beef Week 2026 (April 23rd – 30th 2026, which revealed that consumers are increasingly prioritising provenance, quality, and trust, with more choosing to buy from local butchers and farm shops.

Founded in 2010, it is known for championing local Scottish produce, including seasonal ingredients and meat from its own farms and award-winning meat prepared by traditionally skilled butchers. The site has grown to include a Farm Shop, Steak Barn, Butchery, Garden Shed, Homestore, Café and the Eat Out takeaway hut, all housed in thoughtfully converted former farm buildings.

balgove.com