Royal Highland Show organisers have unveiled the line-up for new drinking establishments at next month’s four-day event.
This year’s show, which takes place on June 23-26, will feature a range of new bars plus improvements to existing haunts.
New to the show for 2016 is a bar dedicated to the rising number of artisan Scottish gins. Run by award-winning Edinburgh catering company Hickory the bar will be known as The Botanical Garden and located at the south-east of the showground. Set in secret-garden surroundings, the bar will also offer a range of craft beers and feature live music.
Also new to the show is country music-themed bar and licensed food outlet The Stetson, which will be located behind the LowLand Hall as a replacement to the Herdsman’s Bar.
The Stetson will be managed by the same people – Gilchrist’s – who manage the Merry Monk Bar. It will have a capacity of 1,000 and show organisers claim “there will be plenty of room for line dancing when the live country music starts up”.
The final addition to the bar line-up is a new Prosecco bar on the 13th Avenue Arcade. It will be run by award-winning gin producer Gordon Castle, which is based near Fochabers.
Real ale, craft beer and cider will also be on offer at the Real Ale bar in the lifestyle village, the German Bar on the 4th Avenue opposite the forestry arena and the Cider Bar in the countryside area.
Old favourites such as Cheers Bar, Quaich Bar, Strathmore Restaurant, Stockmans Bar and Restaurant on Avenue M, MacPhersons Bar and Grill off the Floral Walkway and The Stag, will all be returning in 2016 at their usual locations.
Show manager David Jackson said: “We are really pleased to now be able to share our new bar line-up for the show. 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.”
Earlier this year show organisers said they wanted to create “an environment that encourages less drinking”. In addition to changes to the number and type of bars on-site, show organisers have also introduced new rules for the 2016 show. These include the introduction of a new code of conduct for the members’ area and a ban on visitors being able to carry or consume alcohol when walking around the showground.
