Caddon View Wins ‘Guest House of the Year 2009’ at the Scottish Hotel Awards

At the sixth annual Scottish Hotel Awards, Innerleithen Guest House Caddon View was named as ‘Guest House of the Year 2009’. The Awards ceremony took place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Glasgow on the evening of Sunday 1st March and was attended by several hundred of Scotland’s leading hoteliers.

Owners of Caddon View, Lisa and Steve Davies, were delighted to receive the accolade at their first attempt, beating off stiff competition from all over Scotland.

‘Since taking over Caddon View almost two years ago we have worked very hard to create a place where our guests can relax in comfort and enjoy the best food that the Borders can offer’ says Lisa Davies. ‘It’s good to know that our efforts in launching the restaurant and refurbishing the rooms have been recognised. Receiving this award judged by a panel of people who are extremely experienced in the hospitality industry is a real honour’.

‘We just treat people the way we would like to be treated when we stay away’ added Steve. ‘A friendly smile and a warm welcome cost nothing but make the difference’.

Vivien Devlin, Co-Chairman of the awards committee, commenting on Caddon View’s award says "From the warm welcome at the front door, a pot of tea and homemade cake by the fire, to pre-dinner G &T and superb, innovative good food, Caddon View offers an exceptional standard of hospitality. With Steve and Lisa's personal touch and welcoming, homely ambience, they certainly deserve the accolade of Guest House of the Year 2009."

The Eastgate Theatre - w/c 26 February 2009

Saturday 14th March 7.30pm
Family
Quiz Night
Brush up on trivia, make up a team (four to eight competitors), enjoy a complementary drink at the bar, and battle for prizes! Have fun at this Eastgate fundraiser, organised by Friends of the Eastgate.

Sunday 15th March 7.30pm
Music
A Voyage In Music And Words
Pianists Beryl Seal and Maureen Taylor present a selection of music from Polish mazurkas to Latin American sambas, with poetry and prose readings by Eva Bissett and Anne Taylor, in the Eastgate studio. A fundraiser for the Eastgate.

Sunday 15th March 8pm
Comedy
Jerry Sadowitz
It's hard to understand how he gets away with it, but he does. Brilliantly! Not for the easily offended. Not for the slightly-hard to offend. Not even for the downright difficult to offend, if you like shock comedy and can leave your sense of offence at home, then this is a must-see show for you.

Tuesday 17th March 7.30pm
Music
Peebles High School Ceilidh Band
Young musicians from the National Centre of Excellence for Traditional Music based in Plockton High School meet Peebles High School Ceildh Band for an evening of traditional music.

Wednesday 18th March7.30pm
Music
Hawick Psa Male Voice Choir
First created in the early 20th century to entertain young folk, this is one of the few male voice choirs left in the area. The 30 strong group will perform for the first time in the Eastgate and musical director, Ann Witherington will conduct their programme of show songs, hymns and Scottish songs. A fundraiser for the Eastgate.

Thursday 19th March 7.30pm
Drama
So Long Lives This...
Elizabeth and Essex, Shakespeare and Southampton - fair youths, player-playwrights and dark ladies - all touched each others' lives and left amazing marks on ours. An evening with Shakespeare and his circle, dramatised in sonnets, song and dance. Devised by Jenny Chapman and presented by Shakespeare at Traquair.

Friday 20th March 7.30pm
Music
Breabach
Scottish firebrands Breabach are one of the most talked about bands on the folk scene. Their innovative celtic style, blending double bagpipes, flute, fiddle, song and Scottish stepdance, brings to the stage flare, excitement and diversity rarely seen from such a young group.

www.eastgatearts.com/events/booking

The Eastgate Theatre - w/c 26 February 2009

Friday 27th February 7.30pm
Music
Tom McConville Band
Primarily known as the Newcastle fiddler, this virtuoso musician and fantastic singer delivers a performance that combines a rollercoaster of musical delights with fast, rhythmic dance tunes through beautiful slow airs and of course, great singing-all presented with his inimitable sense of humour and style. Whilst he has shared stages throughout the world with the very best in the business, Tom has never forgotten his roots and is as happy in the intimate atmosphere of a small folk club as he is at the largest festivals.

Saturday 28th February 2 - 5pm
Music
Choral Workshop with Capella Nova
If you love singing, or would love to try, come along and get some expert tuition from Alan Tavener and Edward Caswell, from Scotland's acclaimed early music choir Capella Nova. Suitable for beginners and experienced singers alike, this will be a fun afternoon ending with a short 'concert' for friends and families.

Saturday 28th February 7.30pm
So Long Lives This ... (Shakespeare at Traquair)
Elizabeth and Essex, Shakespeare and Southampton - fair youths, player-playwrights and dark ladies - all touched each others' lives and left amazing marks on ours. An evening with Shakespeare and his circle, dramatised in sonnets, song and dance. Devised by Jenny Chapman and presented by Shakespeare at Traquair.

Tuesday 3rd March 2pm
Music
Tam O’Shanter
A musical interpretation of Robert Burns' famous poem created and performed by Peebles Players and directed by Claire Garnett.

Thursday 5th March 7.30pm
Music
Marais Ensemble (Music In Peebles)
A woodwind quintet, including three orchestra principals, plus the pianist Alexander Taylor, will play the Quintet for Piano and Wind by Beethoven, the Mother Goose Suite by Ravel, Kleine Kammermusik by Hindemith, the Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet by Poulen, and L’Heure du Berger by Francaix.

Friday 6th March 7.30pm
Drama
Juno And The Paycock (Odd Productions)
‘The whole worl’s in a state of chassis!’ slurs drunken Jackie Boyle, summing up the human folly and humour which has given Juno and the Paycock its staying power. Produced by Kath Mansfield, this classic tale of a Dublin family brought to its knees by debt is as fresh today as ever. www.eastgatearts.com/events/booking

Investing in Borders Tourism

There's a Tourism Exchange Day organised by the Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership at the Springwood Hall, Border Union Showground Kelso on March 3rd 2009.

10.30 - Hall opens, coffee and arrival
10.55 - Welcome
11.00 - Investing in the Borders - Manor Kingdom and De Vere Hotels
11.15 - Applying for Investment - Abbotsford
11.30 - Investment and Support Now! Homecoming 2009
12.00 - Questions and Summary
12.15 - Leaflet Exchange Opens

Invitation and Application forms can be downloaded here.

Bowhill House & Country Estate Joins the Consortia

The latest member to join the Visit Teed Valley website is the Scottish Borders home of the Duke of Buccleuch - Bowhill House - which displays an outstanding art collection with works by Canaletto, Claude, Raeburn, Reynolds, Gainsborough and Ruysdael. Its fine rooms display tapestries, superb French furniture, Sevres and Meissen china and silver. There are a variety of peaceful walks on offer as well as Adventure Playground for the young at heart. The Courtyard also has a range of interesting things to do and see - from a James Hogg Exhibition, Victorian Kitchen, Visitor Centre and Courtyard games, to a gift shop and Minstrel Tearoom - there is something for everyone. Bowhill also hosts an intimate 72-seater theatre transformed from the old Victorian Game Larder. Click here to visit the Bowhill page on the website.

The Eastgate Theatre - w/c 19 February 2009

Thursday 19th February 7.30pm
Music
Moon River To The Days Of Wine And Roses : The Genius Of Johnny Mercer
The Eastgate is delighted to welcome back Todd Gordon - one of Britain's top jazz and swing singers - and this time he brings a new show to mark the centenary of the birth of the Great American Songbook lyricist, Johnny Mercer. The finest of classic popular songs are featured, including That old Black Magic, The Summer Wind, Too Marvelous for Words, Blues in the Night, Dream, One for My Baby, as well as the Oscar-winning songs in the title. Intriguingly, Mercer was particularly proud of his Scottish roots which he traced back to the Battle of Culloden. He therefore represents the only legitimate Scottish connection to American Songbook royalty.
'Impeccable choice of music and Todd and his band interact wonderfully.' (Sir Michael Parkinson)
'Gordon's made the American songbook his own.' (The Guardian)

Sunday 22nd February
Film
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (u) 2.30pm
A pooch is kidnapped and rescued from certain death in a dog fight by a German Shepherd. Voices over by Drew Barrymore and Andy Garcia.
Easy Virtue (PG) 7.30pm
An adaptation of Noel Coward's classic play, starring Ben Barnes, Jessica Biel, Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas.

Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th 7.30pm
Family
Reach For The Stars
The youngsters of the Scottish Theatre Music School present a new musical comedy about talent, celebrity and disappointment - exploring the territory between X Factor and Pop Idol. The show isdevised and directed by Derek Douglas, and stars the pupils who attend his weekly classes at the Eastgate.

Friday 27th February 7.30pm
Music
Tom McConville Band
Primarily known as the Newcastle fiddler, this virtuoso musician and fantastic singer delivers a performance that combines a rollercoaster of musical delights with fast, rhythmic dance tunes through beautiful slow airs and of course, great singing-all presented with his inimitable sense of humour and style. Whilst he has shared stages throughout the world with the very best in the business, Tom has never forgotten his roots and is as happy in the intimate atmosphere of a small folk club as he is at the largest festivals.

Saturday 28th February 2 - 5pm
Music
Choral Workshop with Capella Nova
If you love singing, or would love to try, come along and get some expert tuition from Alan Tavener and Edward Caswell, from Scotland's acclaimed early music choir Capella Nova. Suitable for beginners and experienced singers alike, this will be a fun afternoon ending with a short 'concert' for friends and families.

Saturday 28th February 7.30pm
So Long Lives This ... (Shakespeare at Traquair)
Elizabeth and Essex, Shakespeare and Southampton - fair youths, player-playwrights and dark ladies - all touched each others' lives and left amazing marks on ours. An evening with Shakespeare and his circle, dramatised in sonnets, song and dance. Devised by Jenny Chapman and presented by Shakespeare at Traquair.

The Eastgate Theatre - w/c 12 February 2009

Thursday 12th February 7.30pm
Music
Poet in New York
A concert of unique and evocative music, featuring material by Leonard Cohen, Federico Garcia Lorca, Vladimir Nabokov, Laura Nyro, Bob Dylan, Suzanne Vega and Pablo Neruda. Keith James and Rick Foot explore the fear, fascination and vulnerability that a fragile and creative person experiences when confronted with somewhere as exciting and unsettling as New York City. The evening also includes a bio-documentary about the life and work of Leonard Cohen.
New York grew from its position of vast commercial turnover and naturally became an unprecedented magnet of migration. Of all the village-like communities and marginalized vocations that have prospered, that of Poet is the most rare. During the 20th century Lorca, Borges, Nabokov, Plath, Dylan emerged, transient, out of step and almost invisible.
Performers Keith James and Rick Foot have received critical acclaim for their Lorca album and concerts.

Saturday 14th February 7.30pm
Dance
Viennese Valentine in the Burgh Hall
Put on your best bib and tucker for an evening of wine, women and song – as the Friends of the Eastgate invite you to enjoy a 'St Valentine’s Day Dance' in the company of Peebles Orchestra, with leader Tony Kime, conductor John Howden, and guest sporano Marcella Holmes. This fantastic fundraiser includes singing, dancing and buffet supper. Dress up if you want and simply listen to to the music or waltz and polka your partner round the room to music from Vienna and beyond.

16th February - 7th March 2009
Exhibition
Plum!
An exhibition featuring jewellery, paintings, sculptures and other art forms produced by artists working at Borders Development Studios, Galashiels.

Thursday 19th February 7.30pm
Music
Moon River To The Days Of Wine And Roses : The Genius Of Johnny Mercer
The Eastgate is delighted to welcome back Todd Gordon – one of Britain’s top jazz and swing singers – and this time he brings a new show to mark the centenary of the birth of the Great American Songbook lyricist, Johnny Mercer. The finest of classic popular songs are featured, including That old Black Magic, The Summer Wind, Too Marvelous for Words, Blues in the Night, Dream, One for My Baby, as well as the Oscar-winning songs in the title. Intriguingly, Mercer was particularly proud of his Scottish roots which he traced back to the Battle of Culloden. He therefore represents the only legitimate Scottish connection to American Songbook royalty.
'Impeccable choice of music and Todd and his band interact wonderfully.' (Sir Michael Parkinson)
'Gordon's made the American songbook his own.' (The Guardian)

The Eastgate Theatre - w/c 5 February 2009

Thursday 5th February 7.30pm
Music
Emily Smith
Multi award winning Scottish singer-songwriter Emily Smith returns to the Eastgate with her band. Raised in rural Dumfriesshire, Emily’s songs – both traditional and self-penned – reflect the beauty and diversity of her own part of Scotland.

Sunday 8th February
Film
Inkheart (PG) 2.30pm
Characters from story books come to life with dramatic results.
Man On Wire (12A) 7.30pm
A dazzling documentary about high wire walker Philippe Petit, who decided to cross between the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Centre.

Tuesday 10th February 7.30pm
Lecture
Halkett Hendrie Memorial Lecture - 500 Years Of Scottish Printing
Dr Brian Hillyard, head of the Rare Books Division of the National Library of Scotland will talk about the 500th anniversary of printing in Scotland and Dr Hillyard will explore the birth and spread of Scottish printing. A lecture sponsored by Tweedale Society and Tweedale Archaeological Society.

Thursday 12th February 7.30pm
Music
Poet in New York
A concert of unique and evocative music, featuring material by Leonard Cohen, Federico Garcia Lorca, Vladimir Nabokov, Laura Nyro, Bob Dylan, Suzanne Vega and Pablo Neruda. Keith James and Rick Foot explore the fear, fascination and vulnerability that a fragile and creative person experiences when confronted with somewhere as exciting and unsettling as New York City. The evening also includes a bio-documentary about the life and work of Leonard Cohen.
New York grew from its position of vast commercial turnover and naturally became an unprecedented magnet of migration. Of all the village-like communities and marginalized vocations that have prospered, that of Poet is the most rare. During the 20th century Lorca, Borges, Nabokov, Plath, Dylan emerged, transient, out of step and almost invisible.
Performers Keith James and Rick Foot have received critical acclaim for their Lorca album and concerts.

Traquair Celebrates a Silver Green Tourism Award and the Return of the Red Squirrel

Traquair has been awarded a prestigious Silver Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme in recognition of the work undertaken in the fields of energy saving, recycling and sourcing of local products.

Catherine Maxwell Stuart commented, "We are thrilled to have gained a Silver Award on our first grading and have worked hard last year to implement a range of new energy saving and recycling initiatives. We are also looking to introduce biomass heating system for the main house in the near future".

As if to celebrate Traquair' new green award red squirrels also been sighted in the Traquair grounds for the first time in a generation and it is hoped they will re-establish themselves in the ancient woodlands.

The efforts to control the grey squirrels which were damaging a number of trees at Traquair seem to have finally paid off and at least one pair of red squirrels have made their home at Traquair again.

The Eastgate Theatre - w/c 29 January 2009

Thursday 29th January 7.30pm
Drama
The Tailor of Inverness
‘I come from a farm, from the forests and fields of green Ukraine, from the ruins of Germany, from the beaches of the Adriatic, from the grimy streets of Glasgow and the cool air of Inverness.’ Words, music, dance and video combine to tell the moving story of this ordinary man caught by the murderous tides of the Second World War. Evoking poignant memories of post war Scotland, this is a story of journeys, of how a boy who grew up on a farm in Galicia (Eastern Poland, now Western Ukraine) came to be a tailor in Inverness.

Friday 30th January 7.30pm
Music
Auvo Quartet
British melodeonist Julian Sutton and flautist Tom Oakes are joined by Swedish singer/fiddler Suvi Oskala and fretted instrument player Rooper Aarnio. Together they create a distinctive, fresh sound with excellent playing, finely judged vocals and elegant, free-thinking arrangements. ‘A feast for the ears.’

Saturday 31 January7.30pm
Drama
Haughtie Hizzies and Haughmagandy
IDEOMS Theatre Company has a fine reputation for delivering the works of Robert Burns in a fresh and palatable way, with a unique blend of drama and music. Rounding off the show is the traditional Burns Supper, where the entertainment continues – always light-hearted and with no speeches.

Tuesday 3rd February 7.30pm
Music
Trio Ecossaise (Music in Peebles)
Jennifer Brown (clarinet), Harriet Davidson (cello) and Claire Haslin (piano) have delighted audiences across Britain since they launched their careers at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival. They will play Beethoven Trio op11, Bloch cello pieces, Muczynski Fantasy Trio, and Brahms Clarinet Trio.

Thursday 5th February 7.30pm
Music
Emily Smith
Multi award winning Scottish singer-songwriter Emily Smith returns to the Eastgate with her band. Raised in rural Dumfriesshire, Emily’s songs – both traditional and self-penned – reflect the beauty and diversity of her own part of Scotland.

Visit the Eastgate website.