Scotland Shines: 2025 Thistle Awards Spotlight Uk’s Excellence, Innovation, And Top Tourist Attractions

Published on September 13, 2025

On September 11, 2025, nan Central & East of Scotland Thistle Awards, UK ceremony was held astatine nan Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), marking a important infinitesimal for Scotland’s tourism industry. This prestigious arena highlighted nan accomplishments of businesses, individuals, and events that person shown excellence, innovation, and dedication to nan maturation of tourism successful nan region. From environmental sustainability to cultural enrichment, nan winners correspond nan diverseness and vibrancy of Scotland’s tourism offerings.

The Scottish Thistle Awards, pinch header sponsor Abbey: The Destination Experts, are a hallmark of accomplishment successful Scotland’s tourism sector. For complete 30 years, these awards person celebrated nan contributions of those who person made a quality done innovation, dedication, and quality service successful nan industry. This year’s arena spotlighted nan continued maturation of tourism crossed Scotland, wherever recipients were recognised for their outstanding achievements successful a wide scope of categories.

Winners successful Key Categories

The awards ceremonial recognized respective businesses and individuals that person made a lasting effect successful Scotland’s tourism and hospitality sector.

Best B&B aliases Guest House Experience: Derrybeg Bed & Breakfast

Derrybeg Bed & Breakfast, located successful Pitlochry, was awarded nan Best B&B aliases Guest House Experience. The squad was praised for their committedness to providing exceptional guest experiences. Their attraction connected creating lasting memories for visitors reflects their dedication to making Pitlochry a standout destination. The triumph is seen arsenic a reflection of their outstanding customer service and nan inviting ambiance they connection to their guests.

Best Bar aliases Pub: The Grandtully Hotel

The Best Bar aliases Pub grant was presented to The Grandtully Hotel. The hotel’s squad was lauded for their difficult activity and nan value of work they provide. The nickname underscores nan establishment’s expertise to create a memorable atmosphere, wherever guests tin relax and bask nan unsocial charm of nan Cairngorms region.

Best Hotel Experience: Murrayshall, Scone

Murrayshall, a stunning property successful Perthshire, was named nan Best Hotel Experience. The grant acknowledges nan hotel’s unwavering dedication to offering exceptional Scottish hospitality and creating memorable experiences for each guest. Murrayshall continues to pull visitors pinch its dedication to exceptional work and luxurious accommodations.

Best Self-Catering aliases Unique Stay: The Bus Stop

The Bus Stop, a unsocial self-catering accommodation successful East Lothian, was recognized for its unique offerings. The team’s attraction connected making their spot accessible to all was praised, reflecting their committedness to providing a memorable and inclusive stay. The grant highlights nan productivity and dedication of nan squad successful offering thing unsocial to visitors.

Best Visitor Attraction: Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo was awarded nan title of Best Visitor Attraction, further solidifying its position arsenic 1 of Scotland’s apical tourer destinations. The zoo’s committedness to sustainability and its innovative efforts, including nan installation of its caller solar meadow, were cardinal factors successful its recognition. The zoo’s dedication to educating visitors astir wildlife conservation and environmental protection is simply a awesome portion of its appeal, and nan grant reflects these efforts.

Climate Action Award: Edinburgh Zoo

In summation to its occurrence arsenic Best Visitor Attraction, Edinburgh Zoo besides won nan Climate Action Award. This accolade recognizes nan zoo’s outstanding efforts to beforehand environmental sustainability and conflict climate change. Its initiatives, including its solar meadow project, show its committedness to reducing its c footprint and inspiring others to return action toward a much sustainable future.

Outstanding Cultural Event aliases Festival: Edinburgh International Book Festival

The Edinburgh International Book Festival was recognized arsenic nan Outstanding Cultural Event aliases Festival. The festival’s expertise to bring together authors and audiences done a shared emotion of books, ideas, and conversation was acknowledged. The festival’s dedication to showcasing literary talent from astir nan world has made it an basal portion of Edinburgh’s taste calendar, and nan nickname highlights its value wrong Scotland’s tourism landscape.

Best Eating Experience: Killiecrankie House

Killiecrankie House, a fine-dining restaurant, won nan grant for Best Eating Experience. The restaurant’s attraction connected locally originated ingredients and exceptional culinary offerings makes it a standout destination for nutrient lovers successful Scotland. The team’s committedness to providing a unsocial and high-quality eating acquisition has earned them this well-deserved recognition.

Employer of nan Year: The Real Mary King’s Close

The Real Mary King’s Close, an immersive humanities attraction successful Edinburgh, was awarded Employer of nan Year. This accolade highlights nan attraction’s attraction connected employee wellbeing, development, and creating a supportive activity environment. The team’s productivity and passion are seen arsenic cardinal to nan attraction’s occurrence and this nickname underscores their dedication to fostering a affirmative workplace culture.

Individual of nan Year: Paul Nixon – The Real Mary King’s Close

Paul Nixon, General Manager of The Real Mary King’s Close, was named Individual of nan Year for his outstanding activity and contributions to nan tourism industry. His dedication to improving nan visitor experience and his activity successful nan tourism sector were recognized. This grant highlights his committedness to making Scotland’s tourism offerings world-class.

Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative: Solsgirth Home Farm

Solsgirth Home Farm received nan Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative award. The farm’s squad has worked tirelessly to prosecute pinch nan section organization and connection visitors a unsocial penetration into agrarian Scottish life. This grant recognizes their ongoing efforts to beforehand Scotland’s earthy beauty and agrarian traditions, offering guests a deeper knowing of wherever their nutrient comes from.

Innovation Award: HMS Unicorn

HMS Unicorn, a historical vessel successful Dundee, was awarded nan Innovation Award for its inclusive initiatives for illustration Wavemakers. These initiatives purpose to thrust social change and animate communities while making historical heritage accessible and meaningful to each visitors. This grant is simply a nickname of nan ship’s committedness to innovation and inclusivity wrong nan tourism sector.

Inclusion Award: Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions was awarded nan Inclusion Award for its efforts to create an accessible and welcoming situation for each visitors. The attraction’s committedness to inclusivity is demonstrated done its sensory backpacks, quiet spaces, and a caller virtual tour that offers greater elasticity and accessibility for each guests.

Rising Star Award: Hugh Mackay – Highland Experience Tours

Hugh Mackay from Highland Experience Tours was named nan Rising Star. His dedication and passion for Scottish tourism person contributed to his occurrence successful delivering complete 200 tours and receiving much than 150 five-star reviews. His leadership and earthy charisma person made him a standout fig successful Scotland’s tourism industry.

Best Outdoor aliases Adventure Experience: Newton Farm Holidays & Tours

Newton Farm Holidays & Tours was awarded Best Outdoor aliases Adventure Experience for its unsocial farm-based experiences. The farm’s squad useful to thief visitors understand agrarian Scottish life, wherever their nutrient comes from, and nan value of sustainability successful agriculture. This grant highlights nan farm’s committedness to offering visitors an authentic Scottish experience.

Looking Ahead: National Final

The location winners of nan Central & East of Scotland Thistle Awards will now spell connected to correspond Edinburgh successful nan national final, to beryllium held successful November. These location awards item nan excellence recovered crossed Scotland’s tourism sector, and nan nationalist awards will admit nan champion of nan champion from crossed nan country. The winners from Edinburgh and different regions of Scotland will compete to beryllium crowned nationalist champions and proceed to showcase Scotland arsenic a leader successful nan world tourism industry.

These awards are basal successful acknowledging nan difficult work, creativity, and passion of those successful Scotland’s tourism and hospitality industry, and they item nan value of sustainability, inclusivity, and community successful nan sector’s ongoing development.

[Image Credit: Visit Scotland]