Regional specialties:
•
Porridge, a traditional Scottish breakfast made from locally grown oats and either milk or water.
•
Haggis (chopped oatmeal and offal cooked in the stomach of a sheep),
neeps (turnips) and
tatties (potatoes).
•
Cullen skink (fish soup).
• Smoked salmon.
•
Partan bree (crab with rice and cream).
• Drop scones (scotch pancakes),
•
Black bun, a fruit cake on a pastry base.
• Arbroath smokies (haddock smoked over oak chips in the Angus fishing
town of Arbroath).
•
Forfar bridies (beef, onions and seasoning with a shortcrust cover).
•
Selkirk bannock (a fruit bun made with butter and sultanas).
•
Hawick Balls and
Jethart Snails (traditional boiled sweets in the Borders).
Regional drinks: • Whisky.
• Beer.
•
Irn Bru (carbonated soft drink said to be made from girders!).
Things to know: Licensing hours vary; basic hours are 1100-2300, but many pubs have extended hours, particularly in cities. A complete smoking ban in bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs and offices came into force on 26 March 2006. Designated hotel bedrooms are exempt.
NightlifeIn major cities, such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, there is a vibrant nightlife, with many bars, restaurants, nightclubs and cinemas. These places also offer a fine array of theater, opera and music concerts. Some of the main venues for drama performances include the
Festival Theater,
Playhouse,
Assembly Rooms and
Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, the
Citizen’s Theater and
Theater Royal in Glasgow, as well as many picturesque regional theaters. The SECC building in Glasgow is a popular concert arena for live bands. Nightlife may be more limited in the smaller villages and islands. For more information on musical and theatrical events, contact VisitScotland (see
Top Things To Do).
Next Page »
