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The Scottish Grand National is taking place today, at Ayr Racecourse, drawing attention from across the horse racing world. The feature race is scheduled to begin at 3.35pm, with coverage starting earlier in the day. Among the runners attracting attention is King Of Answers, with strong interest ahead of the event. The race remains one of the biggest fixtures in Scotland’s sporting calendar, bringing crowds and excitement to Ayr each year.
A long-serving Ayr butcher has retired after an extraordinary 60-year career in the trade. Gordon Picken has stepped down from Picken and Son, the family-run business on Main Street which has been serving the town since 1870. Having joined as a teenager, Gordon spent decades helping to maintain the shop’s reputation for traditional craftsmanship and customer service. The business will now continue under his brother Colin Picken and sister-in-law Maureen, ensuring the family legacy carries on.
Secondary schools across North Ayrshire have been ranked in a new national league table published by The Times. The rankings are based on the percentage of pupils achieving five Highers or equivalent qualifications. Largs Academy and St Matthew’s Academy in Saltcoats were the highest-performing local schools, both with 55 per cent of pupils reaching the benchmark. Auchenharvie Academy and Garnock Community Campus also recorded notable improvements, while all nine North Ayrshire secondary schools featured in the national list.
Pupils at Annbank Primary School have helped raise funds for a global cause in partnership with Ayr Rotary Club. The children collected more than £175, which will go towards purchasing Aquabox water filters for communities affected by disasters. The fundraising effort means five devices will now be provided. Aquabox filters are designed to produce clean, safe drinking water and are distributed worldwide to areas where access to clean water is limited or contaminated.
A new café has officially opened in Ayr, bringing a fresh offering to Barns Street. Terracotta Coffee has taken over the unit previously occupied by Dougy’s Desserts, which closed in September 2024 and was later put on the market. The venue, located opposite the Mercure Hotel, is now serving a range of hot and cold drinks alongside breakfast options including French toast, toasties and pancakes. The team behind the café say they are excited to welcome customers and begin a […]
Plans have been submitted to build a new Home Bargains store at Glencairn Retail Park in Kilmarnock. The proposal outlines a large retail unit with a garden centre, along with parking for 135 vehicles and improved pedestrian access. If approved by East Ayrshire Council, the development is expected to create around 50 jobs and will become the third Home Bargains location in Kilmarnock. The company has also confirmed it intends to keep its existing stores at Burns Mall and Armour […]
North Ayrshire Council is set to reconsider its decision to introduce a special bank holiday to mark Scotland’s participation in the World Cup. The proposed day off on Monday, June 15 had initially been approved for council staff. However, the decision has been called in by councillors who raised concerns about the estimated costs and potential impact on productivity. The matter will now be reviewed again at a council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, where a final decision is […]
Work is continuing on the major redevelopment of the Citadel Leisure Centre in Ayr, with a new phase of internal construction now underway. The £10 million project is being led by Alliance Leisure and aims to modernise the popular facility. From Monday, April 20, gym users will need to access the building via a temporary rear entrance for around four weeks. The upgrades will include new fitness areas, a spa, café, family activity spaces and improved changing facilities, while most […]
The Scottish Grand National Festival is returning to Ayr Racecourse for a major weekend of racing on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18. The main race is set to take place at 3:35pm on Saturday, drawing large crowds to the area. Transport providers including ScotRail and Stagecoach have put additional services in place across both days to support racegoers travelling to Ayr. While tickets for Saturday have sold out, limited availability remains for Friday’s Ladies Day, which includes racing […]
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