Gaiety Theatre welcomes Scottish comedy stars

The Gaiety Theatre in Ayr is preparing to host an evening of stand-up comedy when The Scottish Comedians tour arrives on July 16 at 7.30pm. The show will bring together five well-known Scottish performers for one night of live entertainment in the town centre venue. Des McLean will host the evening alongside fellow comedians Susie McCabe, Ray Bradshaw, Gareth Mutch and Dean Park. Organisers say the show follows a successful 2025 tour and promises a mix of comedy styles and […]

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Ayrshire Samaritans mark 60 years

Ayrshire Samaritans is marking 60 years of supporting people across the region, with volunteers reflecting on decades of emotional support and crisis listening. The branch first opened in Kilmarnock during the 1960s and continues to provide confidential support to callers throughout the UK. The organisation currently has around 25 volunteers from across Ayrshire who answer calls day and night from people experiencing emotional distress, loneliness and mental health struggles. Over the years, volunteers have supported communities during major incidents, including […]

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Ayr Town Hall hosts NHS careers event

Primary 7 pupils from schools across Ayr were given the chance to explore future healthcare careers during a special event at Ayr Town Hall on May 14. The careers day was organised by the Rotary Club of Ayr in partnership with NHS Ayrshire & Arran. Healthcare professionals working in nursing, midwifery, allied health professions and medicine attended the event to speak directly with pupils about opportunities within the NHS. Children also created “When I grow up, I want to be…” […]

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Espresso Kart raises thousands on anniversary

Espresso Kart in Kilmarnock has celebrated its fifth birthday by raising thousands of pounds for Ayrshire Baby Loss Support. The Campbell Place coffee bar hosted a special charity coffee rave, attracting hundreds of customers and supporters throughout the event. Visitors enjoyed DJ sets, latte art competitions, coffee and cake as part of the celebrations. A minimum £5 donation was requested on the day, with all proceeds going directly to the charity chosen by the Espresso Kart community. The event raised […]

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Knife case given slap on the wrist

A woman who threw a knife at her partner during an incident at Craig Tara Holiday Park in Ayr has avoided a prison sentence, and instead given the legal equivalent of a slap on the wrist. The court heard the man suffered an injury after the knife struck him during the altercation at the popular holiday park. The case was heard at sheriff court and has attracted attention locally due to the seriousness of the offence and the location at […]

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Naysmith checks in at United

New Ayr United manager Gary Naysmith says he is "really keen to get going" as he was unveiled at Somerset Park earlier this week. The former Scotland star, assisted by Brown Ferguson, arrives in Ayrshire on the back of winning promotion to the Championship with former club Stenhousemuir for the first time in their history. Naysmith believes the ambition, the people, and the infrastructure, which he argues should be looked at if "looking towards the Premiership", is why he made […]

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Councillor calls for noisy pets powers

East Ayrshire councillors could soon push for stronger powers to deal with noisy pets and persistent nuisance complaints. Labour councillor Linda Mabon will table a motion at Thursday’s East Ayrshire Council meeting calling for tougher laws around issues like continuous dog barking. The proposal argues councils don’t currently have enough powers to properly investigate or enforce complaints involving animals. If approved, East Ayrshire Council will ask the Scottish Government and COSLA to back changes giving councils clearer powers and extra […]

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Secondary school wins Ayr Town Hall challenge

Young people from secondary schools across South Ayrshire showcased their business skills during the first-ever Provost’s Enterprise and Innovation Challenge at Ayr Town Hall. Pupils were tasked with developing innovative products or services before pitching their ideas to a judging panel. The judges included Provost Iain Campbell, Councillor William Grant, and Ayrshire Business Women president Lisa Nairn. Teams presented detailed business proposals featuring market research, financial planning and product development. Queen Margaret Academy was named overall winner of the competition, […]

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Troon woman to celebrate 100th birthday

A Troon woman is preparing to celebrate an incredible milestone as Anna Macdonald marks her 100th birthday on May 29. Born in Glasgow in 1926, Anna moved to Troon with her family in 1964 and became a familiar and well-known figure in the local community over the decades that followed. Anna worked at Troon Telephone Exchange before moving to British Telecom’s Ayr Exchange, where she remained until retiring in 1986. During retirement, she volunteered with Oxfam, helped run keep-fit classes […]

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