Comment posted A genius event to market Argyll and the Isles in the winter season by John Patrick.
There is to be Bungee Trampolines, Climbing Walls, Paintball Range, Pony Rides, Tea Cups, Bouncy Castle, Chainsaw Carving, Wild Birds, Face Painters, Sand Pits and a large Children Tent sponsored by Inveraray Jail and Argyll Adventure and much much more for children as well as the responsible drinking for adults. Last years event saw Music, Food, Drink and Activities all merge wonderfully, everyone including the children had a ball and this year promises even more. The weather last year was pretty good as I recall and the location is outstanding in front of the castle. Longer hours and the big name music acts add to what is already a well loved event in Argyll and one our visitors will be truly entertained at. It is a must for the diary and great event to highlight the start of the winter Visit Scotland marketing drive.
Recent comments by John Patrick
- Patron of Northern Lighthouse Board incredulous at Tiree Array proposal
DB stop your laughing its impolite and rude to laugh at the plight of others and yes more and more communities are owing a share of their local windfarm developments, our own community at Inveraray receives funds from two such developments and we have put the money to very good use for our citizens. Our lives are materially better for the developments, fact, but more importantly we are doing what we can to help climate change by supporting the developments which we can see from our windows, its not enough yet I agree but its our best shot right now and yes its a work in progress, but we are doing something in Inveraray.Every wind objection is costing the country a fortune and that means less to give in social care or whatever, fact. Also green units attract a premium whether your support the science or not, they are worth a lot of money to a lot of people throughout Europe. Money that Scotland can use to offset fuel poverty if its people wishes and I as a proud Scot do wish to eliminate fuel poverty in Scotland. Thats what the vote is for and why you should speak to your elected officials letting them know what is important to you and what you expect of them in office. So stop laughing, you only have one set of sides, save them, and start doing something like supporting self determination in an independent Scotland were we the citizens can make a difference beyond what we see out of our windows. I care enough to walk my talk, do you? Ask your elected officials to campaign and work for the elimination of fuel poverty in Scotland. It is the Spector of our age.
- Patron of Northern Lighthouse Board incredulous at Tiree Array proposal
The yacht by the way was purchased from all those years in industry working her fingers to the bone so she could enjoy the fruits of her hard labour and enterprise in retirement and I fully support her right to enjoy her retirement years Yachting.Scratch that she has not worked her fingers to the bone, she rides horses and is chauffeured around the country squeezing palm on the large amounts of taxpayers money. Yep very qualified to comment on wind development as hot wind comes out of her mouth in abundance. This support is a shot in the foot I think. Argyll is not a retirement village for rich loafers and the anti Scots sentiment is not overly welcome either.
- Patron of Northern Lighthouse Board incredulous at Tiree Array proposal
Holiday Holmes and Yacht Brigade win day, even more Scots in fuel poverty, get a grip where is the balance here?How do you square this with St Peter at the Pearly Gates. Stopped another wind development which can be seen from my Yacht when sailing, but another 100 people copped it in a landslide due to climate change but I was not directly responsible for that, so its Ok Peter eh!
- Patron of Northern Lighthouse Board incredulous at Tiree Array proposal
Would not want her to move the Yacht now, would we! - Cairndow’s Merk Hydro project 7 years in the starting: first there were two
Water and people power absolutely super. Must be something in the water at Cairndow, they are certainly a driven community that believe in fighting for what is right. I take my hat off to them and wish them good luck with the hydro scheme. I am sure it will be yet another successful victory in a long list.
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How ironic that this wonderful marketing initiative should be displayed next to the report indicating that the main artery from Glasgow and the west to Inveraray is once again closed. When is the Scottish Government/Transport Scotland going to take decisive action to provide a long term solution to this problem?
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When hell freezes over, as things stand at the moment.
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Is it not a bit pessimistic to describe mid September as “winter”?
I smiled when I read that A&B was arguably the best place for families immediately followed by mention of a whisky event. I suppose it depends on how old your children are.
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There is to be Bungee Trampolines, Climbing Walls, Paintball Range, Pony Rides, Tea Cups, Bouncy Castle, Chainsaw Carving, Wild Birds, Face Painters, Sand Pits and a large Children Tent sponsored by Inveraray Jail and Argyll Adventure and much much more for children as well as the responsible drinking for adults. Last years event saw Music, Food, Drink and Activities all merge wonderfully, everyone including the children had a ball and this year promises even more. The weather last year was pretty good as I recall and the location is outstanding in front of the castle. Longer hours and the big name music acts add to what is already a well loved event in Argyll and one our visitors will be truly entertained at. It is a must for the diary and great event to highlight the start of the winter Visit Scotland marketing drive.
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Very interesting & certainly well worth a look. I must put the date on the calendar. Er, what is the date? Mid-September – do we assume that it’s the 15th/16th?
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Keith – we weren’t given a date or a website – so assumed the date was not yet entirely final and that the website was not yet ready.
Apologies.
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Hello Keith
yes indeed , the festival is on the 15th and 16th of September. Details are on http://www.bowfest.co.uk
Looking forwards to meeting you there
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Thanks for filling in the gaps & the link.
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Best wishes to the event .
Regarding Food from Argyll , there appeared to be a complete absence of Argyll businesses at the Royal Highland Show food hall this week , in contrast to the excellent stalls and displays from other areas .
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Food from Argyll is about feeding the masses at events, rather than marketing Argyll produce to the consumer. It must make a good living for the few involved, hard work tho it is, but that is not really changing the public perspective nor availability of what we produce in Argyll.
What a shame some of our great companies were not able to be at the RHS.
Maybe it is time to have a combined marketing initiative for more than the great burgers and sticky toffee puddings of FfA. That way the smaller companies can afford to go, and the public can learn more of the fabulous food of the county.
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They do get media coverage and word-of-mouth broadcasting for the food of the entire area in their visits to the music festivals.
But you have a sound point in the imperative for collective action.
Part of the problem is the usual parochial factionalism of separate groups refusing to merge and collaborate. Food From Argyll is a good brand, big enough territorially to make an impact to everyone’s benefit but not too big to start to get bland.
The uber brand is Scotland Food and Drink – which pays gallingly little attention to Argyll. This is largely because there is not a single body speaking and acting for the food producers of the entire area.
The growing success of Argyll and the Isles Tourism, as an umbrella marketing body with universal buy-in from the various local marketing groups, should have shown the way forward to our food producers.
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News room
The food hall ths year was packed out, Most of what was on display was from private companies from Scotland, not all big companies but a good range from small to very big. To be honest what we had was a very Scottish food fair and a very good one at that. Im not sure if a Argyll food theme would work or not as a lot of what we have in Argyll is duplicated else where in Scotland? The food show was just that, a very good show of Scottish produce from mostly anywhere in Scotland and presented very very well.
Maybe the same thing might just work very well in the Queens Hall during Cowal Games for Argyll and the Isles foodies?
BTW thats five years in a row that we have bought the very best of Curry sauce from that very food show, and that just about answers the question in that I can get everything else that was on show on my door step because I live in Argyll. mmmmmm
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“gallingly little attention” isn’t exactly accurate newsroom and I’m confident that your opinion isn’t drawn from informed conversation with members of SFD from within Argyll. SFD had myself based in Oban and supporting many of the clients that you regularly feature in good news stories such as that of MacMillan Foods. Many have also been Excellence award winners and some gained extra supermarket listings via SFD activity. Over and above this, many Argyll companies will have contributed to F&D exports & growth stats during a deep recession which helped prop up Scottish economy. Finally, Our past chief exec also visited the first “Stronger Together” summit and sought further engagement with companies.
Unfortunately, SFD priorities are with companies that can grow in UK and export markets, including the much maligned multiple retailers. When doing so, the “readiness” has to be established as there are factors to consider and lots of work for many of the primary producers and micro biz’s before they can benefit from SFD activity.
SFD is be held up as an exemplar of how to cooperate as a sector. Just look at the recently launched Scottish Tourism Alliance strategy document and you’ll notice how they have used it as a model of best practice. In a similar comparison, your positive view of Argyll & Isles Tourism has also benefited from adopting such a model.
With the exception of large international brands (salmon, whisky) Argyll doesn’t have a huge number of tier 2 businesses. We do have a series of very exciting businesses in the meat, bakery, beer and seafood categories but all will require time & support to achieve the growth and market penetration. All whilst, they still have to overcome major challenges that hinder their ability to remain competitive such as connectivity (transport, ferries charges), skills shortages and profitability so they can invest for the future.
so…….SFD is only been in existence for 4-5 years, so give them a chance and get behind them and seek their involvement. Argyll & Isles Tourism and Food from Argyll aren’t the magic bullets in isolation but events such as this where all the positive businesses come together will certainly help the region get noticed. Working in partnership and aligning with strategic bodies will help accelerate growth aspirations if all “buy-in” with cash and energy and pull in the same direction
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