2026 REGIONAL FINALISTS


Browse the 2026 Regional Finalists by region below.

NB: Please visit the Aberdeen City & Shire Thistle Awards, Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards and South of Scotland Thistle Awards for finalists in these regions.

Central and East Thistle Awards

Best Accommodation or Unique Stay

28 York Place, Edinburgh

The Fingal, Edinburgh

King Street Aparthotel, Stirling

Best Bar or Pub

The Boudingait, Cupar

The Oaktree Inn, Balmaha

The Original Rosslyn Inn, Roslin

Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative

Barnton Bunker, Edinburgh

The Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry

Heartland Festival, Pitlochry

Best Eating Experience

Amber Restaurant at The Scotch Whisky Experience, Edinburgh

Anstruther Fish Bar, Anstruther

Coorie Inn, Crieff

The Rhynd Wine Safaris and Forest Feasts, Leuchers

Best Hotel

Holiday Inn, Edinburgh

Rusacks, St Andrews

Seaton House, St Andrews

Virgin Hotels, Edinburgh

Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience

A Wee Pedal, Edinburgh

Action Adventure Activities Limited, Gartmore

Newton Farm Holidays & Tours, Forfar

Scottish Seaside Saunas, Elie

Best Self-Catering or Exclusive Use

Morton of Pitmilly, St Andrews

The Old Millhouse, Dalkeith

Straloch Highland Retreats, Pitlochry

Best Visitor Attraction

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Edinburgh

Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery, Aberfeldy

Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh

Climate Action Award

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Edinburgh

Craighall Steading, Ceres

Edinburgh International Festival Society, Edinburgh

Fairmont St Andrews, St Andrews

Employer of the Year

28 York Place, Edinburgh

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Edinburgh

Highland Experience Tours, Edinburgh

Wood Leisure Holiday Parks Ltd, Blairgowrie

Inclusion Award

Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh

Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh

The Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry

Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin

Individual of the Year

Heather Roberto, Osteria Restaurant

Siobhan Clark, The Leddie Hotel & Restaurant

Innovation Award

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Address Ltd, Edinburgh

Newton Farm Holidays & Tours, Forfar

Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival

Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Edinburgh

Hidden Door Festival, Edinburgh

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh

Rising Star Award

Helen McVey, Highland Experience Tours

Nicole Webster, Seaton House

Sam Linn, Edinburgh International Conference Centre

Winners will be announced at the Central and East Thistle Awards on 17th September 2026 at The Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh

West of Scotland Thistle Awards

Best Accommodation or Unique Stay

The Abbotsford Hotel, Ayr

Jack's Alt-Stays, Isle of Cumbrae

Best Bar or Pub

The Corrie Hotel, Isle of Arran

The Weston, Kilmaurs

Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative

Alloway Railway Tunnel (ART) SCIO, Alloway

Cycle Station, Darvel

Jackton Distillery, Glasgow

Best Eating Experience

Scoff & Patter, Luss

Souters Inn, Kirkoswald

Stravaigin, Glasgow

Best Hotel

Auchrannie Resort, Brodick

Crossbasket Castle, High Blantyre

Lamlash Bay Hotel, Isle of Arran

Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience

Central Scotland Adventures, Klysyth

Gallus Pedals, Glasgow

Mapes of Millport, Millport

Best Self-Catering or Exclusive Use

Auchrannie Resort, Brodick

Blairquhan Castle & Cottages, Maybole

Best Visitor Attraction

Jackton Distillery, Glasgow

The Tall Ship Glenlee, Glasgow

Tennent's Visitor Centre, Glasgow

Climate Action Award

Jack's Alt-Stays, Isle of Cumbrae

Scottish Canals, Glasgow

Employer of the Year

Auchrannie Resort, Brodick

Individual of the Year

Graham Urquhart, The Scotsman Group

Innovation Award

Highlands2Hammocks, Renfrew

Hub International, Glasgow

Unbaggaged, Glasgow

Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival

Celtic Connections, Glasgow

Hoolie in The Hydro - The Big Yin, Glasgow

Piping Live! - Glasgow International Piping Festival

Rising Star Award

Jordan Gorman, Caledonia Events Ltd

Katie Palmer, Glasgow International Comedy Festival

Lydia Housley, Little's Chauffeur Drive

Winners will be announced at the West of Scotland Thistle Awards on 24th September 2026 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow.

Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors

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