About Us
Scottish Review Today
Scottish Review was founded in 1995 as an independent journal of commentary on Scottish affairs. For nearly three decades, it served as one of Scotland’s most respected voices on politics, culture, and public life.
In 2025, Scottish Review entered a new chapter. While the spirit of independent, honest commentary remains at its core, the publication has broadened its scope to reflect how Scots actually live today: what they read, what they watch, where they eat, and yes, where they spend their money.
What We Cover
- News & Politics — Scottish affairs, Westminster, Holyrood, and everything in between
- Culture — Books, film, theatre, music, and the arts across Scotland
- Entertainment — Reviews of online casinos, betting sites, and leisure activities popular with Scottish readers
- Sport — Football, rugby, golf, and Scottish sporting life
- Food & Drink — Restaurants, whisky, and Scotland’s food scene
- Reviews — Honest, first-person reviews of products and services
Our Approach
Every piece published on Scottish Review is written with the same principle Kenneth Roy established in 1995: tell the truth, even when it’s inconvenient. Our reviews are based on real experience. Our opinions are our own. We don’t pretend to be neutral when we’ve got something worth saying.
We’re a small editorial team based in Scotland. If you want to get in touch, argue with us, or pitch a story, we’d genuinely like to hear from you.
Our Writers
- Jamie Crawford (Sport) — A lifelong Hearts supporter and rugby obsessive based in Edinburgh. Jamie covers Scottish football, the Six Nations, and everything that makes Scottish sport worth arguing about in the pub.
- Gregor Matheson (Politics) — Former lobby correspondent at Holyrood turned independent commentator. Gregor has covered every Scottish election since devolution and writes with the weary authority of someone who has seen it all before.
- Eilidh Murray (Culture) — Edinburgh-based arts and culture writer. Eilidh covers everything from the Festival Fringe to grassroots music scenes across Scotland, with a particular interest in how Scottish cities are evolving.
- Fiona Macleod (Entertainment) — Scotland’s most honest entertainment reviewer. Fiona tests online casinos, streaming services, and leisure experiences so you don’t waste your money. Her reviews are based on real use, not press releases.
- Duncan Fraser (Food & Drink) — A Highlands-raised food writer now based in Glasgow. Duncan reviews restaurants, whisky, and Scotland’s food scene with the appetite of someone who grew up on proper home cooking.
- Catriona Begg (Legal) — A qualified solicitor with a talent for making Scottish law accessible. Catriona covers legal developments, consumer rights, and regulatory changes that affect ordinary Scots.
Editorial
admin@scottishreview.net
Address
Scottish Review
Prestwick International Airport
Liberator House, Room 216
Prestwick KA9 2PT
About the Institute of Contemporary Scotland
The Institute of Contemporary Scotland (ICS), publisher of the Scottish Review, was established in 2000.
ICS aims “to stimulate discussion and revitalisation of thought and debate in Scotland” and “to stimulate awareness and discussion of social, economic and cultural issues affecting Scotland and Scots through education and educational initiatives”.
In proposing the foundation of ICS, at a public meeting in Glasgow on 23 October 2000, the broadcaster Ian Mackenzie said its purpose was to be “undogmatic, to be intellectually free, and to encompass and share any aspect of life in our land, past, present and future”. He described it as “yet another effort to break free from narrow systems of thinking”.
In its first years, ICS fulfilled its founding principles in two main ways:
The Young Scotland Programme
The Young Scotland Programme promoted the intellectual development of people in the early stages of their working lives with annual residential courses in which a cross-section of men and women from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures come together for an intensive exchange of ideas and experiences.
There are debates on issues of the day, guest speakers (the first was a Nobel prize-winner), group discussions and informal dialogue. The intellectual core of the programme is the writing and presentation by each delegate of a paper on a subject of current interest or controversy of the delegate’s own choice. The author of the most outstanding paper is awarded the title Scotland Young Thinker of the Year.
The programme originated with a pilot scheme in Glasgow in November 2002. It was so successful that it was extended to Northern Ireland in 2003, England and Wales in 2004, and the Republic of Ireland in 2005.
The Scottish Review
The other principal way in which ICS strives to fulfil its founding ideals is through the publication of the online current affairs magazine, the Scottish Review.
SR was established in January 1995 as an independent quarterly journal of commentary on Scottish affairs. It was acquired by ICS in 2001 and went online in February 2008. It is now published daily (Monday to Friday).
ICS has no public funding and depends entirely on the goodwill of individuals who support its ideals and activities by subscription or donation. It is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO).
Contact
Scottish Review
Prestwick International Airport, Liberator House, Room 216
Prestwick KA9 2PT
01292 473777
admin@scottishreview.net
Charity Number: SC030680