AN EAST Lothian cafe has been recognised at the Scottish Thistle Awards, claiming a regional Food Tourism Award at a ceremony at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh.

Drift cafe, located at Canty Bay, east of North Berwick, came out on top of a star-studded line up of restaurants and cafes across Lothian and the Borders and now heads to the national final in February.

The Scottish Thistle Awards are delivered by VisitScotland, celebrating the best of tourism in Scotland.

This year, more than 500 entries were received, with more than 1,000 nominations.

Drift claimed the Food Tourism Award, which celebrates places that create unique and memorable tourism experiences with food and drink at the core.

Judges described Drift as a “thriving business with local product at the heart” and commended its efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic to bring in new local clientele and visitors from afar.

Jo and Stuart McNicol, the business’s owners and directors, said: “Against tough competition we are absolutely delighted and incredibly honoured to win the Food Tourism Award in the Lothians.

“It is very rewarding to be recognised as an outstanding food tourism business and we would like to thank our team and Scottish agritourism sector, who have all helped us to achieve this.”

Judges also commented on Drift’s upcycled container construction, stunning cliff-top location and dedication to Scottish produce that made it a unique experience.

Steven Walker, chair of the Scottish Thistle Awards industry panel, said: “Congratulations to all of the winners at the regional winners of the Scottish Thistle Awards.

“The Scottish Thistle Awards shine a spotlight on the very best of Scotland’s tourism and events industry, celebrating the businesses and individuals who have worked tirelessly in the last two years to create the fantastic destination and visitor experiences that Scotland is famous for. 

“The Scottish Thistle Awards mark an important celebration as we move towards recovery from the pandemic and support the ambition of Outlook 2030, for Scotland to be a world leader in 21st-century tourism.

“I wish the regional winners the best of luck as they continue to the national final next year.”