There was a time when no one would have put the words "Glasgow" and "Michelin Star" in the same sentence unless they were joking.

At the turn of the century, Scotland's largest city was known for its nightlife and perhaps even the deep-fried Mars bar - but not for fine dining. How times have changed.

Last Monday night, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum played host to the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland launch, shining a spotlight on Scotland’s thriving food scene. Two Edinburgh restaurants—Lyla and Avery—were awarded their first Michelin stars, adding to the capital’s growing list of top-tier dining spots.

The real winner of the night was Scotland’s hospitality scene. The ceremony’s choice of Glasgow as its host city was a statement: Scottish hospitality is on the rise, and its food scene is a force to be reckoned with.

For years, Edinburgh has been Scotland’s Michelin darling, with long-established fine dining institutions and an ever-growing list of stars. But Glasgow’s food culture is something different -grittier, more diverse, and increasingly ambitious. It’s a city built on hard work and big ideas, and nowhere is that more evident than in its hospitality industry.

Once written off as a place with one of the worst diets on earth, Glasgow is now home to an eclectic mix of restaurants that rival those in any major city. It may not have added a Michelin Star to its tally this year, but the awards night firmly places it on the map as the city’s Margo and GaGa eateries were recognised with a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

Scotland’s food and drink industry is one of the country’s biggest economic drivers. It employs over 200,000 people and generates around £9 billion for the economy each year.

The Michelin Awards are great for boosting tourism and investment, but they also serve as a reminder the sector needs real support to thrive. That’s why the warnings from the hospitality industry about rising costs and tax pressures should not be ignored.

A recent report highlighted that Scottish hospitality businesses face a £369 million tax hit over the next five years due to National Insurance hikes. The Lib Dems and industry leaders have rightly called on the UK Government to exempt hospitality from this increase, arguing that businesses already struggling with soaring energy costs and supply chain issues cannot afford another financial burden.

If we want Scotland to continue being a world-class destination then we need the hospitality to back it, facilitated by policies that encourage investment, not ones that threaten to drain the industry of its talent and ambition.

It’s not just about high-end restaurants and Michelin stars. The vibrancy of Scotland’s hospitality scene depends on the survival of pubs, cafes, independent eateries, and local producers. The same young chefs who dream of earning Michelin stars often start out in small kitchens, honing their craft in businesses that might not survive another round of tax hikes.

Food and hospitality don’t just bring in tourists either. They create jobs, attract investment, and shape the way cities develop. A thriving restaurant scene can transform entire neighbourhoods, drawing in new businesses and making areas more desirable places to live and work. If Glasgow has proven anything over the last two decades, it’s that reinvention is possible.

That’s why it’s worth celebrating moments like Last Monday’s Michelin Awards - not just for the chefs who took home stars, but for the entire industry. Hosting the event in Glasgow was a recognition of the city’s journey and a nod to the potential still to be realised. Scotland has the talent, the produce, and the passion to be a true food powerhouse. What it needs now is the right environment to let that talent flourish.

So, let’s raise a glass to the winners, the runners-up, and everyone who makes Scotland’s hospitality sector what it is. And while we’re at it, let’s make sure that the people in charge—whether in Westminster or Holyrood—recognise that investing in this industry isn’t just a nice thing to do. It’s a smart economic move.

If Glasgow can go from a deep-fried punchline to Michelin host city, imagine what it could do with the right support.

Side

My eyes lit up when I saw some interesting research recently published by the University of Edinburgh, which predicts Scotland could soon be making a splash on a growing global market.

Commissioned by Scottish Enterprise and Wave Energy Scotland, the Future Economic Potential of Tidal Stream and Wave Energy in Scotland report has revealed we could be sitting on an aquatic goldmine.

According to the insights, the economic potential of marine energy on our shores is huge.

Via tidal stream and wave energy projects being delivered across the UK, the Scottish economy could pocket £8 billion by 2050.

Crucially, the industry could also help support an additional 1,500 jobs, largely in coastal communities and across the Highlands and Islands.

This is welcome news when many industrial roles are being made redundant across the country in an ever-changing economic environment.

While oil and gas may be on the wane, our abundance of natural resources should always allow Scottish business to make waves worldwide.

Indeed, the global export market for the marine energy industry could be worth a cool £28 billion to Scotland’s economy by 2050 if predictions are correct.

While the future looks bright, the report warns there is plenty of work still to be done if Scotland is to become a big fish in this pond.

Continued investment in infrastructure and enhanced supply chains have been highlighted as must-haves if Scotland is to keep riding this new and promising economic wave decades into the future.

Laugh

While you’d never catch me staying up that late to watch anything, I had to laugh when I heard a Scot was responsible for the Philadelphia Eagles winning the Super Bowl.

As American Football’s showpiece event came to a head in New Orleans and the Eagles thrashed the Kansas City Chiefs, the small Scottish town of Galashiels, which is usually a hotbed for rugby, had a part to play in proceedings.

While not directly involved, Gala coach Richie Gray helped the Eagles design a sneak play, called ‘brotherly love’, which involves some controversial shoving.

This play led to the Eagles getting the first touchdown of the match as they romped their way to glory.

Something tells me ‘brotherly love’ is one export Trump might find hard to put tariffs on!

 

Weep 

I was left disappointed when I was reminded of the all too familiar tale of the education system sticking its nose up at apprenticeships.

A survey by BDO has revealed a staggering 83 per cent of young people in Scotland say there’s not enough information given to them about apprenticeships when considering their career options.

As has been the case for decades now, kids are being funnelled towards college and university.

As for those that don’t make the grade, it seems they are forgotten about despite the opportunities being there for them to grow and develop in a real-world business environment.

If you ask me, the way young people have been ‘advised’ for decades is nothing short of a national shame.