Bag discounted tickets at tasting fundraiser

Literature-lovers will have an opportunity to snap-up specially discounted tickets for October’s BOOKMARK festival at a fundraising event in the town next week.

After last year’s hugely successful gin festival, this year’s BOOKMARK charity fundraiser will feature an afternoon of gin, whisky and chocolate tastings with Strathearn Distillery and Shona Sutherland from Blairgowrie’s Taystful.

The event takes place on Saturday, June 25 between 12.30pm and 4pm at Laird’s of Blairgowrie on Lower Mill Street.

There will also be a buffet lunch, stalls from a variety of local organisations and a raffle with lots of fantastic prizes.

And organisers are hoping to have available for purchase a selection of books by authors who will be appearing at the festival, including The Hunterian Poems, a collection of poems and paintings from the Hunterian Collection.

The full programme for the main BOOKMARK event – which this year takes place at Blairgowrie Community Campus from October 7-8 – will be available at the event and exclusive early bird tickets will be on sale.

Festival chair Christine Findlay said: “After last year’s very popular gin festival, we’re really looking forward to what promises to be another great event.

“This year, as well as appetising tastings and a buffet lunch, we’ll be launching our main festival programme and offering specially discounted tickets on the day.

“Guests will be able to browse our great festival programme, sip some wonderful gin and whisky samples, savour some ‘melt in the mouth’ chocolate truffles and then buy their festival tickets.

“So all in all, an event not to be missed!”

Tickets for the fundraising event cost £25, or £15 for drivers, which includes all drinks and lunch, and are available from www. bookmarkblair.com.