Issue 134,
Summer 2026
Letter from the editor
There is a particular kind of magic that belongs to summer. Growing up in New Zealand, our summers were always spent at the same beach, less than an hour’s drive from home. Yet no matter how familiar the journey, the anticipation never faded. As we crested the final hill, my sister and I would compete to be the first to spot the ocean. That first glimmer of blue on the horizon signalled more than arrival – it meant freedom, possibility, and the long, golden stretch of holidays ahead.
Somewhere within that childhood ritual was a quieter longing too: the wish to always live close to the sea. Decades later, I find myself doing just that, albeit on the opposite side of the globe, along the beautiful East Lothian coastline. And still, when the sun catches the water, it stirs that same sense of wonder – that same thrill of stepping into summer. Our cover this issue, created by the immensely talented Rachel Marshall of Bonzo-Art, captures that feeling perfectly: the moment of wading into the sea, into the promise of everything the season holds.
This issue is, in many ways, a celebration of that promise. Closer to home, Alison Gibb explores a collection of staycation retreats, from coastal hideaways to reimagined farmsteads, where thoughtful interiors and sweeping landscapes come together in beautifully curated harmony. Tom Brownlee steps into the evocative world of A Love Supreme Records, where owner Jamie Wilson shares his passion for rare vinyl and the enduring magic of records.
Food, of course, is never far from the heart of summer. Diana Turner explores the best places to eat in North Berwick, while Amanda Farnese Heath embraces the pleasures of al fresco dining with recipes made for long, languid afternoons. Meanwhile, Lynn Hill visits Nick Nairn’s garden at Port of Menteith, reflecting on an approach to growing and cooking that celebrates flavour, colour and connection to the land.
Elsewhere, James Hendrie uncovers the gentle charm of Garvald, and Tracey Millier-Radnall and James Herring invite us to explore East Lothian on foot. For those drawn to history and culture, the USA 250 exhibition at Prestonpans Town Hall reveals a fascinating and unexpected link between this corner of Scotland and American independence.
As ever, you’ll find a rich mix of our regular features woven throughout these pages, from fashion to health, wine to motoring, and much more besides – each offering its own small invitation to savour the season.
Wherever this summer takes you, I hope it offers moments of that same simple joy: the glimpse of the sea, the warmth of the sun, and the sense that something wonderful is just beginning.
Cover: Wonderful by Bonzo-Art
