Follow Katie in Edinburgh
In Edinburgh, a decided to really take on the city’s history of battles by taking the fate of the competition into my own hands. Unbeknownst to Benny, I had purchased a highly valuable trophy (a plus Loch Ness Monster doll named ‘Happy Ness’ from a souvenir shop on the Royal Mile) which would be awarded at the end of my day, determining the winner of Edinburgh. After a small amount of site seeing and delicious food, we launched into an epic battle for the title of Winner of Planned vs Rogue - Edinburgh. Read on to find out how you can live like Braveheart for a day!
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is easily the most iconic landmark of the city. With its long, rich history and presence in Edinburgh lore, it was imperative that we visit it while in the Scottish capital. I was not at all disappointed with the experience. Despite being clearly targeted towards tourists, it felt as though it was so lovingly curated and cared for, and the delivery of information in the different areas of the grounds was truly fascinating.
I’ve spoken openly about my general lack of enthusiasm for history as a subject - my brain just doesn’t absorb it. Nonetheless, with such interactive and creative exhibits within this incredible and formidable castle, I was a history buff for the day. Don’t be put off by the tourist crowds at this attraction - it is worth the money and time!
Creel Caught by Gary Maclean at Bonnie & Wilde
In keeping with my battle theme of the day, I was excited to learn that there was a casual, affordable restaurant in Edinburgh headed by a Masterchef winner (you know, the age old battle to be the best chef in your season??). Gary Maclean’s restaurant within the Bonnie & Wilde Scottish Marketplace champions local, sustainable seafood, and is really worth a visit. As it is a type of food hall, you can also order drinks from the bar to enjoy with your meal, so it really is a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere.
I enjoyed some incredibly light and fresh haddock with chips and mushy peas. I don’t eat a lot of battered fish but hey, when in Rome (Edinburgh). Haddock is such a popular fish here and now I can understand why! Benny enjoyed a fried fish burger, all washed down with some deliciously crispy beer - a perfect meal on that warm summer day!
This is where I unveiled my masterplan to Benny. The remainder of the day would be spent battling it out in a series of mini competitions to determine the winner of Edinburgh, as well as the Happy Ness trophy. See how that went for me below…
Boom Battle Bar
Learning about Boom Battle Bar was the genesis of my masterplan. It’s the sort of place you go for date night, the start of a hens/bucks night, or a team building day if you work for a ‘fun’ company. And we saw the whole spectrum of these during our visit! The range of games combined with the brightly coloured cocktail bar makes this venue exciting, although in all honesty, some of the Crazier Golf features were a bit broken. Aside from that, it certainly set the battle plan into motion!
After losing spectacularly in Crazier Golf, I thought I might even out the score with a game of Prosecco Pong (Beer Pong but with Prosecco - you have the option). For hygiene reasons, you don’t actually put the beverages in the cup. Rather, they are filled with water, and you have your real drink on the side. I think this is a wise move considering how many times the ping pong balls hit the floor!
Alas, I was not to win this game either. I came close… but not close enough.
Fayre Play
Fayre Play is every fresh 18 year old’s dream. Cocktails, hotdogs & sideshow games all without the flurry of children running around. Spread over two levels in a large building, participants are provided with a score card and the rules for each activity. If you get a certain amount of points in each game, you qualify for their main prize - a large plus rubber ducky. But fear not - every visitor who does not qualify is given a consolation price - a tiny plastic rubber ducky. In my opinion, these ones were cuter anyway. And I’m not just saying that because I was terrible at all the games. I swear.
Out of all of the games, Benny defeated me in all but one. For some reason, it turns out I’m not too shabby at the old darts. But this was not enough for be the clinch the win, and Benny took the day out with an almost perfect score. At the end of the evening, over cocktails and burgers/hotdogs, I presented Benny with Happy Ness. The entry fee for Fayre Play has different levels - you can pay for just games, or you can bundle it with a meal and a cocktail. I recommend this option so you can have an all-inclusive night out with your mates or dates.
Happy Ness travelled the rest of the UK with us, and now sits on our hallway table, where my dog waits desperately for Happy Ness to fall and become her new chew toy.
