Fearghas's Guidebook Entertainments Playhouse, Murray Street A seven screen cinema showing a good variety of films with a decent cafe Theatre, High Street Recently refurbished with a popular cafe and brings some great local, national and international productions to its fine stage, with a studio for more intimate gigs Concert Hall, Mill Street Stunning concert hall showing music, comedy, drama and art, the Glassrooms cafe serves some tasty food. Live music venues Try Greyfriars on South Street, The Venue on St John’s Street (excellent quality open mike session on Sundays), The Green Rooms on Canal Crescent (something on most nights), the Twa Tams on Scott Street or the Kirkside next to the beautiful St John’s Kirk. Museum and art gallery, George Street Resident and visiting exhibitions within a feel good space; the Fergusson gallery of work by JD Fergusson on Marshall Place is also worth wandering around. The little gallery and framing workshop Frames on Victoria Street (very near to the flat) has great, collections of artwork, changing seasonally. Underneath the Arches, Princes Street has interesting second hand and vintage items for sale. Black Watch museum Explores the many aspects of the regiment at war, with frequent changing exhibitions Scone palace One of Scotland’s most important stately homes, you can walk there in about 45 minutes but it’s about 5 minutes by bus or car Elcho Castle A wee bit out of town but well worth a visit, one of our favourite Scottish castles. Perth races It has a national reputation for fantastic racing. Restaurants AND TAKEAWAYS Chinese The Jade Garden on Scott Street has never disappointed French Cardo on Princes Street Cafe Tabou Lovely restaurant, chilled out service and always tasty, outdoor tables in good weather Italian Grand’ Italia on George Street Our favourite but: The Italian Corner (Princes and Canal streets) is also worth a visit and Cardo has a smaller annexe that does awesome pizzas (also takeaway). Indian/Bangladeshi/Pakistani Tabla on South Street A genuine Indian restaurant with spices from Praveen’s homeland farm, a bit different from the standard restaurant fare, using high quality local produce, a dependable 8 or 9 out of 10. The Manzil Excellent value, the business lunches (Friday and Saturday) are awesome, 8/10 Desi Lazeez, Tay Street is family run and serves tasty 7/10 meals Balajee Spice, Bridgend Perfectly acceptable, 6/10 Sizzlers, Princes Street Decent Indian takeaway The Weigh-in, Princes Street Very popular breakfast and snacks takeaway Mediterranean Credo’s, St John’s Place Beautiful setting beside the church, wonderful to sit outside on a sunny day Mexican/Latin American Las Dos Chihuahuas on the corner of Scott and Canal streets Last time we went, it was under new management and the service wasn’t perfect but the food was excellent Nepalese Everest Inn, South Methven Street Excellent fusion food, service is always impeccable, does a tasty business lunch every day Scottish North Port Local produce cooked with considerable flair, it has never disappointed 63 Tay Street Fine dining at very reasonable prices...try the pre theatre menu The Venue Scottish tapas...yes, really, the ones we tried were excellent Spanish Tapas Vi A wonderful selection of tapas and dishes, with daily specials and great wine Thai Mae Ping It has been going for many years...I can never see past Indian food but it is well reviewed. Away from the centre of town but well worth trying "Chatni" in Methven (5 miles) A 9/10 Indian restaurant, you’ll need to book. "The Roost" in Bridge of Earn (6 miles) Delicious and beautiful French cooking with locally sourced ingredients, you’ll definitely need to book. "The Spice Garden" in Bridge of Earn (6 miles) You don’t normally need to book but it’s a solid 7/10 restaurant with generous portions. Bars Greyfriars, South Street Several real ale taps and regular live music The Old Ship, just off the High Street Several real ale taps and always lively Brewdog, George Street Lots of their own and guest beers, always changing, great pizza and wonderful service, tables can be booked online Cullach, Princes Street Microbrewery and ale room, with a very tasty selection of their own and guest beers The Venue, St John’s Street One real ale tap and several craft beers, lots of different spaces (including a gin bar) a huge selection of spirits and frequent live music The Kirkside, by St John’s kirk Two real ale taps and outside seating (it’s a real sun trap in good weather) The Capital Asset, Tay Street A Wetherspoons pub, low cost beers and food, outside seating near the river Coffee shops Mila’s, Princes Street Great value sweet & savoury baking and a fine cup of coffee Effie’s/ Small Talk, High Street Great place for Sunday breakfast Blend, High Street Can get a bit steamy but a very decent independent coffee shop Food shops Provender Brown, George Street Delicatessen that’s worth a browse Aldi, Glasgow Road Stocks a lot of very good quality Scottish produce for a lot less than you’ll pay in other supermarkets, Lidl is just round the corner Tesco, South Street The closest one to the flat if you’re in a hurry Mila’s, Princes Street An awesome bakery and coffee shop, sometimes opens on Sunday (not Monday) Murrays, South Street A bakery fairly close to the flat, with some award-winning produce Majestic, Glasgow Road For wine that’s a bit special Excel Wines, South Street Another specialist wine and spirits shop Walks More detail for most of the following can be found in the books on the bedroom bookshelf: Riverside Walk Access over the railway footbridge or Smeaton’s bridge, half an hour The Soutar Way Over Criagie Hill to Cherrybank, about 1.5 hours Kinnoull Hill Lots of different walks (and the nearby Deuchny Hill), steep climb in parts but well worth it for the fantastic views of the Tay valley, also mountain bike trails The Lade circular From the North Inch by the rivers Tay and Almond then back to Perth by the side of the ancient canal The North and South Inches Access from many points, very pleasant walking with frequent events, including Perthshire rugby matches on the North Inch and a play park on the South one Quarrymill Along the road in the direction of Scone palace and the circular walk (or go all the way to Scone village); the road is busy but the circular walk is very peaceful Moredun and Moncrieff Hills A wee bit out of town by foot but there is a car park there...Moredun has spectacular views over the Earn and Tay valleys and you can go over Moncrieff hill to bridge of Earn (there are very frequent buses between Perth and Bridge of Earn) Sports Golf courses Not my area of expertise but the North Inch and King James courses both look very attractive Bell’s sports centre A big variety of indoor and outdoor sports and classes, also a cafe Leisure pool Swimming pool, gym and cafe Mountain biking Kinnoull and Deuchny hills, centre of Perth (across the river) Comrie Croft trails, about 25 miles away Pitmedden forest, about 5 miles away Cycling You can join the national cycle network at the North Inch Dancing Monday ballroom and Latin dance classes at 11:15-12:15 in the Scout Hall in the grounds of Perth Academy Regular Ceroc classes in the Salutation Hotel Bridge The Perth club in King Street welcomes guests on most Tuesday evenings (with or without a partner)