Ross Dunn

Take A Bow, a Kilmarnock performing arts centre, has won the Scottish Civic Trust Community Regeneration Award 2026 for transforming the former New Farm Loch Community Centre. The £2.7 million redevelopment, completed in 2025 after extensive community consultation, created a sustainable hub for performing arts, youth development, additional support needs programmes and community activities. Since reopening, the centre has attracted tens of thousands of visits while reducing energy use and preserving a valuable community asset.

Kilmarnock faces the closure of TG Jones and the town centre’s only Post Office, prompting concern from residents and local leaders about the loss of essential services and further decline of King Street. MP Lillian Jones urged support for affected staff and called for interim arrangements to maintain postal services while new franchise operators are considered. Councillor Graham Boyd warned that continued retail losses demand urgent and ambitious redevelopment, with a forthcoming Town Centre Masterplan expected to outline options requiring council and private investment.

A new soft play centre and café called Playr is set to open in Ayr’s former Topshop unit in the Kyle Shopping Centre this September. Owner Heather Hayward aims to support the local economy by working with local suppliers and creating new jobs. The venue will feature homemade food, family-focused promotions, birthday parties and flexible community spaces, with plans for future expansion as part of a broader growth strategy.

A Kilmarnock GP surgery will close for several hours on July 17 to allow staff to attend the funeral of long‑serving nurse Vicky Havers. The Wards Medical Practice praised her dedication, energy and compassion in an online tribute. Patients with urgent needs can still contact the practice during the closure, while routine enquiries are requested outside the affected hours. The practice thanked NHS Ayrshire and Arran for supporting the temporary closure and expressed gratitude for the condolences received.

East Ayrshire Council is advancing the next phase of its pavement parking ban, confirming 28 additional streets will be exempt after assessments conducted in response to public and stakeholder requests. Sixteen exempt streets will require new waiting restrictions, with further restrictions added at four non-exempt locations to maintain traffic flow and safety. The initiative forms part of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 implementation, following a phased enforcement rollout that generated significant feedback. A formal exemption order process, including consultation and signage installation, will begin immediately, with new exemptions expected by mid-2027 and supported by Scottish Government funding.

Angela Taylor retired after 25 years of teaching in East Ayrshire, most recently at St Andrew's Primary, where pupils and staff held a celebratory assembly featuring dance performances. Colleagues highlighted her long-standing commitment, energy and contributions to after-school clubs and school shows. She previously taught at St Sophia's, St Columba's and St Matthew's before joining St Andrew's when it opened in 2008.

Lochgreen House Hotel & Spa in Troon has been acquired by RAD Hotel Group from Bill and Cath Costley, expanding the company’s Scottish portfolio to ten properties. Director Aaron Kyle highlighted pride in continuing the venue’s legacy and preserving its historic character while maintaining normal operations throughout the transition. The group pledged to honour existing bookings, retain all staff, and integrate Lochgreen’s heritage into future developments, reinforcing its reputation as a leading hospitality and wedding destination on Ayrshire’s golfing coastline.

Three Ayrshire women were crowned in different Miss Great Britain Ayrshire 2026 categories during the region’s first official regional final, held at Troon Town Hall. The event featured 23 contestants and raised £30,000 for local charities. Winners Robyn Archibald, Michelle Howie and Anne-Marie Harper will advance to the national final in Leicester in October, supported by several local business sponsors.

East Ayrshire Council confirmed that Chief Executive Eddie Fraser will retire due to family commitments, concluding a period of uncertainty in senior leadership. Joe McLachlan, former Director of Finance and Digital, will formally assume the role of chief executive until October 2027. Council leader Douglas Reid and colleagues praised Fraser’s decades-long public service across multiple local authorities and his unique position as Scotland’s first social worker appointed as a local authority chief executive.

St Sophia’s Primary School in Galston has reopened following an extensive refurbishment that made it the first EnerPHit‑certified school in the UK, marking a major achievement in energy‑efficient retrofitting. The opening was attended by Education Secretary Màiri McAllan, long‑serving school community member Margaret McVie, and East Ayrshire Council leaders, who highlighted the project’s significance for sustainability and improved learning environments. The Scottish Government contributed £2.6 million through its Learning Estate Investment Programme, and Council leaders emphasized ongoing commitments to modern educational facilities and support for local children. A handcrafted commemorative banner was also presented to the school in tribute to volunteer Grace Martin.

A retiring Hurlford Primary School teacher, Maureen McMillan, was surprised by former pupil Michelle McCourt, whom she taught in her first class in 1986, during a farewell celebration attended by the school community. McMillan, praised for her four decades of dedicated service and positive impact on generations of families, marked an emotional end to her career alongside pupils from her final class as she begins her retirement.

A new 10,000-square-foot Superdrug store opened at Queen’s Drive Retail Park in Kilmarnock, marking the company’s 100th retail park location and creating 20 permanent jobs. The launch featured promotions, free gifts and the introduction of a Beauty Studio offering treatments. Superdrug also announced a training wear partnership with Kilmarnock Women’s FC, with players participating in the opening celebrations. Executives highlighted the store as part of the company’s broader investment in UK communities.

A Kilmarnock resident opposes Ayrshire Roads Alliance’s proposal to make Stevenson Street one‑way, arguing it would reduce visibility, increase speeds and complicate access to local homes. She says residents were inadequately consulted and has begun informing neighbours herself. The plan follows several serious accidents near Bonnyton Road. Ayrshire Roads Alliance cites safety concerns and accident data, while a public meeting has been scheduled by East Ayrshire Council to address community objections.

Kilmarnock FC will play their home League Cup group-stage matches against Raith Rovers and Hamilton Academical at Auchinleck Talbot’s Beechwood Park due to ongoing pitch renovations at Rugby Park. The games are scheduled for July 14 and 21, while away fixtures against Elgin City and Peterhead will take place on July 18 and 25. The club thanked Auchinleck Talbot for hosting, with ticket details to follow.

The Riverside Lodge Hotel in Ayrshire publicly denied rumours that immigrants were being housed or transported to and from the site, calling the claims completely untrue. Management said the misinformation has caused unnecessary concern for staff, guests and the local community and stated they are working to identify the source of the rumour while notifying relevant authorities. The hotel urged the public not to share unverified information and thanked those who sought accurate details before reposting claims.

A 46-year-old man was arrested and charged over an alleged indecent exposure incident on Newmilns Road in Galston, East Ayrshire. The incident occurred on June 14, 2026, and the man is expected to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on June 16 as a report is submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Work begins June 19 on Poets’ Corner in Kilmarnock, creating a public space with an ornamental seat, planters and a Burns verse inscription in front of the Robert Burns mural. The project is part of East Ayrshire Council’s wider town centre masterplan involving local partners to revitalise the area. Completion is targeted for July 10 ahead of the Kilmarnock Burns Festival, which will feature the launch of a community poetry initiative. Temporary traffic measures will accompany installation work.

Ayrshire’s long‑established Indian restaurant Taj is opening a new venue in Kilmarnock, taking over the recently closed Caffe Sala on Queen Street. The family behind Taj Prestwick announced the expansion, promising the same chefs, recipes and hospitality that have defined the business for decades. Competition will include nearby Brown Munde, and the opening date will be announced soon.

Three teenagers were convicted in connection with the fatal stabbing of Kayden Moy at Irvine Beach in May 2025. Jay Stewart and a 15‑year‑old boy were found guilty of murder, while Cole Turley had earlier pled guilty. After the attack, the trio returned to East Kilbride and disposed of the weapon and clothing. Police gathered extensive evidence through public assistance and formal statements. Kayden’s parents expressed deep grief, while Police Scotland officials highlighted the impact of knife crime and ongoing efforts to address youth violence.

Two Asda employees in Kilmarnock, both named Lewis Ferguson, helped launch local celebrations for Scotland’s return to the World Cup, receiving strong community support. The store hosted festivities featuring football-themed outfits, decorations and a custom kilted trolley, while colleagues and visitors added messages of encouragement for the national team ahead of matches against Bolivia and Haiti. Influencers and local contributors joined in expressing pride and optimism for Scotland’s campaign.

Bonmarche is reopening in Kilmarnock less than a year after a fire destroyed its former store, moving into a renovated unit previously occupied by River Island. The new shop on King Street will open with promotions including a lucky dip and golden ticket prizes. Staff who faced uncertainty after the 2025 blaze expressed gratitude to customers, and the reopening is welcomed as a positive development for the town’s high street.

A £20 million, decade‑long regeneration strategy for Kilmarnock has been approved by the UK Government, enabling a community-led plan developed by We Make Kilmarnock to move into its delivery phase. The initiative focuses on improving public spaces, supporting local enterprise, enhancing safety, promoting cultural activity and strengthening community wellbeing. Local Alliances across Kilmarnock have already launched projects funded through earlier grants, while further investment and collaboration with East Ayrshire Council and Transport Scotland are planned to support long-term redevelopment goals.

Kilmarnock signed 20‑year‑old striker Ieuan Owen from Barry Town United on a two‑year deal after his standout season in the Welsh top flight, where he scored 19 goals and earned Young Player of the Year and Team of the Season honours. He joins a promising forward line at Rugby Park and will officially arrive when the transfer window opens on June 15, wearing number 27.

Caffe Sala in Kilmarnock announced it will close in its current form, citing months of operational difficulties including staff no-shows, aggressive behavior, on-site substance misuse, and high costs from relying on agency chefs and stock issues. Management said the financial impact reached into six figures and that insufficient midweek footfall prevented recovery despite recent improvements under a new head chef. Owners thanked customers and indicated the venue may reopen in a new form, assuring that existing function bookings will continue and the building will not be left empty.

The health and social care chief of East Ayrshire, Craig McArthur, has resigned, prompting efforts to recruit his replacement. His departure precedes further disruption as the council’s chief executive Eddie Fraser and depute chief executive Richard Grieveson were confirmed to be unavailable for duties for unrelated reasons. Interim leadership arrangements have been implemented, with Joe McLachlan appointed acting chief executive and David Mitchell acting depute chief executive until a full council meeting later in June determines longer-term arrangements.