Forth Awards 2023 Winners announced!

The best of Edinburgh celebrated as the sold-out Forth Awards return for 2023!

The Forth Awards with W Edinburgh, celebrates the best of Edinburgh and the East, returned on Thursday (16th November) to it’s traditional November slot in the calendar for the first time since 2019.

In total, eleven awards were handed out with local heroes and celebrities all part of the celebrations.

Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud, was on hand to surprise guests to close the Forth Awards, alongside performances from legendary popstar Jason Donovan, local Whitburn lads The Snuts and UK chart topping Scottish duo LF System who performed their huge hit ‘Afraid To Feel’ with vocalist Louise Marshall live for a world first and Forth Awards exclusive!

Local heroes, Candice McKenzie and Claire Beattie of Endo Warriors were awarded Charity Volunteer of the Year and 14 year old Kaydi Scottsville the Forth Cash For Kids Award, recognised for their incredible charity and community work.

THE FORTH ICON AWARD WITH THE EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

WINNER – JASON DONOVAN

Jason Donovan was born in Melbourne Australia in 1968. His talent and good looks made him a natural on Australian TV. He was 9 when he took on his first professional acting role.

Jason has gone on to star in The Rocky Horror Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Priscilla, Annie Get Your Gun, Sound of Music, The King’s Speech and Million Dollar Quartet. On television he has featured in I’m A Celeb (2006) and Strictly Come Dancing (2011), Who Do You Think You Are (2011), ITV’s Superstar (2012) and Piers Morgan’s Life Stories (2012). He also appeared in ITV’s drama ‘Echo Beach’ (2008).

In 2016 Jason embarked on his Ten Good Reason’s tour, his first for 8 years. Jason played 44 sold-out dates throughout the UK and a plethora of 80s festivals in the UK and Europe over the summer.

In January 2023, Jason headed to his home country of Australia to join the cast of The Rocky Horror Show for the 50th Anniversary Production. He will once again, don his fishnets and heels to play Frank N Furter for the production's run in Sydney and Melbourne.

THE FORTH FRINGE AWARD

WINNER – LARRY DEAN

Larry Dean is an award-winning comedian and writer.

Larry’s comedy career has seen a stratospheric rise since he was crowned Scottish Comedian Of The Year at just 23. Out Now! and Farcissist, his 2015 and 2017 offerings to the Edinburgh Fringe, received nominations for the prestigious Foster’s Comedy Award for Best Newcomer and Amused Moose Comedy Award for Best Show respectively. His 2018 show, Bampot, was nominated for the biggest award at the Fringe: the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show.

Larry’s broadcasting career continues to go from strength to strength as a familiar face from BBC2’s Mock The Week, Comedy Central UK’s Roast Battle and Guessable, plus ITV2’s The Stand Up Sketch Show. Larry has also performed twice on BBC2’s hit stand-up show Live At The Apollo, along with BBC1’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show and BBC Scotland’s A Night At The Theatre.

THE FORTH VISITOR ATTRACTION AWARD WITH MEDIAWORKS

WINNER – THE HOLYROOD DISTILERY

Holyrood Distillery in Edinburgh was established in 2019 and exists to create incredible spirits that reflect our city, and whiskies that put Edinburgh back on the Scotch Whisky making map.

The business takes inspiration from the distillery’s surroundings and the city’s rich brewing heritage, exploring recipes, malts, and fermentation ideas that time left behind, giving them a new purpose for today, to shape the Scotch Whisky legacy of tomorrow.

THE FORTH CHARITY VOLUNTEER AWARD WITH CONSIDER IT

WINNER – ENDO WARRIORS

Endo Warriors, based in West Lothian are an independent Scottish support and awareness group, helping woman who live with and suffer from Endometriosis.

Headed up by Candice McKenzie and Claire Beatie with a further 8 admin staff. The group of volunteers, all suffer from endometriosis and support others suffering from the condition in the wider community. This allows people to benefit from their lived experiences and advocate for themselves to find a treatment pathway which allows them to live as independently and pain free as possible.

The team are there when the doctors don’t listen, when the waiting lists are years long and there is no cure, they remain available to empathise and support other sufferers with ideas and kindness.

THE FORTH BEST WORKPLACE AWARD WITH FUSE

WINNER – THE 40 TWA CAFÉ, COWDENBEATH

The 40 Twa Café is a family run business based in Cowdenbeath.

Staff from the business, rallied round to nominate the café for their efforts to create a strong a supportive and inclusive place to work. Staff at the café feel valued and supported with their personal lives. Owners Garry and Lesley opened the café in 2022 and it also plays an integral part of the community by supplying free meals to families that struggle.

THE FORTH BEST ARTIST AWARD WITH VICTOR PARIS

WINNER – LF SYSTEM

LF SYSTEM are DJ /Production outfit and West Lothian, Scotland natives, Conor Larkman and Sean Finnigan. Purveyors of the finest Disco infused house music, the Scottish duo broke out in 2022 with the omnipresent sounds of their anthemic single “Afraid To Feel?

Larkman and Finnigan first met while playing football against each other as teenagers on rival teams. However it was only later when they reconnected whilst out at Scotland’s nightclubs that they truly bonded over their shared love of the music. This led to them playing B2B DJ sets and very soon they established themselves on the Scottish DJ circuit with regular stints in Glasgow and Edinburgh clubs such as FLY and Sneaky Petes.

In 2023 their live schedule continued at pace with their debut Australia & NZ tour in February, followed by their debut US tour in March with all headline shows sold-out in advance. This resulted in multiple festival offers, including Portola (San Francisco), and EDC Orlando, Boo (Seattle).

THE FORTH MUSIC RECOGNITION AWARD WITH THE LIQUID ROOM

WINNER – NADINE COYLE

Nadine Coyle is a singer, songwriter, actress, and model who joined Cheryl Cole, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts, and Kimberley Walsh to comprise the girl group Girls Aloud, formed in 2002. The group's debut single "Sound of the Underground" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the 2002 Christmas number one. Girls Aloud hold the record for the shortest time between formation and reaching number one.

The group was also named the United Kingdom's biggest selling girl group of the 21st century, with over 4.3 million singles sales and 4 million albums sold in the UK alone.

THE FORTH BEST RESTAURANT AWARD WITH HERITAGE PORTFOLIO

WINNER – SKYLINE RESTAURANT

Situated right in the heart of Tynecastle Stadium, Skyline Restaurant is the place to go to feast on whilst you are visiting the stadium.

The surroundings of the stadium are first-class and the club has a massive heritage that is embedded into the fabric of Edinburgh. The Skyline Restaurant embodies the heritage of HMFC and its importance to Edinburgh and Scotland.

The restaurant was described by listeners as a ‘their favourite dining experience in Edinburgh with many describing it as a warm, friendly place to dine with exceptional staff and management’

THE FORTH CASH FOR KIDS AWARD WITH NEWTOWN DECOR

WINNER – KAYDI SCOTTSVILLE

At only 14, Kaydi Scottsville from Livingston set up ‘Diversified’ and became one of the youngest autistic CEO’s of a charity. Kaydi went on to open the very first hub in Scotland to be completely designed and led by autistic young people under 18.

Diversified has now supported hundreds of autistic young people and their parent/carers, becoming a lifeline for many young people and their families in the community. Kaydi has never given up on her ambitions, she dedicates all her time working to improve other young people’s lives living with disability.

THE FORTH LOCAL HERO AWARD WITH EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS

WINNER – RUBY MACDONALD

Ruby Macdonald is a learning disability athlete with Disability Sport Fife and Auchmuty High School.

Ruby is a “Fife Sports Star” and promotes her sporting profile on social media to show her achievements but also to encourage athletes of all abilities to get active.

She volunteers at a multi sports class for young children with additional needs and attends sports camps as a volunteer during the school holidays. Ruby is also a young ambassador at school and promotes inclusion for all.

She is the first pupil from Auchmuty High Schools department of additional support to achieve the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and is taking part in the silver programme this year. She is an excellent role model to her peers, teachers, other pupils and those within the disability community. Having a disability does not hold her back and she always strives to achieve her full potential.

THE FORTH BEST TEACHER AWARD WITH OMNI

WINNER – MR STEPHEN RAFFERTY, FORRESTER HIGH SCHOOL

Mr Stephen Rafferty from Forrester High School is a truly inspirational leader.

After the sudden passing of a pupil at the school, head teacher Mr Rafferty has gone above and beyond in supporting the wider school and staff who were affected by the sudden bereavement. Mr Rafferty opened the school so that pupils had access to counsellors, teachers support. He met pupils at the funeral home after they had been to visit and he even read a poem as tribute at Andrews funeral. Mr Rafferty so truly deserves this award for what he has done to support and guide the children and staff at Forrester High, through what has been a very tough and challenging time.

IN PICTURES: Forth Awards 2023 with W Edinburgh

It's Red Red Red launching #ForthAwards2023 with W Edinburgh!

Louise Clare Marshall joins LF system for the first time EVER to perform LIVE

Alison Limerick gets the Usher Hall screaming at the Forth Awards 2023!

K-Klass raising the volume at the Forth Awards 2023!

All dreams come true with Jason Donovan!

From Girls Aloud to Forth Awards 2023, we have Nadine Coyle!

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