World Tattie Scone Championship Returns to Taste of Nairn Festival

The renowned World Tattie Scone Championship is set to make its return at the Taste of Nairn food and drink festival, spanning three days this year. Now in its twelfth edition, the competition will take place on Saturday, 9 May.

For the second consecutive year, Nairn’s secondary school will also host its own version of the contest ahead of the main event, encouraging young culinary talent to participate.

Established in 2013 at the Piping at Forres festival, the World Tattie Scone Championship was held there for six years before relocating. Oakwood Cookery School, the organisers of the event, welcomed the move to Taste of Nairn following the conclusion of Piping at Forres.

Elaine Sutherland, owner of Oakwood Cookery School, expressed her enthusiasm for the competition’s continuation. She said: “It’s great to be working with the organisers of Taste of Nairn again and we’re looking forward to seeing all the entrants get cooking and coming up with their own twist on the tattie scone. The contest is open to anyone, whether they are experienced or not. In fact, in the past, we have had people win who literally turned up on the day with no experience but made the best tattie scone.”

Elaine also highlighted the involvement of Nairn Academy: “We are delighted that Nairn Academy is getting involved again. The young people gave it a really good go last year and it was great to see some of them coming along to take part in the Championship too. We’d love to welcome as many people as possible.”

The competition challenges contestants to create a tattie scone using a standard recipe of mashed potatoes and flour, complemented by a personal ‘magic ingredient’ brought by each participant. Cooking stations with tables and stoves are provided for the heats.

Last year’s winner, Linzi Wilding, impressed judges with her creation titled ‘Spice Up Your Life’ scone. Elaine noted the variety of secret ingredients used over the years, ranging from prawns to raspberries. “It’s such fun to take part in. Sometimes the winning tattie scone is so innovative there’s no choice but to select it, or it may be a fairly basic recipe cooked to perfection,” she added.

Entry to the World Tattie Scone Championship is free and supported by Carr’s Flour and Albert Bartlett potatoes. Participants must be aged 12 or over.

At Nairn Academy, home economics teacher Gillian MacLennan oversees the school’s contest. She commented: “We are delighted to be running our own version of the Tattie Scone Contest for a second year. Once again, it will be S3 pupils taking part. Last year, the pupils had such a lot of fun. Making a tattie scone is actually pretty basic, but what is fun about this contest is seeing what the pupils choose as their secret ingredients.”

The World Tattie Scone Championships will be held at the Nairn Community and Arts Centre on 9 May. The venue will also host a food and drink market, cooking and cocktail demonstrations, and a ‘taster’ room featuring activities such as an omelette challenge, cake decorating, ingredient guessing games, and DIY fruit kebab making.

Taste of Nairn is organised by Nairn BID and supported by title sponsor the Golf View Hotel and Spa.

Those interested in entering the World Tattie Scone Championship can register via the official entry form.