A cooking contest in which entrants compete to be crowned the World Tattie Scone Champion is returning to a three-day food and drink festival
The World Tattie Scone Championships is now in its twelfth year and will take place at Taste of Nairn on Saturday, May 9.
And for a second time, the town’s secondary school is also tucking in and will be hosting its own version of the competition ahead of the main event.
The World Tattie Scone Championship was launched in 2013 at Piping at Forres and was held there for six years.
However, Oakwood Cookery School who runs the Championships were happy to move it to Taste of Nairn, when Piping at Forres ended.
Elaine Sutherland, owner of the Oakwood Cookery School said she was delighted the competition is still running.
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 have literally turned up on the day, with no experience, but have made the best tattie scone.
“We are also 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 aim of the competition is to make a tattie scone using a set recipe with mashed potatoes and flour, plus the contestant’s own magic ingredient which they bring in with them.
Tables and stoves are set up for contestants to compete in heats.
In 2025, the winner was Linzi Wilding who wowed the judges with her Spice Up Your Life scone.
Elaine said that over the years, she has seen various ‘secret ingredients’ being used and explained what the judges are looking for.
“We have seen anything and everything from people using prawns to raspberries.
“It’s such fun to take part in.
“It might just be that the winning tattie scone is just so innovative, there is no choice but to choose that one, or it may be that it’s a fairly basic recipe, but it’s cooked to perfection.”
There is no fee to enter the Tattie Scone Championships which is supported by Carr’s Flour and Albert Bartlett potatoes and participants can be aged 12 upwards.
Organising the Nairn Academy contest is home economics teacher Gillian MacLennan.
She said:
“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 take place on May 9 in the Nairn Community and Arts Centre which will also host a food and drink market, food and cocktail demonstrations and a ‘taster’ room with the omelette challenge, decorate a cake, guess the ingredient and DIY fruit kebab activities.”
Taste of Nairn is being organised by Nairn BID and is supported by title sponsor the Golf View Hotel and Spa.
