Red Hot Chilli Pipers founder launches The Blether for St Andrews Day – in St Andrews
A new project which encourages people to have a blether is being launched in St Andrews - on St Andrew’s Day.
The initiative has been spearheaded by pioneering musician turned whisky industry leader, Stuart Cassells - the man who founded the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
With growing calls for the nation to do more with its national day, his new concept, The Blether, aims to encourage people to come together for genuine conversation and connection.
It takes place on Monday, November 30 at Eden Mill Distillery in St Andrews when Stuart will team up with musician and broadcaster Gary Innes and bring people together to share tales over a dram, and embrace a celebration of Scotland that is similarly down to earth and full of humour.
St Andrew’s Day has been a bank holiday in Scotland for two decades, but it remains a relatively low-key occasion for many.
Stuart, who founded the Red Hot Chilli Pipers in his bedroom after becoming the first person to graduate with a degree in bagpipes, believes his new project could help transform it into the more fittingly titled, Scotland Day.
His gathering will centre around the traditional Scottish quaich, a cup of friendship, which is passed between guests as they share stories from their lives. Whoever has the quaich has the floor, while everyone else listens.
With loneliness on the rise – one in five of Scots are experiencing loneliness and Scots are socialising less frequently, according to the Scottish Household Survey 2025 findings – The Blether aims to encourage strangers to find common ground and forge meaningful connections.
It also bids to help battle isolation in the age of AI, and embrace the authenticity and world-famous ‘patter’ that makes Scottishness so special.
Stuart said: “Scotland has never been short of stories, or people willing to tell them. From the chats we have with pals in the pub, to the friendships we strike up with complete strangers, storytelling is part of who we are.
“As Scots we’re also no stranger to winning hearts around the world, but when it comes to St. Andrew’s Day, we’re missing a trick. For many people, November 30 passes by without much fanfare - so it’s no surprise that people are calling for us to take a leaf out of Ireland’s book and make more of the opportunity to celebrate everything that makes Scotland special.
“I would love to see a celebration that feels relevant to the Scotland we live in today, that really captures a sense of pride and togetherness, and that anyone can join in with, whether they own a tux or not. What better way to honour our Scottishness than with a dram and a blether, reconnecting with one another.”
The Blether event will also welcome music, stories and laughter from Gary, while Stuart is also encouraging people right across Scotland to embrace the concept.
He added: “The Blether event is a chance to arrive as strangers and leave as friends, but it is something people can get on board with wherever they are. In a world where we’re constantly scrolling and swiping, there’s something so powerful about simply sitting down with another person for a proper chat. Let’s make St Andrew’s Day a day worth talking about.”
Tickets on sale now at www.bestscot.com/blether.