Edinburgh Wire takes a rigorous approach to reviews and recommendations, treating them with the same editorial standards as our news reporting. Every review is produced by a named writer, reviewed by an editor and fact-checked before publication by our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Diane Forbes. Our aim is to help readers make informed decisions based on honest, independent assessment of products, services and experiences relevant to Edinburgh, the Lothians and Scotland.
How does Edinburgh Wire produce its reviews and recommendations?
Reviews at Edinburgh Wire are produced by named writers with relevant expertise, then reviewed by an editor and fact-checked before publication. Editor-in-Chief William Ashby approves every piece. We evaluate products, services and experiences against criteria relevant to Edinburgh and Scottish readers, clearly disclosing how items were sourced.
Our correspondents — including Oscar Friel for business and property, and Lucy Hartley for community-related topics — assess each subject against criteria that matter to local audiences. We disclose whether items were purchased, borrowed or provided free of charge, and any relationships with providers. Diane Forbes, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, verifies all factual claims before publication. Our full editorial standards are set out in our editorial policy.
What you can expect from us
Edinburgh Wire commits to reviews that are transparent, independent and clearly written. We label all commercial relationships — including affiliate links, sponsored content and free review samples — so readers know exactly what they are seeing. Our editorial conclusions are never determined by advertisers or commercial partners. We follow the same fact-checking and correction processes outlined in our fact-checking policy and editorial policy. Reviews are written in plain language, with no clickbait or exaggeration, so you can trust what you read.
How do we ensure independence from advertisers?
Edinburgh Wire maintains a strict separation between editorial and commercial operations. Advertisers and commercial partners have no influence over review content, ratings or conclusions whatsoever. Sponsored content is clearly labelled, and all affiliate links are fully disclosed in line with our advertising and affiliate disclosure policy.
Our funding sources include display advertising, affiliate links, commercial partnerships, sponsored content and newsletter sponsorships — but commercial relationships never determine editorial conclusions. Our team, led by Editor-in-Chief William Ashby and Managing Editor Sarah Mills, ensures every review reflects independent judgement. For more detail on how we handle commercial content, see our sponsored content policy.
How are affiliate links and sponsored content disclosed?
All affiliate links in Edinburgh Wire reviews are clearly marked, and sponsored or commercial material is labelled as such. Readers will always know whether a review contains affiliate links, whether a product was provided free of charge, or whether the piece is sponsored content. Our disclosures are clear and specific.
We follow industry best practice and UK advertising regulations. Our advertising and affiliate disclosure page explains our approach in full. Diane Forbes, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, oversees compliance with these disclosure requirements. If a review includes a link that earns us a commission, we state that plainly. Sponsored content is clearly distinguished from editorial reviews so there is no confusion.
Questions or concerns?
If you have a question about a review, a correction to suggest, or a concern about independence or disclosure, please contact our editorial team at editorial@edinburghwire.co.uk or our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead Diane Forbes at diane.forbes@edinburghwire.co.uk. You can also reach us via our contact page. For formal complaints, please refer to our complaints procedure. Our full editorial team is listed on our our team page.