Mercat Tours, local, independent family tourism business thanked its team and community of industry partners, plus generations of storyteller alumni, as it wraps up its 40th anniversary year.
Co-hosted by Managing Director Kat Brogan, Director Michael Brogan and company founder Des Brogan, last weeks’ event celebrated four decades of storytelling from the award-winning walking tour company. Mercat’s enduring impact is how visitors connect with Edinburgh through the deeply human craft of storytelling, grounded in the values that have steered the business to success from the start. The event was attended by over 100 invited guests, warmly welcomed at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
The premiere of The Spirit of the Mile was the highlight of the evening. Written and narrated by professional dramatist and former Mercat storyteller Karen McKenzie, the Ode pays homage to the voices that echo through Edinburgh’s remarkable history, the famous and the forgotten. The work is both a love letter to the city’s rich past and a tribute to the Master Storytellers who have thoughtfully curated and shared stories with passion, truth and deep connection.
Kat, current MD, described the Ode as “a beautiful gift from a beautiful friend.”
“Our 40th anniversary is a milestone for Mercat Tours and for our wider community – our team, locals, friends and partners. Our Ode captures the love we have for the city and how seriously we take the task as custodians – ensuring stories pass from the past to future,” she continued.
Karen McKenzie said:
“Writing The Spirit of the Mile was a lovely chance to thank Mercat for sparking my love of storytelling and to applaud the guides that bring Edinburgh’s past to life every day. I wrote this piece as a thank you, inspired by the history of the city, the stories of the closes and the passion of the Mercat team. Being part of their 40-year story has been a genuine joy and a reminder of just how powerful a well-told tale can be.”
Featuring live music and local food and drink, the evening offered a heartfelt thank you to the many people and organisations that have supported Mercat throughout its 40-year journey. The gathering brought together their team with representatives from the travel trade, cultural organisations, heritage attractions, and the Scottish tourism community, including longstanding collaborators such as VisitScotland, the Grassmarket Community Project, ASVA, Scottish Enterprise, Edinburgh Castle (HES), Living Wage Scotland, and ETAG.
Guests were also invited to contribute to the Mercat Memory Tree, sharing moments that showcase the impact of Mercat’s work, the strength of industry relationships, and the promise to put their people first that has guided Mercat’s purpose since its founding in 1985.
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Jill Walker of VisitScotland encapsulated her reflections simply and powerfully: “Mercat = it matters!!”
“Mercat has always been about values first, not value. Deep, meaningful connections are what set the Mercat team apart and keep us thriving, true to our promises in the Mercat Deal. Any good story leaves you wanting to know what comes next and we look forward to writing our next chapter together,” Brogan concluded.
