Ten YearsOne Night

When

Thu 1 Oct

Doors

From 6.30pm

Where

Kimpton Charlotte Square, Edinburgh

Dress

An outfit that makes you feel good

Our programme

The line fills as the evening moves.

Your hosts

Your host Zakia Moulaoui Guery Founder, Invisible Cities

Ten years ago I had an idea that most said was brilliant, some said not. I'm very proud of us all for achieving 10 cities in 10 years, so thank you for being here to celebrate.

Your emcee Sian Downes

Sian has supported Invisible Cities since day one and will be our fantastic compere for tonight.

Your venue host Antony Carter Kimpton Charlotte Square

Antony and his team are looking after us tonight, from the welcome drinks through to the last coffee.

Special guests

Five people making tonight what it is.

Gail Porter Broadcaster and advocate

Edinburgh born and one of the most familiar faces on British television through the late nineties, presenting Top of the Pops and The Big Breakfast. She has since spoken openly about mental health, alopecia and her own experience of sleeping rough, and campaigns on homelessness alongside her broadcasting and stand-up work. Her BAFTA-winning documentary Being Gail Porter brought that story to a national audience.

Jon Watts Chef, designed tonight's menu

Jon learned to cook at eighteen, inside a young offenders institute, as part of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. He went on to cook for Jamie Oliver for five years, then built his own business. Two cookbooks later, including the number one Sunday Times bestseller Speedy Weeknight Meals, he cooks on This Morning and Saturday Kitchen and takes cooking classes back into prisons. Tonight's menu is his.

Ken Lyons CIE Tours

Speaking between courses. CIE Tours have been bringing visitors to Scotland and Ireland for decades, and Ken is here to say a few words about why that matters to a night like this.

David Harry Magician

A member of the Magic Circle who spent twenty five years in the City, latterly as a Vice President at Deutsche Bank, before turning to close-up magic and London tour guiding full time. He has performed at Twickenham Stadium, the BFI Southbank, the Park Lane Hilton and the Edinburgh Fringe, and has nearly 700,000 followers watching him do it. Expect him at your table rather than on a stage, which is the point.

Tartan Entertainment DJ, from 9.30

Taking the room from dinner to dancing once the formal part of the evening is done, and staying with us down in the cellar afterwards.

Tonight's menu

Three courses by Jon Watts, served from 7.30.

Designed by Jon Watts

Jon learned to cook at eighteen inside a young offenders institute, and now takes cooking classes back into prisons. Tonight's menu is his. Food made by someone the industry could easily have written off, which is more or less the whole point of this evening.

Zhug is a bright green herb and chilli sauce, more fragrant than hot.

If you told us about a dietary requirement when you booked, the kitchen already has it. Anything we have missed, find a member of the Invisible Cities team rather than waiting for a course to arrive.

Ten years, city by city

How Invisible Cities got from one guide in Edinburgh to a national operation.

2015

The idea

Zakia Moulaoui Guery, then at the Homeless World Cup Foundation, spends time volunteering in a refugee camp on Lesvos, Greece. The idea that becomes Invisible Cities is born and Zakia comes home ready to see how it might work.

2016

Edinburgh

Founded in February in Edinburgh. Guides design their own routes from the start, which is still how every tour is imagined, designed, researched and launched today.

2018

From volunteers to a team

Volunteer-led until July 2018, then the first paid staff join the team. Invisible Cities is named regional winner for Innovation in Tourism at the VisitScotland Thistle Awards.

2019

Official, and growing

Invisible Cities becomes a Community Interest Company (CIC). Glasgow, Manchester and York follow, each with its own incredible guide community, and word starts spreading with new cities asking to be next.

2021

Lonely Planet Best in Travel

Named for the prestigious Community Award, one of just a small number of UK operators chosen globally. Plus Cardiff joins and puts Wales on the map.

2024

National Geographic Traveller of the Year

The accolade comes with Zakia named People's Champion. TrainSplit comes on board as travel partner and makes it possible for guides to regularly visit other cities.

2025

Aberdeen, and Homewards

Aberdeen launches in March with HRH The Prince of Wales as guest of honour on the first tour, guided by Angus. With support from The Royal Foundation's Homewards partnership, Invisible Cities starts planning to launch in more of their project cities including Belfast.

2026

Ten cities in ten years

Liverpool, Newport, the Scottish Borders and Belfast launch in quick succession, something a small team worked incredibly hard to make happen. And on top of all of that, Zakia is named French Person of the World and Vogue showcases Invisible Cities as 'a quietly revolutionary social enterprise'. Which brings us to this table, and to you.

Thank you so much for being here to celebrate 10 incredible years with us tonight.

From everyone at Invisible Cities

The Big Quiz

Not sure who is at your table? Get to know everyone by taking part. Answers unlock here at 8pm, and winners get a small prize.

Raffle tickets

Ten pounds a ticket, or three for twenty. Every pound goes into guide training, wages and the next city.

Buy raffle tickets

Prizes include vouchers from partner businesses and books signed by Ian Rankin. Buy on your phone now, or find a member of the team with a ticket book.

Buy on the Invisible Cities shop

Then add your numbers here so you are not emptying a bag at half nine.