STIRLING has missed out on making the shortlist to become the UK City of Culture for 2025.

Bradford, County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham County Borough were instead chosen for the final four.

The shortlist was compiled from a record group of 20 that had initially registered bids to take over the title, currently held by Coventry and awarded in 2021.

The expert advisory panel, chaired by Sir Phil Redmond, will visit the four shortlisted places before making their final recommendation in May.

Carol Beattie, chief executive at Stirling Council, said: “Today’s news leaves us all feeling slightly deflated but we are not disheartened.

"The people of Stirling should still be extremely proud of what they have achieved and I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to get us here.

“The backing we received from across Stirling and indeed the whole of Scotland has been overwhelming. Sharing our stories of how people in Stirling are changing lives through the power of culture has been inspirational.

“The competition has also restored a sense of civic pride and optimism after the challenges of the pandemic.

“We have built strong partnerships across our communities that will help us unleash Stirling’s distinctive and inclusive cultural potential. We are working together and are more determined than ever to deliver on our cultural ambitions for the people of Stirling.

“Today is not the end, it’s the start of another exciting chapter. Stirling is alive with culture.”

The winner of the prestigious title, which is awarded every four years, will be announced in Coventry.

After the announcement on Friday, Sir Phil said: “Culture can act as a catalyst for community engagement, civic cohesion and a driver for economic and social change as previously seen not just in Derry-Londonderry in 2013, Hull in 2017 and Coventry in 2021, but all those other places who went on a journey to develop their own cultural strategy.

“Simply taking part has proved a catalyst in itself.

“We have had a great longlist to select from, which made the shortlisting difficult, but I am now looking forward to visiting each of the shortlisted places with the panel to witness culture’s catalytic effect in action.”

The benefits of winning include attracting millions of pounds in additional investment to help boost regeneration and a year in the cultural spotlight, encouraging long-lasting participation in the arts, and growth for local tourism.

Arts Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: “The UK City of Culture competition shows the important role that culture can play in levelling up our towns, cities and rural communities – bringing investment, great events, thousands of tourists and opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds.

“We have seen a huge positive impact in this year’s host city Coventry with millions of pounds in investment and thousands of visitors.”

Since winning the coveted title, Coventry has seen more than £172 million invested in funding music concerts and the UK’s first permanent immersive digital art gallery as well as a further £500 million for the city’s regeneration, the DCMS said.

For the first time this year, the eight longlisted winners received a £40,000 grant to strengthen their applications, which included Cornwall, Derby, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon as well as Stirling.