The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 1 October 2025

🌦️ Good morning Edinburgh. It’s another busy one! Here’s Wednesday’s Edinburgh Minute.

🏥 The Salvation Army-run Davidson House care home in Colinton could close as soon as next month, reports Neil Johnstone in the Evening News, who spoke to some of the affected families now in limbo.
⮑ The charity said it tried to find other care providers to take over the running of the home, but ‘sadly, no alternative buyer could be found for Davidson House’. It added that it ‘will not close until alternative placements have been found’. - The full statement is here.

👩‍⚕️ A descendant of Dr Elsie Inglis has criticised a heritage body for claiming that a statue of the suffragist and doctor should be “more feminine”. - Martyn McLaughlin, The Scotsman.

🇺🇦 Members of Edinburgh’s Abandoned Artists collective are seeking a new home after they were given a week to vacate their studio in the Gyle centre. The Artists’ Kitchen venue was home to more than 20 artists for over a year. They call themselves ‘a talent agency with a twist’ as they support displaced and refugee artists to rebuild their creative journeys in Scotland, having been affected by war, displacement, and humanitarian disasters. Founder Alena Rogozhkina got in touch to ask if any Minute readers can help them find a new place to work and exhibit:

“We are a small social enterprise with no budget for a venue, but huge energy and vision. If you know of any available space, even something as to fit a couple of desks, ideally in central Edinburgh or Leith, and suitable as a registered address, we would love to have a conversation.” - Their contact details are here.

💰 Last month the Minute teamed up with London Centric to expose tax-evading Princes Street shops costing taxpayers thousands. Now the council has confirmed it’s taking ‘enforcement and recovery action’ against the shops that haven’t paid their rates.
⮑ Responding to questions at last week’s full council meeting from Edinburgh City Centre Ward councillor Claire Miller, who referenced our investigation, council finance convenor Mandy Watt said:

“The Council is committed to recovering all appropriate Non Domestic Rate charges, and throughout the year hundreds of millions of pounds is collected from Edinburgh businesses. The Council continues to target and disrupt those businesses that wilfully chose not to pay their Rates, utilising all enforcement and recovery powers in the relevant legislation. This includes summary warrant and court approved recovery actions such as money and stock seizures and bank arrestment. At this time all appropriate enforcement and recovery action is being taken in an attempt to secure payment. Council officers in Revenues Collection and Trading Standards and Licensing continue to engage with Scottish Government, HMRC and related agencies to explore and progress local and national actions permitted within existing Non Domestic Rates and company constitution legislation to tackle the issue of phoenixing.”

• ⮑ Scroll down to page 11 on this PDF to see the full response to councillor Miller’s question about the journalism that has led to this action.

Paying journalists and lawyers for that report cost a significant sum, which I’ve not earned back yet. I still believe it was worth it. If you want to see more of this solutions-focused journalism, please directly support it by voting with your wallet, either by subscribing or leaving a tip. Thanks! - Michael

🚧 What’s behind the delays to North Bridge refurbishment? Its completion is currently estimated for spring 2026, but the deadline has slipped in the past. - Donald Turvill investigates in The Herald.

🍺 The Prom Bar in Anchorfield, Newhaven, is set to reopen after more than a year of uncertainty since the building it is part of was closed for structural reasons. - Chloe Goodall, Edinburgh Live.

🥖 After 15 years in business, Morningside Road’s Bakery Andante closed for the last time yesterday. Owner Jon Wood made the surprise announcement yesterday morning, saying it was a ‘hard decision’:

“It’s become increasingly hard to recruit bakers and the financial pressures on small businesses like ours have become too great to continue. We’d like to thank all of our wonderful customers, suppliers, partners and of course our team for all of their support over the years.” - Owner Jon Wood.

🧖🏻‍♀️ Plans to turn the former Espionage nightclub into a multi-level spa on Victoria Street have been approved by the council. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News.

🍻 Plans to expand the Cold Town House pub in the Grassmarket have been approved. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.

🥇 Edinburgh’s six-time Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy has launched a new sports scholarship fund with the University of Edinburgh. - Tristan Hooper, The Edinburgh Tab.

📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

⮑ Please get in touch using this form. < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter.

📌 “In this month’s 2 minute Edinburgh wildlife video, a mink makes a rare appearance on the Water of Leith! After the mating activity in July’s video, we have a second brood of kingfisher chicks. And finally, find out why one of the otter mums is so exhausted - enjoy!” - Thanks as always to Tom Kelly of Go Wild In Edinburgh for sharing this.

📌 “Cat’s Friday Skate Club need your help to provide indoor skate sessions at the Pitt over the winter months, for all levels, ages and genders. Edinburgh currently has NO indoor skatepark and winter is a time when we most need a safe sheltered space to skate and socialise.” - Thanks to Cat from Friday Skate Club for sharing this.

📌 “October’s bumper autumn issue of C&B News, reporting south-west Edinburgh, is now available to view/download online, with print copies in local outlets from this Friday—see website for list. Full of local news and colour from across the upper Water of Leith valley.” - Thanks to C&B News for sharing this.

📌 “Free sewing classes for kids and adults at Wester Hailes Library this weekend and over the October school holidays!” - Thanks to Jessi Dimmock at Wester Hailes Library for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 2 October – Join us at Collective for the launch of a new solo exhibition by artist and filmmaker Shen Xin. Highland Embassy brings together three artworks rooted in place and which use storytelling to explore migration, belonging, indigenous frameworks for languages and communities.” - Thanks to the Collective gallery team at Calton Hill for sharing this.

📌 “October 3-5 - SEDA Conference 2025: Sufficiency. 3-day event exploring sufficiency as regeneration’s foundation. Speakers: Katherine Trebeck, Amica Dall, Lloyd Alter. Workshops, walled garden visit, foraging, music. Tickets £35-£295. Inperson / Online options available.” - Thanks to Rachel from the Scottish Ecological Design Association for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 4 October - Scottish Ornithologists Club is having an Open Day at our Visitor Centre in Aberlady. Come and join us for a day of free activities for children and adults and find out about the work we do as a charity protecting Scotland’s birds. Further details on our website.” - Thanks to Trish Burnet for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 4th October - Microsoft have extended the life of Windows 10 by another year, but many people are taking control of their digital lives anyway by switching to Linux. Edinburgh Linux Café can help you transform your computer. Drop in from 10am at the Tool Library, Meadowbank.” - Thanks to Edinburgh Linux Café for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 4 October - In need of uplifting? Curious about group singing? Join a one-day singing workshop and evening BYOB song-sharing on the theme of HOPE. Led by local Penny Stone and visiting leader Ryan, expect beautiful harmonies and community connection. Open to all, no prior experience needed!” - Thanks to the event organisers for sharing this.

📌 “Road closure in Colinton on Sunday 5th October from 8am - 5pm (approx) to install speed reduction measures. No access from Bridge Road to Gillespie Road. Bus services for numbers 18 and 45 will be diverted - please check Lothian Buses website for details.” - Thanks to Colinton Community Council for sharing this. Very helpful!

📌 “Makers Market with an amazing selection of local handmade crafts - art, accessories, ceramics, jewellery, leather accessories, skincare, textiles and house plants. With coffee, baking, street food, embroidery portraits, and creative workshops it’s the perfect way to spend a Sunday in Portobello.” - Thanks to Support The Makers for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 9th October - Join Ginger Twist Studio and Susan Anderson of The Journal of Scottish Yarns to learn all about Scotland’s Native Sheep Breeds; a fascinating flocking spanning centuries and the whole landscape of Scotland! Your ticket includes nibbles, fizz, and a wee discount instore.” - Thanks to Ginger Twist Studio for sharing this.

📌 “Sat 11 Oct - Ready to let your inner star shine? Join us for a magical dance experience inspired by The Greatest Showman – no experience needed, just bring your energy and a touch of circus flair at Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh. Dress up & step into the spotlight!” - Thanks to Dance Teacher Pirita Tuisku for sharing this.

📌 “Book now for Edinburgh Leisure’s latest Mind & Body Event, a celebration of movement, mindfulness and wellbeing. It takes place at Meadowbank Sports Centre on 25th October.” - Thanks to Edinburgh Leisure for sharing this.

📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.

👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:

1. 🏗️ New Town Quarter construction plan revealed as diggers arrive.
2. 🌿 South Clerk Street’s Moss & Fern plant shop is closing.
3. 🍽️ New name and new ownership for ‘Rollo’ on Broughton Street.
4. 🥧 New Gregg’s bakery discount shop in Sighthill.
5. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Flags on lampposts to be removed by council.

⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 742.
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