The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 15 - 17 August 2025
School toilets debate, fireworks ban, tributes to Traverse pioneer, extra Tattoo tickets + festival escape guide: Irvine Welsh at Leith Social Club
🌞 Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, including the Community Noticeboard (which includes a rare chance for locals to get some newly released Tattoo tickets at a discount) + a NON-FESTIVAL weekend guide for subscribers. (You can find the festival guide here).
☀️ Weekend weather: Sunny for most of the weekend with some cloud. High of 23C and low of 13C at night. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🏫 The council says the Scottish Government’s schools toilet guidance is ‘unlawful’ as it awaits further guidance on single-sex spaces. - Catriona Stewart, The Scotsman.
👩⚖️ The Ripple charity in Restalrig has begun legal action in an effort to stop proposed social care cuts ‘to protect the city's most vulnerable.’ - Jolene Campbell, Edinburgh Inquirer.
🎸 A fraud investigation has begun after a local woman allegedly scammed dozens of people out of tickets for Oasis at Murrayfield. - Paul Rodger & Thomas Brown, The Sun + Calum Loudon, STV News.
⮑ Meanwhile council leader Jane Meagher has denied the council made rude comments about Oasis fans, while also playing down frontman Liam Gallagher’s claim that last week’s concerts brought in ‘three billion quid to this city’. Meagher said: “Sadly, not much of that, if not any, comes directly into the pocket of the council.” - Holly Lennon & Amie Flett, STV News.
🗳️ Edinburgh's transport convener Stephen Jenkinson has failed in his bid to be selected as a candidate for the Scottish Parliament at next year's elections, beaten by sitting Lothian list MSP Foysol Choudhury. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
🎥 Councillors will vote next week on whether to stop broadcasting some meetings online under plans city officers say would save around £6,000 a year. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, Edinburgh Live.
🎇 Fireworks will be banned near Edinburgh Zoo after the death of baby red panda, if councillors approve plans next week. Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News. (Warning: This link contains that photo of the adorable baby panda ‘Roxie’).
🍽️ The former Gardener's Cottage premises off London Road in Royal Terrace Gardens is up for let by the council for £25,000 per year.
⮑ Just over the road, the Royal National Institute for the Blind Scotland has opened its newly refurbished HQ at Hillside Crescent, including a cafe for the local community. - Rab Armour, Third Force News.
🏛️ The former railway platforms either side of the Granton Station building could be getting refurbished. - Fiona McDonald, Deadline News.
🍹 The owners of Broughton Street bar Ruma have put the bar up for sale. They said their announcement was brought forward, blaming a local newspaper in this Instagram caption.
🍸 Edinburgh Gin has opened a roof terrace bar at its distillery on East Market Street. - Rupert Hohwieler, The Spirits Business.
🤑 Plans by a casino company for a new 24-hour venue on Morrison Street have been rejected again. - Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan, Midlothian View.
🍽️ The duo behind Norah, a new cafe and restaurant in Newhaven, chat to Gaby Soutar in The Scotsman about their new venture. It’s owned by local couple Claire Hanrahan and Andrew Ainslie, and named after Claire’s late grandmother ‘in tribute to her warmth and hospitality’.
🧙♀️ ‘Harry Potter tourism is ruining our cities… So I’ve come up with a three-point plan to get us out of this cursed mess.’ - Huw Oliver in The Times.
🎭 Tributes are being paid to Terry Lane, co-founder and artistic director of the Traverse theatre. - Jane Bradley, The Scotsman.
➡ For more festival coverage, reviews, reliable recommendations and exclusive ticket discounts, check out this weekend’s Festival Minute.
If this post gets cut-off in your email inbox, read it online at this link.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📌 "Friday 22 August 2025 - The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are delighted to announce that presenting partner, Vodafone, is extending a 25% discount on tickets for the 6:15 pm performance on Friday, 22 August, exclusively for residents with an EH postcode and UK Military personnel." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 "This Sunday, a team from The Forge will set out on a bold mission – to cross the Firth of Forth on a handmade pallet board, all in aid of SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health)." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 "Looking for something to do this weekend? Escape the Festival crowds & come along to the Drill Hall for Print Expo 2525, celebrating 10 years of Out of the Blueprint. Join us on Friday night for a special late night opening, with the exhibition and full licensed Drill Hall Cafe open til 8pm!" - Thanks to Out of the Blue for sharing this.
📌 "St James Quarter debuts its first pop-up Vinyl Lounge for music fans during the St James Quarter Sessions. From 15–24 Aug, browse eclectic vinyl from jazz to reggae. Launch night is 15 Aug at Everyman Cinema, then Level 1 Guest Services hosts 16–17 & 21–24 Aug." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 "Friday 15 - Sunday 17 August. Just Festival presents Edinburgh's Festival of Faiths at Lauriston Castle, which highlights some of the vibrant faith communities in our city through music, art, poetry and conversation, as part of the official Edinburgh 900 celebrations." - Thanks to Just Festival Director Miranda Heggie for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 16 August 2025 - Escape the August crowds and join us at Inch Park for a free concert in the summer sun featuring these local Edinburgh acts: Singing Willows, The Ukulele Orchestra of Sunny Leith, Jed & Jo, and the Tinderbox Collective 🌞" - Thanks to the council’s Culture & Wellbeing team for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 16 August - DIY Draught Excluders! Escape the Fringe chaos and develop your sewing skills in a crafty workshop to make a draught excluder out of scraps. No experience needed! The workshop will be accompanied by free, personalised home energy advice too. Hosted by Edinburgh Tool Library at the Crannie Community Hub, EH8 8BE." - Thanks to Daisy Crooke at Edinburgh Tool Library for sharing this.
📌 "This Saturday why not spend 2.5 hours finding out about the suffrage movement in Edinburgh, from mass meetings, to criminal acts, to those who wrote letters, the suffrage movement in Scotland is full of characters well worth knowing about. Meeting outside Usher Hall. 2 for 1 offer available!" - Thanks to guide Ruth Boreham for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 17 August 2025 - Join us for a family friendly led ride and picnic to the Meadows play park from our bike library on Porty Prom. Just bring a picnic and your bikes and we'll lead the way. Hire a cargo bike for your family if you like - just make sure you book in advance.” - Thanks to Porty Communicy Energy for sharing this.
📌 "Returning to Corstorphine on 23 August, one of Scotland's most popular folk bands North Sea Gas has performed since the 1980s, releasing 22 albums and selling out shows worldwide. Renowned for rich vocal harmonies, skilled instrumentation and captivating storytelling, they deliver music that enchants audiences everywhere - Tickets here." - Thanks to The Corstorphine Trust for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 24 August. Portobello Beach Race at 10:00 with registration at Towerbank Primary School from 09:00. Four miles along Edinburgh's beach at low tide. Lots of spot prizes for local restaurants and shops as well as a bake sale and a raffle for a brand new pair of shoes." - Thanks to Rob Stewardson, Portobello Running Club for sharing this.
📌 "9th of September - Facial Palsy UK's Scotland Group is holding an event at St. John's Hospital in Livingston for individuals, and families of individuals, living with facial paralysis or Bell's Palsy. For more details or more general support info, please contact support@facialpalsy.org.uk" - Thanks to Anna for sharing this.
📌 "Rising Tide Cafe is hosting a Sip & Fold, Wine and Mindful Origami event on Thursday 11th September 7-9pm. Early bird tickets available until 17th August! Enjoy some wine and mindful origami with guest expert Makiko Konishi. Limited availability - tickets at http://bit.ly/3Hz8Hjz" - Thanks to Rising Tide Cafe for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 8 November 2025 - "But we have no slaves in Scotland"... The Tumbling Lassie Ball will return to Prestonfield in November. Inspired by true events from Scottish legal history, it is an uplifting event, not to be missed. Info available here." - Thanks to The Tumbling Lassie Committee for sharing this.