The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 29 - 31 August 2025

⛅️ Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, including the Community Noticeboard + the weekend guide for paying subscribers.

✌️ I’m taking a screen-break. The Minute will return on Monday 8 September.

☀️ Weekend weather: Cloudy with sunny intervals on Friday, dry on Saturday until heavy rain in the afternoon, then sunnier on Sunday with occasional light showers. High of 19C and low of 12C at night. Unsurprisingly the ‘590-mile wall of rain’ that Edinburgh Live said would ‘batter Edinburgh’ still hasn’t appeared. - The full Met Office forecast is here.

🚔 An update on yesterday’s report on a 1am ‘disturbance’ in Restalrig: a woman was taken to hospital and died ‘a short time later’, according to police. A 55-year-old man was arrested for assault. - The latest police update is here.

🎓 Senior University of Edinburgh staff have been targeted by a voluntary redundancy scheme aimed at saving money. Around 350 have already taken VR under a previous scheme, which the university said would save about £24m. - Louise Wilson, Holyrood magazine.
⮑ This is linked this to a drop in international students, reports Donald Turvill in The Herald.
⮑ Meanwhile ‘up to 70’ roles could also go at Edinburgh Napier University, reports Benjamin Russell of BBC News.

🎸 Chart-topping indie rock band Wet Leg have been announced to headline this year’s Hogmanay in Princes Street Gardens. Their breakthrough debut single ‘Chaise Longue’ was released in June 2021 and both of their albums have been number 1. They sold out the Usher Hall earlier this year. - More Hogmanay details are here.
⮑ ‘Homegrown heroes Hamish Hawk and Lucia & The Best Boys’ are also on the bill, reports Gary Flockhart in The Scotsman.

🎭 The National Galleries of Scotland said the risk of a ‘catastrophic incident’ at one of its buildings was ‘at a critical level never before seen’ due to a £17m maintenance backlog it can’t afford to tackle, reports Brian Ferguson in The Herald.

🚉 Who will pay for Edinburgh’s proposed new tram line? So far, nobody has said they’ll foot the bill. Council transport convener Stephen Jenkinson said: “It is Labour group policy that the council tax payers of Edinburgh will not be asked to directly fund any future extension of our award winning tram network.” Earlier this month the Scottish Government said the £2.9 billion expansion was ‘not affordable in the current fiscal climate’. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News.
⮑ Council chief executive Paul Lawrence told The Herald: “A new tram line will need direct investment from the government, there is no question about that. You will not be able to build that at scale otherwise."

⮑ A public consultation on the planned route from Granton to the Royal Infirmary is open now until 17 November.

🇵🇸 People from across Scotland are to gather in Edinburgh for a test of the ban on Palestine Action. The ‘right to protest’ event will set off from the Mound at 2pm on Saturday 6 September with a rally at the UK Government HQ, Elizabeth House. - Gabriel McKay, The Herald.

🚲 Prices for Edinburgh’s new cycle hire scheme have been published as operator Voi gears up for its launch next Wednesday. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News.

⛰️ The high road around Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park remains closed (including the pavement) due to the ongoing risk of rock fall following the gorse fire. - Historic Environment Scotland will post updates here.
⮑ The next two Holyrood Parkrun events have been cancelled.

If the newsletter gets cut-off in your email inbox, read it online at this link.

📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:

📌 "Living Rent and Fire Brigade's Union call on Fire and Rescue Service Scotland to save Marionville Fire Station. The fire station is due to be demolished as a cost-cutting measure which will ultimately put lives at risk. We are protesting outside the public consultation on Tue 2nd Sept at 5pm." - Thanks to Living Rent for sharing this.
⮑ The official consultation link is here. (Read more on the proposal in Minute edition 651 from May this year).

📌 "The City of Edinburgh Council is consulting on improvements to the area around Drylaw shopping centre to make it safer and more accessible. Give your views by completing the online consultation by 8 October 2025 or attending a drop-on event at the centre from 4 PM to 7 PM on Thursday 4th September." - Thanks to Kyle Drummond, City of Edinburgh Council for sharing this.

📌 "Scottish Brain Sciences, based in Edinburgh at Murrayfield Stadium, is running research studies to explore brain health and help develop and test new treatments for dementia. We're looking for people with Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairment, memory concerns, or early signs with a family history." - Thanks to Scottish Brain Sciences for sharing this.

📌 “Gringo supperclub presents the Taco Tuesday Cooking Club, a new fun BYOB cooking class. Learn how to make tacos and meet new people in our home in the West End. Dates available to book in Nov & Dec.” - Thanks to Kevin of Gringo Supperclub for sharing this.

📌 "Granton Giants is looking for new dodgeballers. While our junior sections go from strength to strength our adult squad is struggling for numbers and may have to fold. If anyone out there fancies giving dodgeball a go and helping save our club we train at Broughton High School every Tuesday 7-9pm." - Thanks to Keir Liddle (Coach of Granton Giants) for sharing this.

📌 "Saturday 30 August 2025 - If you're a Windows 10 user, you can switch to Linux to avoid having to buy a new computer when support ends in October. Edinburgh Linux Café volunteers can show you what Linux is all about at our next install party is at the Edinburgh Tool Library in Meadowbank." - Thanks to Edinburgh Linux Café for sharing this.

📌 "The National Railway Museum Inspiration exhibition is coming through Edinburgh in October. I know this is a bit early but bookings are open and there is already limited availability on some time slots." - Thanks to a reader for sharing this.

📌 "Space @ The Broomhouse Hub is looking for individuals to volunteer as youth befrienders. More information and details can be found in the poster. It is a great organisation and is really beneficial work." - Thanks to Space @ The Broomhouse Hub for sharing this.

📌 "Looking for a post Fringe mini escape from the city? Detour's Yoga By Bike is back on the 30th August! 10am meet on Porty Prom for a relaxed cycle to Longniddry and yoga at Fern Bothy." - Thanks to Jorja for sharing this.

📌 "Sunday 31 August: Join us for a family-friendly led bike ride to Leith Links from our bike library on Porty Prom. Hire a cargo or electric bike if you like (for free). The route is almost all on cycle paths away from the road and we'll have a picnic, go on the pump track and play when we get there." - Thanks to Porty Community Energy for sharing this.

📌 "Coming up this Saturday evening at the Pianodrome Warehouse in Granton, a storm of a Pianist and one to watch; the inimitable Pavlina Gusheva, performing pieces from Bach, Schumann & Rachmaninoff. Tickets are "Name your price" online or on the door." - Thanks to Pip - Events lead at Pianodrome CIC for sharing this.

📌 "The Tattoo has announced that tickets for its 2026 Show, A Call To Gather, are now on sale. This follows the close of the Tattoo's 75th anniversary, which drew sell-out crowds to the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. Over 220,000 fans from across the world experienced one of Scotland's most iconic shows. Tickets are here." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 "Are you a French speaker and do you like improv? We are launching our very own improv workshop from the 4th of September, every Thursday from 6pm to 8pm at the French Institute of Scotland. To get more information, just email us at clique.edimbourg@gmail.com or fill up the form at this link." - Thanks to Marion and Sarah from La Clique for sharing this.

📌 "Sunday 7th September, 11am-3pm. Celebrate Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home with a FREE family fun day your dog will love! Pick up helpful tips and treats for your furry friends and join us for an afternoon of games, competitions and waggly-tailed fun." - Thanks to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home for sharing this.

📌 "20 September: After last year's hit Pick of the Pops concert, Nicola MacRae returns to the Astoria to perform on the world's only surviving Ingram cinema organ. Enjoy a lively, toe-tapping evening of stage and screen favourites, with a few surprises in store!" - Thanks to The Corstorphine Trust for sharing this.

🛝 There are lots of family-friendly things to get involved in this weekend, including Alpaca Gala Day, a peer support day dedicated to dads, Tea in the Park at Braidburn Valley Park and more. - It’s all in the new edition of Gayle’s Guide.

Gayle's Guide ✨ 28th Aug 25

Gayle's Guide

📆 Find even more to do in your weekend guide… today with 20% off the usual price, making it just £3 per month.

• There’s also a discount to Edinburgh Psych Fest in the weekend guide…