The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 30 May - 1 June 2025
Princes St attack, thousands back Marionville fire station appeal, Art Fest launch, ECA degree show + Days Music & Arts Festival
☀️ Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, including the Community Noticeboard + the weekend guide for paying subscribers. Big thanks to the paying subscribers who make this newsletter possible, and everyone who shares it too.
🚔 Police are hunting for a masked man who raped a child on Princes Street on Sunday. The 15-year-old girl is now receiving specialist help. - Police published this appeal for witnesses.
🚒 The number of signatures on a petition calling for Marionville Fire Station to be saved from closure has doubled in a day to more than 2,000. - The petition highlighted in yesterday’s newsletter is here.
⮑ Having discovered dangerous RAAC concrete in the building, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is planning a public consultation in the summer, reports Ian Swanson in the Evening News.
⮑ Having worked at the station for 17 years, David Strachan, Marionville’s branch representative for the Fire Brigade Union says he has ‘serious concerns that it would make people in this part of Edinburgh less safe’. - Nicholas Malizia, Edinburgh Live.
🛳️ The council says a new cruise ship levy could raise £1m and ‘ensure residents benefit’. - City of Edinburgh Council.
🎤 ‘I became the AI voice of Lothian Buses, but didn't know about it', says angry Scottish voiceover artist. - Exclusive by Alastair Dalton in The Scotsman.
🎨 The programme for Edinburgh Art Festival, the UK’s largest annual visual art event, was published yesterday. It features 82 events and exhibitions across 45 venues. - You’ll find the events and tickets here.
⮑ Mark Westall of FAD Magazine picks out highlights from the three week festival.
🎭 Another festival programme launch: This year's TravFest promises to be ‘the pinnacle of compelling new writing at Edinburgh’s August festivals’, with 12 productions at the Traverse Theatre, including 10 premieres. - The full programme is here.
🥐 The owners of Hobz Bakery are leaving their Leith Walk shop and planning to reopen in Fife. - They posted details on Instagram.
🏟️ Hibernian are planning upgrades on Easter Road stadium this summer. - Michael Bochel, The Scottish Football Kick-Off.
🧵 Patrick Grant, the designer, entrepreneur, writer, sustainability advocate and judge on BBC’s ‘Great British Sewing Bee’ has been announced as the next Chancellor of Queen Margaret University. - The uni published more here.
☀️ Weekend weather: Cloudy and occasionally sunny on Friday, potentially rainy on Saturday and definitely wet on Sunday. Highs of 19C and lows of 9C. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
⮑ With more rain forecast this weekend, local writer and conservation volunteer Juliet Wilson looks at the near-drought’s impact on wildlife and ponders ‘might we need a different attitude to rain’. There’s also ‘an inspiring list of outdoor ‘activities to do when it’s raining’. - Juliet Wilson, Crafty Green Poet.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📌 “North Bridge: Where We Travelled is an innovative community anthology of SFF, historical & contemporary fiction, poetry in Scots & English, memoir, a script and a game from 22 local Edinburgh writers, inspired by the iconic North Bridge (history, present & future). Pre-Order the limited edition colour paperback by Monday 2nd June.” - Thanks to Jeda Pearl, editor for sharing this.
📌 “Today is the last chance to see an art exhibition featuring work from 10 Edinburgh artists who are part of The Arienas Collective in the city. 11am-5pm today at St Margarets House, 151 London Road. A rare chance to see these artists original work as they discuss a compare how each of them make a living as an artist. ” - Thanks to Edinburgh Sketcher for sharing this.
📌 “Join your fellow cyclists for Edinburgh's edition of Critical Mass. One part Saturday bike ride, one part neighbourhood meetup and one part protest advocating for better cycle facilities for all! This month's ride takes a special route from the Meadows down to Granton and back. All are welcome, it departs from Middle Meadow Walk at 2pm.” - Thanks to the Critical mass organising team for sharing this.
📌 “A bumper June issue of “C&B News” is now available online and in print from this Saturday—see our website for list of outlets in south-west Edinburgh. This month we celebrating summery “Days to Remember”, interview Police Scotland’s Local Area Commander for South West Edinburgh, and include the latest updates from residents, local groups and political representatives across the upper Water of Leith valley.” - Thanks to C&B News for sharing this.
📌 “A summertime Cream Tea in aid of Cancer Research UK (CRUK) which works tirelessly to develop new resources and treatments for this disease which impacts the lives of so many people that we know and love in so many different ways. We're trying to put the FUN into fundraising for CRUK with our Cream Tea in Davidsons Mains on June 7th (2.30-4.00) with yummy scones, delicious cake , a fantastic raffle and optional fizz!! Please buy a ticket and come and share the experience with us!” - Thanks to Lynne for sharing this.
📌 “Morningside Gallery is to exhibit work from some of the city’s youngest artists, showcasing almost 700 entries from a dog-themed drawing and painting competition, launched to accompany Woof! The Dog Show which runs in the gallery until 8th June. The competition, judged by artist and author Catherine Rayner demonstrates the creativity and imagination of Edinburgh school children aged from 4 - 12, with entries received from schools across the city. The winning artworks will be hung in the gallery over the weekend of the 31st May/1st June, alongside a display of the runner up entries, and a selection of favourites from gallery staff and all entries will appear in a special competition book - all welcome to a drinks reception on Sunday 1 June from 2 - 4pm. ” - Thanks to Carrie for sharing this.
📌 “Learn, chat and make in a club for history nerds! Join our new club, the Historical Crafts Society, on Sunday 1st June, 11am -1pm at CATS (43-45 Easter Road) to explore the past through craft. All crafters and all levels welcome!” - Thanks to Melissa Cruz, Founder of Historical Crafts Society, for sharing this.
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🛝 For more family-friendly things to do, this week’s edition of Gayle’s Guide includes: Craigie’s Farmfest, Circus at Portobello Town Hall + free storytime sessions at The Edinburgh Bookshop.
