The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 8 - 10 August 2025
Fringe acts blame ‘Oasis effect’ for empty shows, AI data centre plan, city goes green for Hibs, how to become a Binfluencer + the NON-FESTIVAL events guide
🌞 Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, including the Community Noticeboard + a NON-FESTIVAL weekend guide for subscribers. (You can find the festival guide here ).
☀️ Weekend weather: Breezy all weekend. Dry and cloudy on Friday. A bit wet on Saturday morning and sunnier in the afternoon. Sunday morning should be dry with sun breaking through, followed by a potentially wet evening. High of 20C and low of 10C at night. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🚔 Two teenage boys were arrested and charged after objects were thrown from a Princes Street roof on Wednesday. - John Hislop, The Edinburgh Reporter.
🔥 There was a fire at a block of flats in Loganlea Terrace in Craigentinny last night. - Chloe Goodall, Edinburgh Live.
⮑ A reliable source tells me 11 people were evacuated, with the council finding accommodation for those without places to go. An investigation into the fire is ongoing.
🎸 Manchester band Oasis bring their reunion tour to Murrayfield stadium this weekend. The gigs on Friday, Saturday and Tuesday are sold out. - Murrayfield has practical details here.
⮑ There’s a round-up of various events local venues are running this weekend for the concerts in Scottish Licensed Trade News.
⮑ Average hotel rates for Friday have almost doubled to £613, reports Terry Murden of Daily Business.
🎤 Some Fringe comedians with empty venues have blamed ‘people deliberately staying away because of Oasis.’ Branding it ‘The Oasis Effect’, comedian Kate Smurthwaite said she cancelled two of her three Banshee Labyrinth shows yesterday. Earlier this year she won the 2025 Fringe World award for Best Children’s Event in Australia for her family-friendly science show Evolution Revolution. She said:
“Big groups of people in Oasis shirts are not interested in my show or anybody else’s. I’m also aware of performers losing their accommodations because landlords have suddenly realised they can make more money by renting the space out to Oasis fans. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to be cancelling shows for the first time in ten years at the Edinburgh Fringe. I’m pulling shows because no one turned up. I think the Fringe Society should have seen this coming and done more about it and a band like Oasis should be more considerate of their fellow performers when they decide where and when to put their shows on.”
⮑ Comedian Yvonne Hughes said she too had struggled to sell tickets, adding: “People are deliberately staying away because of Oasis”, while Aimee Cooper said: “We knew the Oasis effect would be bad, but seeing this is making it more real.. so sorry this has happened Kate, just more greed upon greed innit.”
⮑ A Fringe insider told the Minute: “This happens every year. Equally, many shows have sold out unexpectedly this year, proving the audience is out there. The people not selling will get media attention, those who fall for it will help them sell out. Same story every year once the Daily Mail follows this up.”
⮑ There could be other reasons. Comedian Zara Gladman, whose Fringe run sold out, said: “Literally every night there have been spare seats because I think Covid is doing the rounds again. So if you didn’t get a ticket, you can just turn up and get a ticket on the door.”
➡ For more festival coverage, reviews and reliable recommendations, check out this weekend’s Festival Minute.
🚧 A decision on making Covid-era traffic safety and calming measures in the east of Edinburgh permanent has been delayed. - Local Democracy Reporter Joe Sullivan in Edinburgh Live.
🛜 Plans for a new AI data centre near Heriot-Watt University’s main campus have been published. - More visuals and details about the ‘Wester Hermiston AI Data Centre Campus’ are published by developer Apatura, including a consultation link.
🏄♀️ Campaigners say a survey of 1,000 ‘proves the need’ for direct public transport from the city to Ratho’s new Lost Shore Surf Resort and the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena. - Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter.
🎄 An Edinburgh Christmas market stall that reportedly had £100,000 turnover in just eight weeks is available for £30,000. - Nicholas Malizia, Edinburgh Live.
⚽️ Landmarks around the city were lit up green yesterday to mark the 150th anniversary of Hibernian Football Club. Also marking the occasion, limited edition white replica top will be on sale at the Easter Road side’s stadium shop and website from 10am today, with only 1,875 shirts available. See it here.
🍿 Work has begun on the Filmhouse’s brand new screen: Cinema Four, with the team posting a first look here.
🎬 Looking ahead to September (which is next month already, somehow), the programme for this year’s Take One Action Film Festivals has been announced. - Check it out here.
🛝 There are plenty of non-festival-related family-friendly things to do this weekend in Gayle’s Guide. Including: teddy bears' picnics, a children's art and stories day at Holyrood Park and more.
If this post gets cut-off in your email inbox, read it online at this link.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📌 "Bin Days Edinburgh is a new free app that will remind you when your bins are due to be collected (Recycling, Garden, Glass, Food, and Landfill). Get our volunteer-built app at https://binday.info/app to become a 'Binfluencer' (the person on your street who always knows when to put the bins out)." - Thanks to Pawel and Weronika, volunteers at the Bin Days Edinburgh App (binday.info) for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 9 to Thursday 14 August: Annual Pentland Art Club Exhibition & Sale; Scout Hall, 45 Lanark Road West. 9 Aug (10am - 6pm); 10 Aug (2pm - 6pm); 11-13 Aug (2pm - 8pm); 14 Aug (2pm - 4pm). Contactless payments, cheques and cash accepted." - Thanks to C&B News for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 16 August 2025 - When Windows 10 goes out of support in October, many will be forced to buy a new computer. Edinburgh Linux Café can help by showing you Linux Mint, a free and easy alternative that can add years to the life of your machine. Drop in at Leith Library from 10am to 1pm." - Thanks to Linux Café for sharing this.
📌 "Preview: 8th of Aug from 17:00-19:30 at 15 Lauriston Gardens, EH9 3HH. Open Sat-Sun 9-10 & 16-17th August 12:00-17:00 and by appointment. Votive Gallery presents Sophie Hall: Rogue Trader. Hall is an Edinburgh-based sculptor who constructs her practice around the uncanny moment of the double-take." - Thanks to Votive Gallery for sharing this.
📌 "Friday 22nd August is the deadline to submit your short film to the 11th Scottish Youth Film Festival! Under 26 and based in Scotland? It's free to enter via Film Freeway!" - Thanks to Scottish Youth Film Foundation for sharing this.
📌 "The Bike Station is recruiting volunteers to help make cycling more accessible across Edinburgh. From fixing bikes to supporting events, there's a role for everyone. Join us and be part of a movement for sustainable, active travel in your community!" - Thanks to The Bike Station for sharing this.
📌 "Greenhouse Records, Edinburgh's record shop and radical bookstore, announces their line-up of in-store events for the month." - Thanks to the event organisers for sharing this.
📌 "Collage Workshop, Saturday 6pm at Submarine Art, 36 Henderson Row. Make Friends & Make Art! Enjoy a relaxed and welcoming environment where you can unwind and explore your creativity through collage. All materials are provided, so just bring yourself and your imagination. This evening is about taking time to relax, connect with others, and enjoy a creative space." - Thanks to Submarine Art Studios for sharing this.
📌 "I'm fundraising to keep a community class going at the Crannie Community Hub, in collaboration with Edinburgh Community Yoga. £2,000 would enable the class to keep going for another year." - Thanks to Anna, volunteer at ECY, for sharing this.
📌 "We're launching Desire Paths: A Runner's Guide to Edinburgh Fringe this Friday. It's a guide created by local artists which gives our recommendations of running routes and hospitality spots for runner's visiting the city in August. Available for free at 220 Easter Road throughout the month." - Thanks to the Interval Running for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 9 August 2025 - Cafe Forró, join the Edinburgh Forró community for a joyful evening of Brazilian partner dancing in the wonderful Tanifiki cafe, Portobello. Dancers and non-dancers welcome! Reserve your ticket here." - Thanks to Cafe Forró Edinburgh for sharing this.
📌 "Wednesday 13 August: Please join us at Golden Hare Books to celebrate the launch of The Diary of Lies by Philip Miller. Philip will be in conversation about his latest book in the Shona Sandison thriller series, and there will be a chance to have your copy signed. Tickets can be booked online or in the bookshop." - Thanks to Golden Hare Books for sharing this.
📌 "Viki Knott's Antique and Art shop is back open….It's very much an improved reincarnation, in terms of both the space and the stock. The opening comes on the heels of the new series of Salvage Hunters, Quest, where Viki and Drew search for antiques to buy. Hutchison Shop Open Fri, Sat & Sun 11-4." - Thanks to Viki Knott for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 10 August 11am - 3pm: Free entry to Craigmillar Castle when you join our family-friendly bike ride from Porty Prom bike library. Hire a bike if you need - but book in advance. No worries about traffic or route planning - we'll lead the way (but bring your own picnic!)" - Thanks to Porty Community Energy for sharing this.