The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 22 - 24 August 2025
Holyrood Park rockfall warning, Voi bike details, Pieute skate party, kids' Balkanarama + K-pop at the Cameo
⛅️ Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, including the Community Noticeboard + a non-festival weekend guide for subscribers.
(You’ll find the festival guide here).
☀️ Weekend weather: Cloudy with sunny intervals for most of the weekend. High of 20C and low of 12C at night. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🚔 The bin lorry driver who admitted causing the death of 11-year-old Thomas Wong by ‘driving without due care and attention’ in Cramond last year has avoided prison and been sentenced to 133 hours of unpaid work. - BBC Scotland News.
🎇 Fireworks will be banned in nine areas in Edinburgh this bonfire season - more than double compared to last year. - The council published details here.
⮑ Edinburgh Zoo said it was ‘very grateful’ for the move following the death of a baby red panda during fireworks last year. - Rachel Fergusson, The Scotsman.
⛰️ An ongoing risk of rock fall at Arthur’s Seat following last week’s fire means the high road around Holyrood Park is still shut. Organisers of the Holyrood Parkrun have cancelled their weekly event planned for Sunday. - They published more details here. (Thanks to subscriber Pete for sharing this).
⮑ Historic Environment Scotland shared this update:
“We have put arrangements in place to undertake further geotechnical assessments of the affected rock slopes. These assessments will be undertaken week commencing 25th August, weather conditions permitting, and we will provide a further update once we have the results. Additional surveys to review the impact of the fire on the Park’s archaeological features and biodiversity will also be carried out in the coming months.”
🚨 A car being driven on Dalkeith Road hit a man yesterday afternoon. - Neil Johnstone, Evening News.
🎸 Last night’s AC/DC gig at Murrayfield was ‘euphoric’, writes David Pollock in a five-star review in The Scotsman.
🎭 The shortlist for this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards did not include any Scottish talent, with one local producer saying it 'is a 45-year problem'. Organisers insist they are judged ‘on merit alone’. - Jane Bradley, The Scotsman.
“It can seem like sour grapes from the Scottish based acts to boil it down to just the London media not acknowledging them. But with no home-grown acts in the running at a festival that takes place in Edinburgh, you have to think that something isn’t working.” - Comedian Rosco McClelland in The Scotsman.
🚲 More details are emerging about Edinburgh’s new cycle hire scheme, which will be run by Swedish firm Voi. The first fleet of dockless bikes is expected to be available for hire early next month as part of a two-year trial, at no cost to the council. The fleet will start with around 50 bikes with capacity rising to 800 depending on demand. - There are more details on the deal in this report by Joe Sullivan in The National.
⮑ While pricing has not been confirmed by Voi, local MP Ian Murray said “People will be able to hire a bike for £2 for 20 minutes - and there will be 50% discounts for those on low incomes, those with disabilities, students, apprentices and over-60s.”
⮑ I was hoping to bring readers an introductory offer on the bikes, but plans have changed and the firm is expected to make an announcement around midday. - Find out more about Voi here.
⮑ Meanwhile concerns have been raised about dockless bike parking. Brendan Paddy, director of Ramblers Scotland, said: “Look forward to hearing about their strategy for ensuring dockless bikes are parked appropriately & minimising loss and damage”, while Living Streets Edinburgh said: “Very aware - as we think the council is - of the problems that there have been elsewhere with dockless bikes littering pavements and crossings causing a hazard for pedestrians, especially blind people. Good enforcement vital.”
- Award-winning blind comedian Jamie MacDonald raised questions about access barriers to performing at the Fringe: Jamie said: “Getting about Edinburgh is already a total nightmare for blind people and folk with mobility issues. Medieval folk seem to have been four-feet tall with a love for steep, stone stairs.” - Fiona McDonald, Deadline News. (Jamie’s show is on daily until Sunday at the Gilded Balloon Patter House).
🧘♀️ ‘Do good, feel good’ is the mantra behind a special event at Portobello Town Hall next month. Jen McGregor will lead a yoga flow session followed by an evening of events including a raffle in aid of homeless charity Social Bite. - Limited tickets for this charity event are here.
🐾 CuppaPug, a new pug dog cafe (which claims to be ‘committed to educating visitors on responsible pug care’) has opened on Bread Street. - Gaby Soutar of The Scotsman went along.
🛹 Chambers Street will once again become a skateboarding mecca on Saturday evening from 5pm as local shop Pieute throws its 13th birthday celebration outside the museum. - More details here.
If the newsletter gets cut-off in your email inbox, read it online at this link.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📌 "Friday 22nd August 2025 : Works in Progress III - People around Edinburgh have sent in experimental audio projects. We then play them on the radio in the day, and have a live event in the evening. 10am-6pm : Radio broadcast live from Ground Floor Cafe 7pm-1am: Live event at Leith Cricket Club" - Thanks to Works in Progress for sharing this.
📌 "23rd & 24th August 11-5 both days. OPEN STUDIOS at PATRIOTHALL, WASPS, Stockbridge. It is a great opportunity to meet Artists in their working environment, a chance to view great art, talk with the makers and even buy something unique. Free entry" - Thanks to Artists at Patriothall for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 24th August. Fringe edition of Kids Balkanarama is upon us, this time featuring live performance by Zorband, playing some amazing Easter European numbers! Expect some wonderful circus performers, belly dancers, arts and crafts, glitter stalls, bubbles galore and much joy on the dance floor!" - Thanks to Out of the Blue for sharing this.
📌 "This Saturday, Calton Hill becomes a hub for connection. Don't miss the The Conversation Project's final summer event—where we'll explore the magic of connecting with strangers through conversation. You never know who you might meet!! FREE for Edinburgh residents." - Thanks to Eileen Inglis for sharing this.
📌 "Edinburgh Canal Raft Race 2025, Saturday 12pm-5pm "get on the water" hires, DJ, canal boat trips for only 5£, booking essential on www.fcct.scot/welcome, 3-5pm Andy Chung and raft races/finals, event happening near Leamington Lift Bridge/Union Canal and Fountainbridge Green/Union Canal." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 "Organised by AUGB, a friendly and welcoming Ukrainian group, Leithers are invited to a 'Festival of Unity', bringing together people from all backgrounds. Saturday 23rd August, from 12 noon-4pm, on Leith Links-come along and join in the fun, This will be great day out, free and open to all!" - Thanks to Leith Links Community Council on behalf of Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 24th August 2025 - Slow down & soak up summer at The Croissant Club's in person photo walk in Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Gardens. Meet at East Gate Coffee Bar. Muslims & friends welcome – bring any camera and a curious eye. Let's wander, connect & capture beauty together." - Thanks to Momina for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 23rd-Thursday 28th August 12.30-18.00. "TEXTURES" an exhibition of paintings and ceramics by Siri France and Chris Watkins at Whitespace Gallery 76 East Crosscauseway EH8 9HQ." - Thanks to Chris Watkins for sharing this.
📌 "Meet LifeCare's friendly team at Stockbridge Market this Sun 24th Aug...Find out about the support we offer older people and unpaid carers, our wide range of weekly activities for all ages, and our Love the LifeCare Hub campaign inc a unique chance to sponsor a space at the heart of the community!" - Thanks to Claire, LifeCare Edinburgh for sharing this.
📌 "Want to support the incredible work of Maggie's Edinburgh? Love fashion? Want tickets for the clothes selling event of the year?" - Thanks to Zoë Berry LIFE / EDIT Home Organisation for sharing this.
📌 "We're looking for children (ages 4-5 years old, also 8-9 years old) to help us understand how children use a new language! They'll play a game with a cartoon character, using symbols to create and understand messages! Leave your details in the form (linked here) or email jjones9@ed.ac.uk" - Thanks to Jenny Jones, Research Assistant at University of Edinburgh 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 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.
📆 It’s going to be a very busy weekend in town, with the final weekend of the festivals in full swing. However, there are still lots of family-friendly things to get involved in this weekend, including the raft races, junk sculptures, BALKANARAMA for kids and more. - It’s all in this bumper edition of Gayle’s Guide.
