The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ 20 November 2025
Final tram consultation numbers, uni redundancies row rumbles on, Spiegeltent tree trouble + Botanics light trail opens tonight
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Some of you might have noticed that the Edinburgh Minute Instagram page has vanished. I'm working on getting it back. If you've messaged me there, sorry I can't reply at the moment. You can still get in touch via the form here meantime. Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.
❄️ Freezing temperatures overnight mean it could be slippy underfoot in some places. It's currently -1C and the 'feels like' temperature is -5C according to the Met Office. The 'three days of winter showers' that Edinburgh Live wrote about has not yet landed.
🚗 Around 100 council drivers are voting on whether to strike after raising fears that vehicle tracking technology gets 'abused by management to target workers'. Unite union officer Graeme Smith said: "The proposed change to the tracking system's use are designed to do one thing only and that is to further increase the surveillance on workers." - The Unite union published its concerns here.
- ⮑ If the ballot for industrial action is successful, then strikes would lead to all housing services repairs and maintenance being cancelled for Edinburgh tenants. The council has been contacted for comment. - More details from Ian Swanson in the Evening News.
💰 The council missed out on almost £1.4 million of income due to fraud during the past year. - Liv Thomson, Forth 1 News.
🚉 A final total of 11,425 responses were recorded in the online consultation over two options for the council's proposed new north-south tramline. The number stood at around 7,000 on Monday. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
⮑ Thousands went via this newsletter, with a council insider saying they were 'delighted' with the response of Minute readers.
⮑ The results will be published by the council next year.
🎓 There will be no compulsory redundancies at the University of Edinburgh before July, according to a statement published yesterday by principal Peter Mathieson after this week's third day of staff strikes. - Neil Pooran, Press Association Scotland.
- ⮑ Mathieson added: "At a time when responsible action is required to safeguard our University’s future, we stand ready to continue negotiations with UCUE and reach a sustainable solution."
- ⮑ But Sophia Woodman of the UCU Edinburgh union insisted compulsory redundancies were already 'happening right now', reports Donald Turvill in The Herald.
🚔 A man has been jailed for eight years for the serious sexual assault of a woman in Dalry in 2024. - Police Scotland published details.
🎪 The owner of the Spiegeltent that returned to St Andrew Square during the festival this summer has insisted he'll apply for permission to return next year despite council concerns about tree damage. - Donald Turvill, The Herald.
📙 Edinburgh-based author Katie Goh's debut Foreign Fruit has been named Debut Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the Saltires, Scotland’s National Book Awards. - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
🍻 With the Scotland men's football team now qualified for next year's World Cup in the US, local venues are already planning ahead. Some games will be shown as late as 2am UK time. An Edinburgh brewer and a politician are calling for pubs to be granted late licenses. - Nicholas Malizia, Edinburgh Live.
🪩 In this week's Culture Minute: Look inside the revamped King's Theatre, Push The Boat Out poetry festival begins, a Teviot venue update + this week's big tickets and creative jobs...
Michael MacLeod
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard
⮑ Please get in touch using this form. < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter.
📌 "Edinburgh School Uniform Bank is appealing for donations to its Winter Warmers campaign to keep children in Edinburgh warm and in school this winter. ESUB provide coats, gloves, socks, warm leggings and joggers to children with the greatest need. Donate today to keep children warm this winter." - Thanks to the Edinburgh School Uniform Bank for sharing this.
📌 "🎶✨Calling all musicians! The team behind the 48 Hour Film Project have created a new songwriting challenge, Wild Song, coming to Leith Depot this January. 🎡Spin the Wild Wheel, receive a theme, a Wild Word, and a Musical Challenge. 🎸Write a song and come back 2 weeks later to play it live!" - Thanks to Sam for sharing this.
📌 “Thursday 20 November - 30 December: As the evenings turn frosty, Christmas at the Botanics returns to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for the 2025 festive season. The popular after-dark trail will once again transform the Garden into a glowing wonderland of light and sound.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 "ENTCS is hosting their first Taster Day for those considering a career in the food and drink industry, curious about what professional chef training looks like day-to-day. The cost of the day is redeemable against any of their Professional Courses, more information is available at the link." - Thanks to Edinburgh New Town Cookery School for sharing this.
📌 "This Thursday 20th. The third Thursday in November. The annual release of the first wines of the year from France; Beaujolais Nouveau!!! We'll be pouring the new wines from loved "paysan" natural vignerons and serving HOT "grattons lyonnais"." - Thanks to Dominic at The Lauri (formerly “Brauhaus”), 105 Lauriston Place, for sharing this.
📌 "Friday 21 November. Talk by historian Odile Hughson on The Auld Alliance, the special relationship between Scotland and France, 1295-1560. In person or online, 2.30 pm at The Crannie, Cranston Street. Tickets from The Old Town Association or at the door." - Thanks to Edinburgh Old Town Association for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 22nd November 6pm at the Stockbridge Music Hub. Metamorphoses Trio perform music by Gershwin, Rachmaninov and more. Tickets available on the door or via the website. Stockbridge Church, EH3 5BN." - Thanks to Clea Friend for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 22nd November - Yoga for Sleep Recovery workshop at East Side Yoga, Edinburgh. Struggling with sleep or would like some useful tips to build your toolkit? Join us for meditation practices, restorative poses, journalling and learning about the science of sleep. All welcome." - Thanks to Emily James, teacher at East Side Yoga, for sharing this.
📌 "❄️ 🌟 Saturday, 22nd November 11am – 4pm: Join us for one of Edinburgh's most magical Christmas Markets at the Edinburgh Steiner School! Artisan stalls, live music, puppet shows, homebaked treats, and more. Location: Edinburgh Steiner School, 60 Spylaw Rd, EH10 5BR See you there! 🌟" - Thanks to Sara, Edinburgh Steiner School for sharing this.
📌 "🌍 Sunday 23rd Nov, 8pm ♻️ Join us for ReFashion Edinburgh – a maverick sustainable fashion show that shines a spotlight on Edinburgh-based designers who share a passion for sustainability and ethical creation, all proceeds going to The Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland. Last remaining tickets!" - Thanks to the ReFashion Organisers for sharing this.
📌 "Come to meet British comics legend Bryan Talbot on Sat 22 November at 11.30am at the Institut français d'Écosse! Best known as the creator of "The Adventures of Luther Arkwright" and the "Grandville" series of books, he will discuss his work and sign copies of "The Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor"" - Thanks to Institut français d'Écosse for sharing this.
📌 "Tuesday 25 November, 7 PM: Leith-based coach Caitlin McDonald hosts Courage Pie, a free online monthly gathering to savour a slice of courage. This month we'll be learning techniques to overcome our resistance to change." - Thanks to Caitlin for sharing this.
📌 "Thursday 27 November. Join Home-Start Edinburgh for our Winter Fundraiser: Pub Quiz and Silent Auction at Brass Monkey Leith! Enjoy a fun evening of trivia, prizes, and community spirit, all in support of families across Edinburgh. Grab your tickets now and help make a difference this winter!" - Thanks to Home-Start Edinburgh for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 29 November - Exhausted creative business owner? Learn to prevent burnout by planning around your energy rhythms in this intimate workshop. Includes energy mapping exercises and mindfulness tea practice with Sandra Benn from Chiya & Chai." - Thanks to Lezanne Scott, Scott Coaching for sharing this.
📌 "Join us for a captivating journey through 100 years of music with acclaimed organist Kevin Grunill. Renowned for his expressive style and deep knowledge of the theatre and cinema organ, Kevin has performed at leading venues across the UK, Europe and the USA." - Thanks to Corstorphine Trust for sharing this.
📌 "Join one of Edinburgh's oldest cricket teams, Botanics CC as it gets ready for the new season with a winter net and social from 2pm at Trinity Bangholm on the 29th. Do not worry about skills or experience." - Thanks to Liam Challenger, Botanics CC for sharing this.
📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- ✍️ New York occultism expert's verdict on mysterious Stockbridge markings.
- 🚉 'Minor derailment at Edinburgh Airport'.
- 📌 Edinburgh Open Workshop launches new courses.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 775.
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