The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Monday 12 January 2026

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. The Minute has been here for you more than 800 mornings now, thanks to paying subscribers keeping it going. Here’s Monday's Edinburgh Minute.

🌦️ This week's weather: The big freeze is over but it's still cold. So far there are no local Met Office weather warnings for the week ahead. Expect a high of 9C today, rain tomorrow, sunshine on Wednesday, then more showers on Thursday and Friday. - The full Met Office forecast is here.

⛴️ A new Scotland-France ferry service is expected to launch this spring after regulatory issues were resolved. The 20-hour Rosyth to Dunkirk ferry service would be run by a partnership between DFDS and Ptarmigan Shipping. - More details from Paramita Sarkar of Travel And Tour World.
⮑ MPs reckon it could bring a £11.5 million to the Scottish economy, writes Amy Houghton in Time Out.

🚔 Armed police responded to a call to an alleged 'weapon incident' at the Corstorphine Tesco Extra shop on Friday. - Sally Hind, Daily Record.

🚗 A thief stole a car from outside a home in Goldenacre on Friday. It's being described as a 'frost-jacking' incident, where the owner had gone back inside having turned the engine on to defrost the car. - Chloe Goodall & Gemma Ryder, Daily Record.

🛟 The Queensferry Lifeboat volunteer crew rescued 'a person on an inflatable mattress' east of Cramond Island yesterday. - The lifeboat team posted this update on Facebook.

🦢 A swan was rescued from Easter Craiglockhart Hill pond after it got trapped in ice. - Nicholas Malizia, Daily Record.
⮑ An update yesterday from Friends of Easter Craiglockhart Hill is here.

🎓 Lecturers at Napier University are planning strike action over what union leaders say are 'damaging' planned staff cuts. - STV News.
⮑ Napier Principal Sue Rigby confirmed plans to cut spending in a letter to staff last August.

🇻🇪 A protest was held outside the US consulate in Edinburgh on Saturday against the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. - Rachel Keenan in The Herald & The Scotsman, and Christina O'Neill, STV News.

🏋 A former Poundland shop at Slateford retail park is to become a new 24-hour gym. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.

🚦 The council’s £10m Fountainbridge Active Travel Project consultation closes today. - Have your say here + find more background in this week's edi.bike newsletter.

🍻 The Harp & Castle pub on Leith Walk is for sale at £800,000. - Scottish Licensed Trade News.

🥃 Scientists at Heriot-Watt University are helping with a project testing new environmentally-friendly aluminium whisky bottles. - Severin Carrell, The Guardian.

Green whisky? Scottish distillery tests eco-friendly aluminium bottles

Stirling Distillery project risks being viewed as heresy but it says it wants to make the industry more sustainable

The GuardianSeverin Carrell

🏗️ Dozens of building projects are planned around the city this year. Harry Williams of Edinburgh Planning Updates has mapped them here.

📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

⮑ Please get in touch using this form. < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter.

📌 “Share your hopes and dreams about the future of the Willowbrae Church Building by filling out our short online survey. We are a newly formed group of local residents who would like the church building to belong to our community. As someone who lives locally, what do you think it should be used for?” - Thanks to Jocks Lodge Community Trust for sharing this.

The Future of Willowbrae Church Building

As you may be aware, the Willowbrae Church Building is expected to be put up for sale soon. The Willowbrae and Piershill area is losing valuable community and public space, such as to student accommodation, and we would like to secure a positive future for one of our last remaining community spaces. Jock’s Lodge Community Trust is a newly formed group of local residents who would like the church building to belong to our community. We imagine the future of the building as being owned by members of the community and managed for the benefit of the Willowbrae/Piershill community and beyond. We have already gathered a few thoughts about what the building should be used for but to move this project forward we would like to include your ideas. As someone who lives locally, what do you think the Willowbrae Church Building should be used for? (~5 minutes)

Google Docs

📌 “Sunday 1 March: Meadows Marathon returns, bringing runners of all abilities together for a 5K, 10K, Half or Full Marathon around the Meadows. A Scottish Athletics–registered charity event open to everyone. Tickets on sale now - enjoy 10% off entry with code MINUTE10,” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

Meadows Marathon - 1st March 2026

Edinburgh Meadows Marathon 2026: Sign Up Now!

1st March 2026

📌 “Tuesday 13th Jan. Art lecture : T.S. Eliot & Art, lecturer : Tony Faber, at 2.30pm & 7pm in St John's church, 1a Lothian Road. Come along & sample our first lecture of the year, free of charge. Edinburgh Decorative & Fine Arts Society.” - Thanks to Edinburgh Decorative & Fine Arts Society for sharing this.

📌 “Dry January doesn’t mean drinks without quality or flavour. Meet Sonja Mitchell founder of Jump ship brewery - Scotland leading non alcoholic beer brewery. Monday 12th Jan 6pm in Victoria bar, Leith walk.” - Thanks to Anna, owner Victoria Bar, for sharing this.

📌 “Edinburgh Cine & Video Society One Minute Smartphone Challenge entry deadline is now at a later date of 13th February 2026. Open to all ages, members and non members. Details at www.ecvs.co.uk” - Thanks to Lee Paterson for sharing this.

📌 “Bruntsfield based charity Children First are recruiting the next cohort of support line volunteers. The closing date is 18 January and training begins on 24 January.” - Thanks to Lauren Gilmour - Children First for sharing this.

📌 “Tuesday 13 January at 6.30pm - Join us at the Institut français d'Écosse for an evening of classical music with The Gemstone Arias — formed by soprano Rosie Lavery and pianist Anna Michels! Free concert in partnership with Live Music Now Scotland.” - Thanks to the Institut français d'Écosse, for sharing this.

📌 “Free Pregnancy Yoga starts Wednesday 14 January at 6pm, running for six weeks at St Mark’s Unitarian, Castle Terrace. A calm, friendly midweek space to stretch, breathe, connect and prepare for birth. Free to attend (donations welcome) — booking via Eventbrite.” - Thanks to Janine for sharing this.

📌 “Wednesday 14 January, 7pm. Interested in Garden History? Marilyn Brown, author of Scotland's Lost Gardens will be speaking on 'Gardens after the Restoration of Charles II' at LG34, Paterson's Land, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ. Hosted by EAFS. All welcome!” - Thanks to the Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society for sharing this.

📌 “Ceilidhs every Thursday (2pm - 3:45pm) from 15th Jan ‘26 at Marchmont St. Giles (3 Kilgraston Rd, EH9 2DW) — £6 (cash on door). Featuring great live music from Stan Reeves + Friends, plus Butterflies Cafe tea, coffee, and cake!!! (Buses 9, 24, and 5 nearby).” - Thanks to Stan Reeves for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 15 January - Wild Song Wheel Night with Bee Asha 🎡 at Leith Depot this Thursday. Meet 12 new bands in between live sets from the award-winning genre blending artist Bee Asha and her band. Join the adventure!” - Thanks to Sam for sharing this.

📌 “Got a New Year’s resolution to try a new sport? The Watsonian Hockey Club is running mixed adult Social sessions at George Watsons College, Thursdays 6:45-7:45, for any and all, no fitness needed. Try the first session for free, contact ladies.rep@watsonianshockeyclub.com for more information.” - Thanks to Watsonians Hockey Club for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 16 January. Style Confidence workshop in Edinburgh focused on self-love, confidence and authentic personal style. You’ll explore proportions and shapes, colours, personal style and wardrobe-edit tips through guided exercises and a creative moodboard activity.” - Thanks to Yellow Souls Founder Elena for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 16 January - Creative Movement for Grown Ups: Creative movement and dance session for adults, suitable for all abilities and levels of experience. Free class for residents age 16+ in North Edinburgh.” - Thanks to North Edinburgh Arts for sharing this.

📌 "SATURDAY 17 January 10.00 — Calton Hill Conservation Trust's 13th LITTER PICKUP. Starting from CALTON HILL TOP CAR PARK at 10.00. Litter pickers provided — but please bring GLOVES. Coffee available. RSVP to Gerry at info@caltonhilltrust.org or just turn up." - Thanks to the Trust for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 18th January - A Portobello workshop exploring your deep core and its role in easing back, hip, neck and knee pain. Learn unique exercises that connect feet, pelvic floor, breath and posture, leaving you with practical tools and a clearer understanding of how your body works.” - Thanks to Mora McGovern from With Mora for sharing this.

📌 “Wednesday 21 January. Online Zoom Forum: Simone Weil: the Spiritual, Ethical, and Social Vision in Her Life and Work. Format: There will be five talks, each of 12 minutes, followed by discussion among the speakers and the chair, followed by Q & A. Time: 7pm-9pm (UK time).” - Thanks to Neill Walker. Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality and Peace, Scottish Charity, SC038996. for sharing this.

📌 “Edinburgh Short Film Festival is participating in the Shortcutz Amsterdam International Audience Award programme, a global vote for the best Dutch short film. Vote on the best Dutch short films 2025, alongside 20 international film festivals! Filmhouse Saturday January 17th 8:30pm Age: 18+” - Thanks to the festival for sharing this.

📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.

👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:

1. 🏗️ That giant crane in Leith. [1,110 clicks]
2. ❄️  Wave pool at Lost Shore surf resort froze over. [1,050 clicks]
3. 🌊 'Mystery over mass stranding of thousands of starfish. [700 clicks]
4. 🍽️ Ex-Palmerston chef's new menu at Nobles by Bellfield in Leith.
5. 🐾 Kitten found on Edinburgh-bound train.

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⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 811.
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