The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Monday 17 November 2025
Final day to have your say on trams, 7,000 consultation responses so far, quad bike hit-and-run, three days of uni strikes begin + Creative Edinburgh Award winners
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. One local title published 12 stories about the 'I'm a Celebrity' TV show yesterday. None of them are featured here, don't worry. I wade through all that stuff to help you find the local news more easily. Here’s Monday's Edinburgh Minute.
🥶 This week's weather: Sunny today, but it's due to get even colder throughout the week. High: 6C on Tuesday. Low: -3C on Thursday. Some rain on Tuesday but otherwise dry. Last week's Edinburgh Live report of snow forecast on Wednesday looks unlikely according to the more reliable Met Office forecast.
🚊 More than 7,000 people have responded to the council's consultation on two options for a new tramline from Granton to the Royal Infirmary. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
🪧 Some staff at the University of Edinburgh are due to go on strike today, tomorrow and Wednesday. - Here's an update from Nancy Britten, Lucy Frewin, and Maryse Bots in the Edinburgh Dot.
EdinburghDot
⮑ There will be 12 picket lines across the uni's campuses, reports Jamie Calder in The Edinburgh Tab.
🌊 Scottish Water is planning a £3.2million project to prevent wet wipes and other sewer related debris entering the Water of Leith. - Craig Williams, The Herald.
🚨 Police are hunting a quad bike driver after a hit-and-run in Niddrie left two males in hospital with serious injuries on Saturday. - Police published this appeal for help.
⮑ Anti-social usage of electric motorbikes was discussed at a public meeting last week. - Kevin Quinn reports in the Evening News.
👮♀️ Police say they're stepping up city centre patrols with an 'enhanced presence' until 4 January. - Liv Thomson, Forth 1 News.
🚔 Council staff reported facing violence 4,981 times last year, according to Unison. - Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan, in Midlothian View.
🦴 Specialists are examining a pile of bones found by Holyrood Park rangers in the aftermath of August's Arthur's Seat fire. - BBC Scotland has more details via Historic Environment Scotland.
🎞️ The campaign to save Portobello's George Cinema was featured on STV News at the weekend.
☕️ The owner of DelishYoss Coffee Bar on Broughton Road has written to politicians looking for assurance ahead of the closure of St Mark's Path during the Powderhall redevelopment works. - They posted more details here.
🏆 Morvern Cunningham, Take One Action Film Festival and Edinburgh Open Workshop were among the winners at Friday night's Creative Edinburgh Awards ceremony. - The full list of winners is in Kevin Fullerton's report in The List.
🍸 Panda & Sons on Queen Street has been named the most influential bar in the world. - Calum Loudon, STV News.
- ⮑ The bar was reviewed by Sarah Campbell in The Herald.
👚 Organic and recycled fashion brand Lucy & Yak is due to open its first Scottish store on Rose Street on Friday.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard
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📌 "Mon 17 Nov, 7pm at Leith Community Croft. – Meet author and film critic Brian Pendreigh as he shares tales from his career with The Guardian, The Times and The Scotsman. Hear about meeting Johnny Cash and Clint Eastwood, early links to Braveheart, and which famous directors sent him gifts, invites—even photo Christmas cards!" - Thanks to Jaimie MacDonald of Earth in Common, for sharing this.
📌 "Tuesday, 7pm: Mike Lamport of Great British Railways Transition Team's Railway 200 Steering Group on Railway 200 - the programme of events celebrating the past, present and future of rail. Mike is also a member of what is thought to be the longest-serving railway family in Britain." - Thanks to Lawrence Marshall, Chair, Capital Rail Action Group, for sharing this. - Full event details are here.
📌 "Wednesday: Join us for a relaxed Open Coffee Morning this Wednesday 19th November:- the perfect chance to have a chat, grab a free tea or coffee, and discuss all things Edinburgh u3a. No need to book - just drop by the Quaker Meeting House anytime between 10am and 12pm. We look forward to meeting you!" - Thanks to Vikki Kirby, Edinburgh u3a, for sharing this.
📌 "Thursday: Join us for the Christmas Special Ceramic Workshops by Julija at Art & Vintage Cafe. On this chill & cosy evening we will be making ornaments, bells & candle holders. Hot drinks & snacks included. Gift cards available. 20% discount for students/self-employed artists - more info online." - Thanks to Julija Pustovrh, ceramicist @emporiumjulium, for sharing this.
📌 "Thurs. 20 November, 7-10pm: Join us at Edinburgh's newest wine bar, Le Petit Raisin, to celebrate the annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau wines in a night filled with delicious food and lively entertainment! Email hello@lepetitraisin.co.uk to preorder your platter & reserve your table today!" - Thanks to Le Petit Raisin for sharing this.
📌 "Thursday 20 November - Wavetable presents a night of sonic experimentation at Whitespace Gallery, featuring KY-10 (King Creosote collaborator), San Chan (visceral experimental), and Andrew Ostler (saxophone drones)." - Thanks to Wavetable for sharing this.
📌 "Friday 21 November - Greenhouse records bring their hi-fi dance party, Habitat, to Jamaica Yard. Jamaica Yard is an intimate venue in Edinburgh's new town with a unique, cosy feel." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 "Friday 21st November – Sunday 23rd November: SKY Happiness Retreat at the University of Edinburgh. Taught at universities worldwide—including Yale, Harvard and Stanford—this 3-day retreat will focus on powerful wellbeing practices to help staff and students feel more focused and less stressed." - Thanks to SKY Campus Happiness for sharing this.
📌 "Friday 21st November (7pm): Join Aria Alba for a charming evening of works inspired by the British Isles at St Vincent's Chapel in Stockbridge. Our programme includes well loved classics in Italian, German and English in a celebration of the UK's cultural heritage." - Thanks to Aria Alba for sharing this.
📌 "Fizz Feast is an event where hundreds of Champagne and sparkling wine corks will be popping! Join us for sparkling wines and a delightful selection of food from artisan producers. Come and enjoy the festivities—use promotion code FFEDMINUTE#50 for 50% off on November 22 at The Edinburgh Academy." - Thanks to Diana Thompson for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 22 November - Join the Edinburgh Sketcher for an afternoon of drawing at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Take inspiration from our exhibition Drawing the Italian Renaissance to create your own masterpieces. The Edinburgh Sketcher at The King's Gallery, 13:00-16:00, £45." - Thanks to Royal Collection Trust for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 22 November - Adults, teens, tweens and tots are all welcome to join Edinburgh Comhaltas at Leith Depot from 1.30-4.30pm for a family-friendly Irish trad session. The first hour is dedicated to "kids and learners" - a great way to get into session-playing for the first time!" - Thanks to Caoimhe Nic Cearnaigh at Edinburgh Comhaltas for sharing this.
📌 "SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER: Shala Shanti Retreat. Join us for a three hour retreat style yoga practice. Focusing on rest, recovery and calming the mind and body. Expect yoga practices incl postures, mantra, candlelit meditation, pranayama - plus tea and food." - Thanks to The Yoga Shala Edinburgh on Trafalgar Street for sharing this.
📌 "19 November - 11 December: Queer East is a London-based festival showcasing queer cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities. We are bringing a selection of festival highlights to Edinburgh with seven screenings across Cameo and Filmhouse!" - Thanks to Queer East for sharing this.
📌 "19 November from 6pm and 23 November from 9am. Free Taster classes at The WORX, Conference Square. Come and try our fantastic group classes in our new studio using our mix of three Concept2® Ergs (ski, bike, row) and our outdoor Strength Classes using lots of weights and functional equipment." - Thanks to WORX for sharing this.
📌 "Tues 25th Nov (9-4) - Calling all small business owners! If you're in need of a boost, join our free Small Business Bootcamp - a day of hands-on learning, inspiration, and connection with other friendly entrepreneurs. Run by Digital Boost, a free charity-owned business mentoring & support platform." - Thanks to Karen Licurse for sharing this.
📌 "Wednesday 26th November, 6pm - 9pm - Opening night with refreshments for MULCH, an exciting group art show from four talented local artists and makers. New artwork inspired by nature, discusses themes of nourishment, friendship and connection. At Leith Makers, 105 Leith Walk, until Sunday 30th." - Thanks to Sarah Kwan for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 30 November - A new social group focused on Queer, Trans and Intersex People of Colour (QTIPOC) is meeting to create networks in Edinburgh. This meetup aims to gather interest, share ideas and meet others in the city. Come meet with us and help shape what this vision can look like" - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🏆 This year's Forth Awards winners.
- 🅿️ Six new paid parking areas to be introduced next year.
- 🚦 'Half-baked' Princes Street plan shelved.
- 🏥 Unannounced Royal Ed inspection 'raises concerns'.
- 🏠 'No one feels safe': Rough sleepers warn lives at risk.
- 🗣️ Last week's most-commented on piece, with 44 comments so far, was: 'Three reasons not to demolish Edinburgh’s Argyle House - by architect Malcolm Fraser'.
Michael MacLeod
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 771.
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