The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Monday 26 January 2026

Kids' charity hit by fire, roads 'too congested' as bus delays rise, bid to save Argyle House from demolition + Pedal on Parliament returns

Michael MacLeod

26 Jan 2026 — 8 min read

Photo by Tom Duffin.

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. There are now 28,000 of you on this mailing list. Thank you for being here. There's not a huge amount of news so far this morning. More than half of what I wade through each morning is clickbait, advertising disguised as news and completely irrelevant rubbish that shouldn't be on 'local' news websites. But as always the readers of this newsletter have delivered - it's a jam-packed community noticeboard. People-powered news! Here’s today's Edinburgh Minute.

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🌤️ This week’s weather: Staying cloudy today then wet for most of tomorrow. Some sunshine on Wednesday, then cloudy with showers until the weekend. - See the full Met Office forecast for Edinburgh here.

🇺🇸 A protest against 'ICE murders' is planned outside the US consulate on Regent Terrace tonight from 6.30pm. - More details via Stand Up to Racism Scotland.

🚨 A building owned by Threipmuir-based charity Youth Vision was set on fire overnight between Saturday an Sunday. The Pentlands organisation said the building was 'severely damaged' by vandals, and launched a fundraiser, which you can find here. The charity posted photos on Facebook.

💰 A £60m council housing underspend during the housing 'emergency' is described as ‘scandalous’. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News.

🚎 City transport leader Stephen Jenkinson admits the city is ‘too congested’ after it was revealed journey times on the 38 bus route have increased from 53 minutes to 72. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, Midlothian View.

There's a miserable round-up of the city's upcoming roadworks in the Evening News.

🚗 Police are investigating a series of deliberate scratches on cars in Portobello. - Nicholas Malizia, Edinburgh Live.

💉 Reporters from Edinburgh Live believe they have illegally bought heroin 'likely cut with nitazenes'. - Nicholas Malizia & Jacob Farr, Edinburgh Live.

🏢 Three heritage groups are bidding for Argyle House to be listed to protect it from a proposed demolition. - Brian Donnelly, The Herald.

⮑ Details of the application for listing to Historic Environment Scotland were shared by the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, The Twentieth Century Society and The Cockburn Association, who wrote: "HES will now carry out a detailed assessment of the building and is treating the case as a priority for review, as Argyle House is currently the subject of pre-application discussions involving potential demolition."

🚴‍♀️ The Pedal on Parliament ride will return this year on 30 May. - More details in this week's edi.bike newsletter. The newsletter also has a preview of Thursday's upcoming council Transport & Environment Committee meeting.

🪏 A patch of land at Niddrie Mill Grove could be turned into an enclosed community garden for local residents, if plans by the Community Alliance Trust are approved. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News.

🇺🇦 On Thursday St Mary's Cathedral will host 'Daughters of Donbas' a political music group created by a Ukrainian Amnesty International Award winner and Grammy nominated producer. The show will feature a young musician that escaped from Russian captivity. - Rose Moncur, The Herald.

📘 Local historian and tour guide Kate Stephenson has published 'The Book Lover’s Guide to Edinburgh'. - Stephenson is interviewed by Gaby Soutar in The Scotsman.

🍺 Cheers to local history fans, who will enjoy local historian Andy Arthur's latest piece on Threadinburgh: The Great Edinburgh Beer Duty Fraud.

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📌 “Mega Epic THANK YOU to everyone who came to our Sale of Stuff at Whitespace earlier this week. Thanks to your collective generosity, we were able to donate £600 to the charity Phone Credit for Refugees (and rehome lots of items into the bargain)! See you at our next sale from March 16th - 19th!” - Thanks to Kat for sharing this.

📌 “Tonight from 6pm: Talonmore Drinks is having a talk and small tasting in Victoria bar. Free event for everyone that are interested in trying a non alcoholic spirit, that’s perfect for cocktails.” - Thanks to the Victoria bar on Leith Walk for sharing this.

📌 “🎶 If you live in or around Leith and love singing, we've a few spaces in our community choir. We've got a £5 trial session this Tuesday 27th January, 7pm-8:45pm before the next 8-week block (£40) starts the following week. Spaces limited - email events@duncanplace.org for more info/to book a spot.” - Thanks to Drew from Duncan Place Community Hub for sharing this.

📌 “Tuesday, 5pm: Edinburgh Film Seminar: India on Film, 1899-1947 - Sheelalipi Sahana will examine some of the earliest film footage of India. These films serve various propagandist aims, such as imperialism, evangelisation, missionary work, tourism and travel.” - Thanks to David Sorfa, Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, for sharing this.

📌 “Davidson Massage offering 25% off any of their services for new clients. Massage therapist located in Bruntsfield. Website is Davidsonmassage.co.uk” - Thanks to Kim Davidson, owner of Davidson Massage, certified Massage Therapist, specializing in relaxation and therapeutic massage, for sharing this.

📌 “A bold, romantic, queer story, Chosen Family is the brilliant new novel from the bestselling author of Green Dot! We could not be more excited to have partnered with Wuthering Dykes Book Club to welcome Madeleine Gray to Edinburgh for an evening of bookish queer chats with chair Anahit Behrooz.” - Thanks to Lighthouse Bookshop for sharing this.

📌 “Wed 28th Jan, 7-9pm, South Leith Parish Church: Leith Academy students compete with music & poetry in a 'Queen's Wake'. A cash prize, donated by local business, supported by pro fiddler and singer. Celebrate Burns and Leith history (£4 ticket) - monies to local projects.” - Thanks to Matthew Wilson, English Teacher, Leith Academy, for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 29 January - Join curator Lauren Porter for a closer look at some of the works in our current exhibition, Drawing the Italian Renaissance. Over the course of this lecture, Lauren will explore some of the themes that link the drawings and how they came to be a part of the Royal Collection.” - Thanks to Helen at the Royal Collection Trust for sharing this.

📌 “BYOBook Silent Reading Bookclub at The Tailor's, Thursday 29th January, 6-8PM. Bring your book, whatever you are reading read it with us! Make new friends, get new reading ideas, enjoy a coffee or a glass wine. IG sarettaandbooks or oioitailor” - Thanks to Lorenzo, The Tailor, for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 29 January - ROOKIE SKATE! Skateboard lessons for adults & kids, at the Paper Factory, 1 Turnhouse Road. Lessons are suitable for beginners & improvers, standard donation is £7, but if you or your child would benefit from a free place, please get in contact with us at Cat's Skate Club!” - Thanks to Cat's Skate Club for sharing this.

📌 “From the 26th-30th of Jan it is Family Mediation week. At Family Journeys we lead our mediation service with a child focused approach. Mediation provides an environment where decisions can be made with the wellbeing of children. Please see our website for further information on mediation.” - Thanks to Family Journeys for sharing this.

📌 “Freja Designer Dressmaking having a garage sale in Canonmills with dead stock at much reduced prices, for wool cotton lace fabrics and beads. Thursday the 29th of January 19.00-20.30. Email for entry details: Enquiries@Freja-fashion.co.uk.” - Thanks to Mette Baillie, owner Freja designer dressmaking, for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 30 January - 19:30 - 21:00 - The Big Yin is a 90-minute yoga and meditation class at the Salisbury Centre on the last Friday of the month. Join us for deep stretching and relaxation, and get £3 off with code 'Ediminute'.” - Thanks to Hannah for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 31 January, 10.00 - Look at Calton Hill with a new lens: discover what photogrammetry is, and how it's being used for the first time on the hill, at Calton Hill Conservation Trust's Archaeology Project workshop, held at Headland Archaeology, 13 Jane St, EH6 5HE.” - Thanks to Calton Hill Conservation Trust for sharing this.

📌 “Sat 31st Jan. Shop for bargains this weekend at the Drill Hall in Leith. With over 45 stalls packed with pre-loved clothes, jewellery, games and collectives, there's something for everyone. Free entry, plus food from the Drill Hall Cafe.” - Thanks to Out of the Blue for sharing this.

📌 “The Regenerative Futures Fund team at Foundation Scotland are recruiting a Programme Coordinator. This is a new, Edinburgh-based role and we are looking for someone interested in comms, data, events and convening communities in Edinburgh. Join us!” - Thanks to Leah Black, Co-Head of Regenerative Futures Fund, Foundation Scotland, for sharing this.

📌 “The Open Door’s day services run Monday to Friday, We offer a warm, welcoming space with activities, support and companionship, for older people and those living with health or mobility challenges. If you know someone who may benefit, please contact us. We’re looking for, enthusiastic Trustees with experience in business or marketing to help shape the future of The Open Door. It’s a rewarding chance to share your skills, and make a positive difference in your community. Find out more and apply here.” - Thanks to Simon Warr, Operational Manager at The Open Door in Morningside, for sharing this.

📌 “Resilient Renters - a series of sessions for private sector tenants (now or may be in the future) to empower themselves by learning their rights and responsibilities. Two sessions have been arranged for February in Southside Community Centre. Places are free but ticketed.” - Thanks to Southside Community Centre for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 31 Jan - Our Neighbourhood in 2040. Calling all those with links to South Central Edinburgh! What would you like the area to look like by 2040? Fill out our short survey or come along and join us on 31st Jan for free lunch, music and discussion.” - Thanks to Natalie Arnold from BANZAI for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 1 February - Join us for an evening of art, heritage, and hope—featuring a live panel of UK-based Palestinian artists, followed by food and drink. All ticket proceeds and donations will be donated equally to the Palestine Museum in Edinburgh, and Amnesty International.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

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

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