The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Monday 30 March 2026

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. It’s 7am. Remember, the clocks went forward yesterday by one hour to mark the start of British Summer Time. The weather remains spring-like. Here’s Monday's Edinburgh Minute.

🌦️ This week’s weather: Starting off with some sunshine this morning but a chance of rain is forecast for most days this week. Temperatures: a possible high 14C on Tuesday and a low of 2C on Thursday. - Get the full Met Office forecast here.

🇵🇸 The University of Edinburgh has threatened legal action if students occupying two campus buildings as part of a pro-Palestine protest movement do not leave. - Jamie Calder, The Edinburgh Tab.

🎓 Some University of Edinburgh staff are due to begin five days of strike action this morning over compulsory redundancy fears. Sophia Woodman, the UCU Edinburgh branch president, said: "Members are clear that management haven't engaged in meaningful consultation and we've no choice but to come back out on strike." Principal Peter Mathieson responded: "While we respect the right to protest, we will do everything we can to protect our students and staff from any disruption." - The union published its plans for this week here, including plans for a joint rally with Herriot-Watt union members on Wednesday at Bristo Square.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Thousands of people marched down the Royal Mile and up Calton Hill for the Believe in Scotland rally on Saturday, with actor Brian Cox among the speakers. - Lucy Jackson, The National + Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter.

🚦 More than 200 people have signed a petition calling for a new safe pedestrian route in Portobello between Treverlen Park and Figgate Park, including a zebra crossing on Hamilton Drive. - Councillors will consider the petition at Thursday's transport meeting.

• Also at Thursday's council transport meeting:
  • The number of people using Edinburgh Trams was 12.5 million last year, up by 3.3% from 2024. - The full report begins on page 158/274 in this weighty PDF. There's also a summary by Local Democracy Reporter Joseph Sullivan in the Evening News, Edinburgh Live, The Edinburgh Reporter and Midlothian View.
  • New pay-and-display bays for buses could be introduced on King’s Stables Road and Regent Road. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, in Midlothian View.
  • Thursday also 'looks to be like a key day for the future of the Greenbank to Meadows quiet route', according to the edi.bike weekly newsletter (which has a full preview of the meeting here).

🍽️ After seven years in business, Holy Corner restaurant Chez Roger is closing on 11 April. - The owners posted this 'au revoir' message on Instagram.

🏆 Dean Banks, owner of Dulse restaurant on Constitution Street, was named Chef of the Year at the Scottish Excellence Awards. - Rose Moncur, The Herald.

🦅 A photo of a kestrel in Saughton Park, photographed by Jack Murray, was among the most popular posts of the weekend on the local Reddit page.

🏡 A house in Morningside's Clinton Road with 12 bedrooms and four bathrooms, is for sale for £2.9m. - STV News.

💚 The McEwan Hall will host an event celebrating the life and legacy of animal advocate Jane Goodall on 15 April. Hosted by writer and broadcaster Robin Ince, the panel includes Dr Anthony Collins, who worked alongside Goodall for 55 years. - Tickets via Edinburgh Science.

• ⮑ The event is previewed by Nan Spowart in The National.

Celebrating Jane Goodall: A Life of Impact - Edinburgh Science

Celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE – Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace – whose groundbreaking research and community-led conservation work transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and the natural world.

Edinburgh Science

📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

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🏛️ Argyle House meets the criteria of special architectural or historic interest for listing. - 'However, in line with Historic Environment Scotland policy, they are not proceeding with listing while there are development proposals. Should the proposals not progress, or a Building Preservation Notice is served by the Council, they would be able to consider listing.' - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.

🏥 University of Edinburgh Medical School Community Grants - 'The Edinburgh Medical School are encouraging grant applications for up to £5,000 for projects that address health & wellbeing. Organisations must be based in Edinburgh/Fife/Lothians/the Borders, 1 grant per project.' - More details here, shared by Marianne Chiu-Lezeau, University of Edinburgh.

Community Grants: How to apply | Edinburgh Local | Edinburgh Local

Our Community Grant Scheme is now open for applications and will close on Sunday the 26th of April.

Edinburgh Local

👥 Co-Working Event with SWURF 31st March at Yotel
Tomorrow, Tue 31 March - 'Say goodbye to crowded coffee shops and the endless search for a quiet Zoom spot. Download Swurf and join our Co-Work Club @ YOTEL Hotel, Edinburgh. £10 includes coffees and pastries.'
11am to 4pm | YOTEL Edinburgh, EH2 4NA | £10 inc coffee - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.

✨ Elle McNicoll launches dazzling debut adult romance novel!
Tomorrow, Tue 31 March - 'We love that Elle McNicoll writes novels that shine a light on neurodivergent experiences and she'll be back for the Edinburgh launch of Unapologetic Love Story. In conversation with Edinburgh-based author Elliot Fletcher.'
7pm to 8pm | The Portobello Bookshop, EH15 1DA - More details here, shared by The Portobello Bookshop.

Elle McNicoll - Unapologetic Love Story at The Portobello Bookshop

Please come and join us for Elle McNicoll - Unapologetic Love Story on 31st March, at The Portobello Bookshop

Unapologetic Love Story at The Portobello Bookshop

🎨 RISOTOWN [Weekly]
Wed 01 April - 'RISOTOWN: A Place With a Bright Future is a new exhibition celebrating the art of risograph printing. Featuring 16 different illustrators, the show brings together a mix of style, bright colour and joy.'
11am to 5.30pm | Leith Makers, EH6 8NP | FREE - More details here, shared by Cat Gordon, Leith Makers.

🎥 DOCo (the Documentary Community) work in progress feedback session
Wed 01 April - 'Join us in giving feedback to anthropologist Lotte Hoek as she asks how we think and act with moving images in her essay-film based on her research into cinema in Bangladesh. Come help her improve her cut. Non-filmakers very welcome.'
7pm to 9.30pm | The Outhouse, EH1 3LY | FREE - More details here, shared by DOCo.

🧵 6 Week Garment Making Course
Thu 02 April - 'Join us over 6 weeks for our Garment Making Course where you'll gain essential sewing knowledge and practical tips to build your confidence in sewing and using patterns along with how to make a garment from scratch. Abbeymount Studios, EH7.'
6.30pm to 9pm | Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios, EH7 5AN | £175 - More details here, shared by Jen Byrne.

📻️ Radiophrenia Presents: Lost in Transmission #4 + Shona Macnaughton (Live)
Sat 04 April - 'Join radio art festival Radiophrenia to experience subtitled radio works, art and plays from around the world, in the comfy, immersive setting of the cinema. The programme will be followed by a live performance by artist Shona Macnaughton.'
2pm to 4pm | Filmhouse, EH3 9BZ | £0/£5/£10 PWYC - More details here, shared by Timothea, Radiophrenia.

Radiophrenia Presents: Lost in Transmission #4 + Shona Macnaughton (Live)

This event will include a live performance of a version of Look! She has her eyes wide open by Shona Macnaughton. Lost in Transmission is a series of events presenting non-English language radio works with subtitled translations in cinema spaces around Scotland. Here, subtitles allow audiences to experience the wealth of radio art available from all over the globe in its original language in the comfortable space of a cinema – in much the same way as you might go to see a foreign language film – only here there are no pictures, just soundscapes, storytelling and your imagination. Each event in the series is accompanied by a live performance from an artist whose work is speech or language-based. For this edition, Radiophrenia are excited to bring to Filmhouse a performance by Shona Macnaughton. Shona Macnaughton is a performance artist, she makes live events based on artefacts from alternative political life from the past, as a monstered version of her artist self. On this occasion, she will be performing a version of Look! She has her eyes wide open – based on a documentary film about a French feminist organisation and their efforts to collectivise both birth and abortion, titled after a rough translation of the French Regarde, elle a les yeux grand ouverts (1980) Shona has performed and exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries, museums, theatres, gig venues, clubs, dives, virtually and on the street. Recent projects include The Participatory Clinic (2025, Glasgow Women’s Library), Creative Discharge (2024, AVU Festival, Prague) and Here To Deliver (2020, performed internationally over the phone, commissioned by Edinburgh University’s Contemporary Art Collection). Radiophrenia is a radio art collective, festival and art radio station broadcasting intermittently across Glasgow on 87.9FM and online. The station aims to promote radio as an art form, encouraging challenging and radical new approaches to the medium. For this series of events, Radiophrenia has partnered with Radio Atlas (London, UK) and the Lucia Festival (Florence, Italy) – two organisations who specialise in translating and captioning radio in different languages – to curate programmes selected from their archives. Radiophrenia is supported by Creative Scotland. Photo credit: Katherine Cox Starring Shona Macnaughton

Filmhouse Edinburgh

🌀 Lava Souls: A Creative Circle and Healing performance
Sun 05 April - 'A Creative Circle and Healing performance to explore together, experiment and question, the inner and outer creative blocks stemming from polarity, to understand where the creative process is blocked, where we constantly loop and hit a wall.'
3pm to 5pm | The Salisbury Centre, EH16 5AB | Donations - More details here, shared by Lucie Aidart.

🏋️‍♂️ ESC Base Camp Easter Workshops 9th & 16th April- Introduction to Strength Training for 12-16 Yr Olds [Weekly]
Thu 09 April - 'The course will be run by qualified children's coach Craig Lewis, multiple time world champion and Scotland's strongest man (Under 90kg) assisted by experienced strength coaches. To note interest and register please click on the link below.'
10am to 12.30pm | Edinburgh Strength Collective, EH7 6AE | FREE - More details here, shared by David Cole, Edinburgh Strength Collective.

🎨 Studio Lilow Print Workshops [Daily]
Thu 09 April - 'In this relaxed 2 hour session, we will cover the basics of lino printing and explore the techniques and tools available. You will leave with a print of your own making and the skills to explore the craft further on your own.'
6.30pm to 8.30pm | Tribe Porty, EH15 2AJ | 38 - More details here, shared by Lily Lowther, Studio Lilow.

🪑 Upholstery Workshop - Make Your Own Footstool
Sat 18 April - 'If you're keen to try upholstery, this relaxed one-day workshop is a great place to start. Make your own footstool to take home while learning modern upholstery techniques in a small, friendly group.'
9.30am to 5pm | Edinburgh Open Workshop, EH6 7BQ | £250 - More details here, shared by Rebecca, Selvedge Edge Upholstery (on Instagram here).

🎨 Art, Breathwork and Journaling Workshop
Sat 18 April - 'A full-day art, breathwork & journaling workshop to reflect, release and reconnect. Explore creativity, calm your mind and unlock emotional freedom with guided practices and a session with breathwork practitioner Kirsty Nugent. No experience needed.'
10am to 4pm | Cockburn Collective, EH6 7AD | £75 - More details here, shared by Vicky Paul.

🌍 Introduction to Citizens' Assemblies for 18-35 year olds
Sat 18 April - 'Join us for a screening and discussion of The People vs Climate Change, a film of the UK's first Climate Assembly, and meet other young people to discuss how citizens' assemblies could help Scotland make better decisions for people and the planet.'
3pm to 4.30pm | McDonald Road Library, EH7 4LU | FREE - More details here, shared by 2050 Climate Group.

🌱 The Resilient Changemaker: playing with impact
Wed 22 April - 'Working for social and environmental change? Don't let the weight of the world drag you down and hold you back. Tap into your purpose, drive and creativity using the joy and playfulness of improv! Good, useful, fun in dark times.'
9.30am to 12pm | Summerhall, EH9 1PL | £20 - More details here, shared by Osbert Lancaster, Thrivable Scotland.

The Resilient Changemaker: playing with impact

Stop carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Make more progress by tapping into your purpose, drive and creativity with joyful improv.

Humanitix logo

💍 Silver stacking ring workshop
Sat 02 May - 'Join Silverbean Jewellery for a silver Stacking Ring Making workshop at Portobello Town Hall. You'll learn traditional jewellery-making techniques in a friendly, hands-on session where you'll leave with 2 beautiful rings.'
1.15pm to 3.15pm | Portobello Town Hall, EH15 1AF | £75 - More details here, shared by Clare Steen, Silverbean Jewellery.

🎨 Making the invisible visible - art for Type 1 Diabetes with Inna Lipovets
Tue 12 May - 'Do you live with type 1 diabetes? Then this is for you - make art about your experience of living with type 1, from sketches to poetry to movement, you'll be able to explore and express your daily ups and downs! Funded through the T1D Grand Challenge.'
6pm to 8pm | The University of Edinburgh, EH8 8FF | FREE - More details here, shared by Mirjam Eiswirth, University of Edinburgh.

📚 Bookshop and Venue Programme Manager Vacancy - 'The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (The RIAS) is looking for a Book Shop and Venue Programme Manager' - More details here, shared by Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

📮 What's missing from the Minute? Got an event to share? Nothing's too local! Please share your local news and events here.

👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:

1. 🎬 More images from Buccaneers film shoot in the New Town. [1,400+ clicks]
2. 🛠️ Local small business 'Our Honest DIY' goes viral with 40M views of Secret Storage Shelf. [1,300+ clicks]
3. 🏫 Police investigating parents 'disturbance' at Oxgangs Primary School. [1,000+ clicks]
4. 🚦 Waiting times reduced at hundreds of crossings. [600+ clicks]
5. 🎪 Maribou State & Rudimental among new acts added to Fringe By The Sea. [600+ clicks]

⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 876.
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📲 Visits generated for local news sources: 2,500,000+.

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