The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 11 December 2025

Rockstar sackings heard at Westminster, Porty & Joppa residents prepare to fight parking charges, Leith decorations appeal + bid to bring back Tollcross clock

Michael MacLeod

11 Dec 2025 — 9 min read

The tail end of Storm Bram leaving Edinburgh. Photo by Tom Duffin.

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. What a photo that is from Tom Duffin, eh? Dramatic scenes above Bruntsfield Links. Tom kindly shares his photos with the Minute (mine are terrible, I'm sure you can tell the difference) in return for a link to his site, so do check out his work. Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.

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📌 "Are any local choirs with a sense of humour up for filming themselves singing some verses of a fun carol I've written for The Edinburgh Minute titled '12 Days of Clickbait'? If so, please get in touch with your details via the form and I'll be in touch. The more the merrier. Thanks!" - Michael, The Edinburgh Minute.

🕹️ The dismissal of 31 Edinburgh-based workers at computer game developer Rockstar has been described by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as 'a deeply concerning case', adding that 'ministers will look into [it]'. Starmer was responding to a question from local MP Chris Murray, who said: "Having met Rockstar they failed to reassure me they are following employment law and I share concerns about union busting." Rockstar denies this. - Tom Phillips, IGN.

Today at PMQs I raised the case of @RockstarGames in Edinburgh sacking workers.

I am concerned this is union-busting. Everyone has the right to join a trade union. And all companies must follow employment law. pic.twitter.com/5D02ALyKFY
— Chris Murray MP (@ChrisMurrayMP) December 10, 2025

🅿️ A group of Portobello residents and businesses owners say they could take legal action if councillors vote for new parking charges in the town next week. - Dave Pickering, North Edinburgh News.
⮑ A council report for elected members recommends approval of the scheme. The report says: "The results of the recent monitoring surveys confirm that Portobello remains subject to high parking pressures in many streets throughout the week with high visitor numbers, reflecting Portobello’s popularity as a shopping and recreational destination." - Ian Swanson looks at the detail in the Evening News.
⮑ Councillors will discuss the plan at the City Chambers from 10am next Tuesday. - The meeting agenda, webcast link and reports are here.
⮑ Opponents to the plan set up this website.

🏢 Part of George Square was taped off by police yesterday after debris fell from a building during Storm Bram. - Rhoda Morrison, Evening News.

🎄 Leith councillor Katrina Faccenda is asking the council to put up a Christmas tree outside Newkirkgate shopping centre, saying: "the lack of Christmas decorations leaves locals feeling excluded". - Joseph Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, Edinburgh Live.

🕖 Tollcross councillor Finlay McFarlane is calling for the crossroads clock to be returned, after it was removed in March 2022 for refurbishment. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, in Midlothian View.

🍽️ There have been a lot of new restaurant and cafe openings this year. - Suzy Pope & Ailsa Sheldon pick their five favourites in The List.

⮑ For an up-to-date look at the city's hospitality and lifestyle news, here's the latest Edinburgh Edit newsletter from Chloe Archibald-Ansari.

⚽️ Looking to leave their financial troubles behind, Edinburgh City FC have created a new commercial director role, hiring local restaurateur Stefano Pieraccini behind The Rocca Group, which owns The Broughton and Cafe Calton. - Scottish Licensed Trade News.

🪩 In this week’s Edinburgh Culture Minute newsletter:

🖼️ New City Art Centre shows revealed
💰 £80m funding boost for local creatives
🎨 Hidden Door visual arts open call
📚 Locals' books of the year
🎭 Plenty of pantos reviewed
🍿 Pyjama party at the Filmhouse & more...

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📌 “Today from 2.30pm - Tea Ceilidh. EVERY THURSDAY Scottish and other dances with a great live band! £6 pay at the door Marchmont St. Giles Church, Kilgraston Road, EH9 2DW.” - Thanks, as always, to Stan Reeves for sharing this.

📌 “11 Dec - Last day of Spyglass Books pop-up selling children's and illustrated books as well as delightful stationery at Curioso, 27 Albert Pl, EH7 5HN. Spyglass Books will open at a permanent location on Leith Walk in 2026. Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky for updates.” - Thanks to Anna of Spyglass Books for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday, 11 Dec: Tonight! Come playtest brand-new board and card games from local creators, ways free to attend, with a £7 designer fee for those bringing a game (free for ARW members).” - Thanks to Ancient Robot Workshop for sharing this.

📌 “Tonight at Dovecot Studios from 7pm: Broadway and West End stars Ramin Karimloo and Hadley Fraser bring their concert "From the Rehearsal Room" to Edinburgh for one night only. Use code EDINBURGH for 25% off.” - Thanks to TodayTix for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 11th, Saturday 13th and Tuesday 16th December - Heart of Newhaven are delighted to be an official livestream venue for the RI’s CHRISTMAS LECTURES®. Watch the lectures come to life in real time and be the first to discover mysteries of the Universe with Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock!” - Thanks to Abi Ashton from Royal Observatory Edinburgh for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 12 December – A Scottish–Ukrainian Christmas charity evening, Written in Light, will take place at Greyfriars, with caroling, a play, traditional music, and homemade Ukrainian food. It’s a community-run event supporting humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Everyone’s welcome to join.” - Thanks to a volunteer at Spiders for Ukraine for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 12 December at 6 pm - "Taking Action", a documentative photography exhibition by Fraser Flynn, of Palestinian protests around Scotland. Gallery 2, 3rd floor, St Margarret's House, 151 London Road, EH7 6AE - House of Zeus Production.” - Thanks to Mr Zeus, Founder of House of Zeus, for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 12th - Sunday 14th Dec - TORYGLEN is a multimedia exhibition at Whitespace. Toryglen Realtors were a radical group in 20th Century Edinburgh who pioneered a form of property development which promoted social change. This exhibition showcases their ventures into punk, dating & retail.” - Thanks to Tess Glen - Artist & Rory Allison - Writer for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 12 December - Ben Shanks Presents: A Stockbridge Cohort Christmas: Ben Shanks is bringing together a talented cohort to celebrate the holiday season with music, laughter, and good cheer. Expect some Liszt, some Joplin amongst other classical Christmas numbers (not to mention a little blues!)” - Thanks to Ben Shanks, Organist Stockbridge Parish Church, for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 13 December, 2pm - Community Cinema screening of The Holdovers at Duncan Place Community Hub in Leith (festive snacks included!) - Pre-booked tix only (£4+bf) via link.” - Thanks to Drew from Duncan Place Community Hub in Leith for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 14th Dec, 10.30am & 7pm, Carols at King's Church. Join in with carols, listen to the original accounts of the Christmas story, and enjoy plenty of festive refreshments! At the 10.30am service there will be also be kids’ work for children aged 1 to school year P2. 104 Gilmore Place, EH3 9PL.” - Thanks to Luke Davydaitis (Edinburgh Minute subscriber) for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 14 December: It’s looking festive at Mansfield Traquair Centre and we’re open from 1pm until 4pm close. Take a tour of Phoebe Anna Traquair’s breathtaking murals with our friendly guides; free entry, donations welcome. Christmas cards available from our small shop.” - Thanks to a Friend of Mansfield Traquair Centre for sharing this.

📌 “SUN 14 Dec - Film fans, physical media fans, generally cool people! Get yourselves down to Leith Kino on Sunday for a celebration of all things cult cinema with KIM'S VIDEO. Join the Kino team (it's also kinda our Xmas party) & the lovely folx from Cinetopia in this transatlantic ode to cinema, £5!” - Thanks to Leith Kino team member Morvern for sharing this.

📌 “Join ESHC and Pied Piper Ceilidh Band for a FREE community meal + ceilidh to cap off the year! Date: Monday December 15. Time: Dinner from 7pm, Ceilidh from 8pm. Location: ESHC basement, 34 Wright’s Houses.” - Thanks to ESHC for sharing this.

📌 “Tuesday 16 December - With the end of Windows 10 support, many will be forced to buy a new computer. Edinburgh Linux Cafe can help by showing you Linux Mint, a free and easy alternative that can add years to the life of your machine. Drop in at the Edinburgh Tool Library (32 Tennant Street).” - Thanks to Edinburgh Linux Cafe for sharing this.

📌 “Wednesday, 17th December 6-7pm. Palestine Museum Scotland, 13a Dundas Street is hosting a talk featuring a display of Palestinian national dresses. Rayya Ghul, a local retired academic, has a collection of dresses from her Palestinian family and will tell her family story through each dress. Free.” - Thanks to Rayya Ghul, Palestine Museum Scotland volunteer, for sharing this.

**@palestinemuseumscotland on Instagram**.

📌 “Wed 17 Dec. The Esk Valley’s natural history will be examined at the Musselburgh Conservation Society’s next talk, at 7:30pm at St Peter’s Church Hall. Roger Crofts will explore the growth of the valley and discuss the challenges of climate change.” - Thanks to Musselburgh Conservation Society for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 18 December from 6pm at Institut français d'Écosse W Parliament Sq: Discover The Editorial Office, an award-winning Ukrainian satire set in the south of Ukraine. A young researcher uncovers corruption, fake news and absurd reality while trying to expose a crime. Join us and support modern Ukrainian cinema and its creators.” - Thanks to Zhenya Dove, MUCCS, for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 19th December - Cosy Christmas themed Sip and Sing at the Craws Nest Collective in Currie. Join Louise Day, voice coach for an inclusive singing event and get into the Christmas spirit. This is an alcohol free event with light refreshments provided.” - Thanks to Louise for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 21st December - Introduction to Machine Knitting - Learn to make a pair of wool socks at Paradigm Shift Open Studio. In this day session you can learn the basics of machine knitting as well as making an item to take away. Perfect for the colder months.” - Thanks to Paradigm Shift Open Studio for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 21st December - 6:30pm - Candlelight Pilates & Festive Fizz! Glow, stretch, and unwind in our cosy candlelit Pilates class. 🕯️✨ Sip fizz & celebrate the season with a +1. 🥂 Limited spots—grab your ticket for a magical evening!” - Thanks to Lisa Ogilvie owner of Pilates Project for sharing this.

📌 “Edinburgh-based neuroinclusion consultancy, Welcome Brain, are running a research project to make networking more inclusive and we want to hear from you! If you ever attend networking events, please take 5 minutes to complete our survey and help make networking more inclusive for everyone!” - Thanks to Andy Williamson, Founder of Welcome Brain Consulting, for sharing this.

📌 “Help Edinburgh's Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust (FCCT) set sail towards a cleaner, greener future! The FCCT has launched a £20,000 Crowdfunder to modernise its community fleet by going fully electric. Closes on 11 December.” - Thanks to Rachel Sedman, Development Manager, FCCT, for sharing this.

📌 “Looking for something fun for your kids over their Christmas break? Edinburgh New Town Cookery School has lots of children's classes where your wee one can learn new skills, make friends and come home with tasty seasonal goodies. Treat them and give yourself some extra time to sort out presents!” - Thanks to Shauna Snadden, Edinburgh New Town Cookery School, for sharing this.

📌 “Now running until Friday 2 January 2026 at Royal Highland Centre. Step into a world of light, colour, and imagination with Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience. Using cutting-edge technology, over 700 masterpieces by two of history’s greatest artists come alive around you.” - Thanks to Bill Elms for sharing this.

📌 “Win an unforgettable meerkat experience at Edinburgh Zoo and support Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home at the same time. Entries close on 15 December, so don't miss your chance! Full entry details here.” - Thanks to Beth, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, for sharing this.

📌 “Blackhall St Columba’s Church Nativity Trail - A Christmas Celebration - Thursday 18th Dec 5-7pm & Friday 19th Dec 4-7pm. Experience the Nativity story played out in real life throughout the three halls and church with crafts, refreshments and escape room. All welcome and admission free.” - Thanks to Blackhall St Columba's for sharing this.

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