The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 13 November 2025

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. It's a another busy newsletter today. Also there's a Met Office yellow weather warning for heavy rain today. It's forecast to clear up by the weekend. Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.

🚎 A man is in hospital after he was hit by a bus being driven near Haymarket station on Tuesday evening. - BBC Scotland News.

🚨 A woman suspected of a pair of robberies yesterday, one at knifepoint, in the Southside is being hunted by police. - The police appeal is here.

🚉 With no funding in place for its controversial proposed £2.9 billion tramline extension, the council has opened talks with the UK Government's National Wealth Fund, reports Ian Swanson in the Evening News.

🪧 Hundreds of workers at the Leonardo aerospace facility in Crewe Toll are on a two-day strike amid an ongoing pay dispute. - Nick Forbes & Isla Storie, Edinburgh Live.

🏢 It's emerged that bosses at CodeBase had no prior knowledge of yesterday's news about plans for the Argyle House building to be demolished. But they insist the proposal has 'no immediate impact' on its community of 80 companies and 900 workers. CodeBase sent a letter to tenants after yesterday's Minute newsletter shared the news (which was highlighted first on Reddit and Skyscraper City), saying:

"It’s not a secret that redevelopment of Argyle House has been discussed for many years across multiple building owners – there have been rumours about the building’s future for over a decade. We weren’t given prior notice that the PAN (Proposal of Application Notice) was being lodged, so we understand this news may have come as a surprise. Our landlord has confirmed that they still have a lease in place with the owner until 2033. Please rest assured that we’re in active discussions to manage the situation carefully and will keep you informed as things develop."

• A hotel, residential properties, offices and retail spaces would replace the building if a proposal submitted by property firm CBRE is approved.
• A CodeBase spokesperson said: "We have reassured tenants that this is the very start of what is typically a long process, and there is no immediate impact on CodeBase or our community. We remain secure in Argyle House for at least the next year, and we’re continuing to work towards a longer-term commitment that ensures the future of CodeBase Edinburgh, whether that be at Argyle House or elsewhere."
• Who owns Argyle House? The 1960s building's current owner has been PGIM Real Estate (UK) Limited since 2023, while the landlord Telereal Trillium has a lease until 2033. It's understood that CodeBase has another year to go on its lease and has been in negotiations with Telereal Trillium for over a year. But it's currently unclear whether other tenants of the building have the same assurances.
• City Centre councillor Finlay McFarlane said: "Regardless of proposal the real concern is for the myriad of brilliant business start ups in the long term."
• ⮑ 'The Marmite of architecture'. Despised by many, loved by some architecture nerds (hello) and simply a workplace for thousands over decades, the history of Argyle House is captured by historian Andy Arthur in his latest Threadinburgh piece.

🚈 Train services between Edinburgh and Tweedbank were disrupted after a skip lorry struck a bridge at Newcraighall yesterday afternoon. - Rachel Fergusson, The Scotsman.
⮑ A man was charged by police, reports Isla Storie of Edinburgh Live.

🚔 A man was arrested after an incident which saw the Cowgate closed by police yesterday afternoon. - BBC Scotland News.
⮑ Police were initially called to the Cunningham House homeless hostel, reports STV News.

🚅 TransPennine Express will increase its train services between Edinburgh and Newcastle to every two hours starting next month, including a new early-morning commuter service. - Kristy Dawson, Chronicle Live.

💰 People claiming to be millionaires calling for a new wealth tax staged a demonstration in the city centre yesterday. - Steph Brawn, The National. - There's a video of their bus here.

🏄‍♀️ The Lost Shore Surf Resort in Ratho says it has 'generated an £18 million boost to the Scottish economy'. - Liam Eunson, Midlothian View.

✍️ Mysterious markings, apparently in Latin, have appeared on a bridge in Stockbridge. - The Spurtle investigates...

🎵 'Bee Asha tackles gentrification in her latest Leith-focused project' - Kevin Fullerton reports in The List.

🪏 Volunteers laid new turf in front of the National Monument yesterday. The turf was paid for by the Calton Hill Conservation Trust, Collective Gallery and Café Calton. - More details are on the Trust's website.

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📌 “A free exhibition, 'Remembrance and Resilience', shows the stories and fate of British soldiers killed in Kutenholz, Northern Germany, during the Second World War. Open to all on Thursday 13 November until 2.30pm at the Edinburgh Napier University Craiglockhart Campus.” - Thanks to Dawn Smith, Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement (Edinburgh Napier University), for sharing this.

📌 “TONIGHT: Pianodrome host an immersive laser and 360 degree sound installation, complete with live music, for one night only tonight at the newly opened Pianodrome Bruntsfield. This very special show by Bedtime and West fuses sonic inspiration with spectacular laser acrobatics in one epic space.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this. - Tickets are here.

📌 “14 November 2025: Check out this interactive, two-hour, in-person workshop which invites counsellors, psychotherapists, and trainees to explore clinical work with transgender and gender expansive clients. Practitioners of all backgrounds and experiences of gender are warmly welcome.” - Thanks to Workshop Host Han Smith for sharing this.

📌 “Friday, November 14th, Edinburgh Blueballs Annual Launch at The Pitt: An evening of stories, photography & community with a relaxed chat with the men behind the stories.” - Thanks to Jen Mcgregor for sharing this.

📌 “Create your own Christmas Rag Wreath on Saturday 15th! 🎄 Join Una for a fun, relaxed half-day workshop using cottons, lace, ribbons, and more to decorate a 25 cm wreath. Be inspired by famous artists or your imagination. No experience needed and all materials and refreshments will be provided. ✂️✨” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 “Sat 15 Nov 10-4 - Fabulous makers Matt Black jewellery & Zuza Makes are at the Leith walk polisbox. Unique upcycled jewellery & silly, fun bootylicious frogs. What have you been missing all your life?” - Thanks to Monty from the polisbox for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 16th November: Join Leith Kino this Sunday for our very first double bill of new Rocky Horror doc Strange Journey, paired with the film's underseen and unfairly maligned follow up, Shock Treatment. Leith Depot, 7.30pm, £9.” - Thanks to Morvern, Leith Kino member and die-hard Rocky Horror fan, for sharing this. - Tickets are here.

📌 “Wednesday 19 November 7:00-8:30 PM - An open meeting on routes to reparations for slavery. With the input of local experts, and drawing on Quaker practices, we will collectively consider how to address this difficult issue. People of all faiths, and none, are welcome!” - Thanks to Central Edinburgh Quaker Meeting for sharing this.

📌 "Friday 21st November, 7.30pm at Greenbank Parish Church - As part of Prisoners Week Scotland, Bethany Christian Trust presents The Ballad of Jack and Stacey. A powerful tale of prison and addiction. Tickets free through Eventbrite." - Thanks to Rona for sharing this.

📌 “On 27 November still drawing. is running another still life drawing session in Leith. We'll be sketching selected thrifted/antique items, there'll be some non-alc bevs so you can sketch and sip. Last month's early bird sold out so click for Eventbrite or go to @stilldrawing.edi Insta for info. Cozy vibes promised!” - Thanks to Viv Hu, illustrator from still drawing. for sharing this

🪩 In this week's Culture Minute: Stockbridge Creative Colonies open studios weekender, new Grayson Perry in town, Inspace brings Digital Ghosts to life + an album inspired by... this newsletter?!

Edinburgh Culture Minute 🪩 12 - 18 November 2025

Stockbridge Creative Colonies open studios weekender, new Grayson Perry in town, Inspace brings Digital Ghosts to life + an album inspired by... this newsletter?!

The Edinburgh MinuteMichael MacLeod

👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:

1. 🏠 October's top-10 most-viewed local properties.
2. 👍 A list of 18 jobs with Edinburgh-based social enterprises.
3. 🚑 Woman taken to hospital after 'stabbing' near Leith Tesco.
4. 🏢 Plan to demolish Argyle House and replace with hotel.
5. 🚔 CCTV of man linked to sexual assault on train.

⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 769.
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