The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 16 July 2026
Buses could be diverted off George Street for parade, Leith firms want more buses to fill tram gap, Comely Bank Road closure + free adult cycle lessons in Porty
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. It's a busy morning for road closures and diversions. The disruption looks like it could escalate amid this weekend's events in the city centre. Weather-wise, it's another cloudy start but the sun is forecast to break through before midday. Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.
⛔️ Some Princes Street shops remain shut one week on from last week's fire. Investigations into the cause of the blaze are ongoing. - A list of closed shops is in this helpful round-up by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco in The Herald.
Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
🛍️ Some businesses in Leith are calling for more bus services to compensate for the trams no longer running on that side of the city, reports Heather Carrick in the Evening News.
🎺 Organisers of this Sunday's Edinburgh Festival Carnival are planning a 'revised route' for their 1,000-performer parade, due to last week's fire on Princes Street. - More details via the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.
- There's no confirmation of the parade route yet, but the Lothian Buses website appears to show all bus services diverted off George Street during this Sunday's event.
- That was the lead story in this week's Edinburgh Culture Minute. Also in the edition: Ticket discounts for Gilded Balloon's local postcode pals, Stewart Lee and Michael Flatley at the Playhouse, Mardi Gras in the Grassmarket + win a writing residency in Japan - Read it here.
Michael MacLeod
🚧 Comely Bank Road was closed outside the Waitrose supermarket yesterday afternoon. Scottish Water engineers found 'subsidence and open joints in the combined sewer network', said local councillor Max Mitchell.
⮑ The 24 and 29 buses were diverted via Fettes Avenue and Carrington Road in both directions. - Live updates from Lothian Buses here.
🏉 Extra trams will be put on for Saturday's Fiji v Scotland men's rugby game at Murrayfield stadium. - More details via Edinburgh Trams.
🚉 Some trains were delayed or cancelled yesterday morning at Waverley station due to a power outage 'caused by a bird getting caught in the overhead wires', reports Heather Carrick in the Evening News.
💰 The city council has paid nearly £9m on temporary staff and recruitment agencies in the first three months of this year, reports Local Democracy Reporter Joe Sullivan on Edinburgh Live.
🪧 Animal welfare protesters staged a demonstration outside the 'Biodiversity + Business Live' conference on Queen Street yesterday. They are calling for an end to the annual Guga hunt, which sees up to 2,000 young gannets killed, reports Ian Swanson in the Evening News + Tom H. Wilson, Deadline News.
🚔 A new CCTV camera has been put up outside the Merlin pub on Morningside Road in a bid to tackle shoplifting on the road. - Ross Chalmers in The Edinburgh Reporter.
⛳️ The wee golf hut at Bruntsfield Links has been refurbished thanks to a sponsorship from the Dubai-based hotel firm that runs the hotel overlooking the mini course. - Rose Moncur, The Herald.
⚽️ The Oriam Walking Football team celebrated their tenth anniversary by raising money for local charities. - A lovely report in Midlothian View by Liam Eunson.
- Find out more about Oriam Walking Football here.
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👨🍳 Open call for passionate chefs interested in charity cooking opportunity! - 'Are you a passionate cook? Do you have a speciality dish you'd love to share? Get in touch with rosageorgiou@cyrenians.scot to discuss hosting your own Supper Club or Masterclass, with all profits going to the Cyrenians Flavour and Haver Cook School.' - Shared by Rosa, Cyrenians.
🧓 Research opportunity for 60+ year old adults at the University of Edinburgh. - 'UK residents aged 60+ are invited to complete a 25-minute anonymous online survey about childhood experiences, depression, loneliness, and compassion. No personal experience is needed. Contact me with any questions. Thank you!' - More details here, shared by Claudia Rodriguez, University of Edinburgh.
👽 Language study for kids - 'Researchers at University of Edinburgh are looking for children aged 10-12 to come play a short game about aliens and language. Come and help us learn more about how children learn and use new words! (Deadline: 31 Jul)' - More details here, shared by Maisy Hallam, University of Edinburgh.
🚲 Free adult cycle lessons for beginners and improvers [Every Friday]
Tomorrow, Fri 17 July - 'If you've never cycled before, but wish you had - here's your chance. Or learnt as a child, but not feeling too confident on roads - join us! Free lessons, bike & helmet provided from Porty Prom bike library for 1 hour every Friday.'
10am to 11am | Porty Active Travel Hub · Portobello | FREE - More details here, shared by Porty Community Energy.
📚 'Back to the Book' Group [Every Friday]
Tomorrow, Fri 17 July - 'A friendly book group that loves reading... and coffee too! We meet online as well as in person in Leith at least once a month. If you'd love to come but you're not able to afford to buy the books, we may be able to help you!'
2pm to 3pm | Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Dan Taylor, Inspiring Leith.
🎶 Wavetable #53
Tomorrow, Fri 17 July - 'A night of sonic experimentation with JP Waksman (samples, beats, sound design), Bell Lungs (ambient, noise, free improvisation, psychedelia, jazz, post-rock, minimalism and folk), and forloveofambient (cinematic atmosphere, minimalist repetition).'
7.30pm to 10.30pm | Fruitmarket · Old Town | £11.88/£9.18 - More details here, shared by Wavetable.
🧘 Meditations for a Happy Summer Mini Retreat
Sun 19 July - 'A morning meditation retreat to let go of the stress and busyness of daily life. Be guided in meditations in our beautiful meditation hall. Enjoy the cafe and relax in our peace garden. Most of all, find inner peace & wellbeing. Everyone Welcome.'
10.30am to 1.30pm | Kadampa Meditation Centre Edinburgh · Leith | £20 - More details here, shared by Kadampa Meditation Centre.
💆♂️ Massage tasters at the polisbox
Sun 19 July - 'Stiff neck, tight shoulders? Give your muscles a treat with a low cost 15 minute seated, clothed massage with a qualified therapist. Drop in 11-5 or reserve your space by emailing machimassage@hotmail.com'
11am to 5pm | Leith Walk Police Box pop ups · Canonmills & Broughton - More details here, shared by Monty, Leith walk polisbox pop ups.
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🧘♂️ Mindful Peace Walk
Sun 19 July - 'This silent walking meditation is an open event. It will be led by the lay members of the Edinburgh Sangha of the Community of Interbeing, who follow the practice and teachings of Zen Buddhist Master, Thich Nhat Hanh.'
11am to 12pm | The Meadows · Marchmont & Meadows | FREE - More details here, shared by Neill Walker, Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality and Peace.
🌿 Edinburgh Trash Club gets lost around Cromwell Place
Tue 21 July - 'Come join Edinburgh Trash Club for an hour of litter picking - we will likely get lost in the small lanes and concrete jungle, and then we will stagger out of the maze for a drink at the Roseleaf. All kit provided! #whatacoolgang'
7pm to 8pm | Cromwell Place · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Trash Club.
🌳 Art and Nature Walk for Families [Monthly]
Fri 24 July - 'Open air art activity related to local history and learning about nature for families including a short walk. Inside the History Hub if it rains. With trained walk leader/community artist.'
2.30pm to 3.45pm | Madelvic House · Granton & Pilton | £3 for family group - More details here, shared by Tamsin Grainger, Granton Hub.
🧵 Repair What You Wear Workshop at Jock Tamson's Gairden
Sat 25 July - 'Bring your favourite clothes and gardening gear with holes, ripped seams and stains and learn how to mend them with SHRUB Coop Menders/Edinburgh Street Stitchers. Try your hand at patches, embroidery, wool felting etc. Tea, coffee and cakes included.'
10.30am to 12.30pm | Jock Tamson’s Gairden · Holyrood Park | £25 - More details here, shared by Dr Sarah Gledhill.
🎉 WHO MADE THAT? Artisan Market
Sun 26 July - 'A new curated craft & artisan market arrives the weekend before the Fringe. Support locally made art, craft, food and lifestyle goods from local makers, artists and small businesses, celebrating quality handmade work.'
10am to 4pm | Leith Arches · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🧠 Brain-Based Resilience Workshop
Thu 30 July - 'An interactive in-person workshop that will equip you with practical, evidence-based strategies you can use straight away to stay calm, think clearly, and respond effectively in times of challenge. In partnership with Gym On The Square.'
6pm to 7.30pm | Gym on the Square Edinburgh · West End | £15 - More details here, shared by Sophie Archibald.
🎶 PCS fundraiser night for Palestine
Thu 30 July - 'PCS Leith branch union fundraiser for Medical Aid for Palestine, live music, poetry, speakers and a ginormous raffle! With the NADA SHAWA BAND, ELSIE MACDONALD and QUEEN OF HARPS. Full access, 18+, tix in advance or on door.'
7pm to 10pm | Leith Depot · Leith | £8/£6 concessions - More details here, shared by FIONA WATT, PCS.
🐺 Animal Trance
Sat 01 August - 'Dancing experience with animal masks, part ritual, part game. Participants are randomly given a mask and guided to embody one of the 7 Scottish Animals. A set of rules is set to ensure the trance experience, but the dancing is completely freestyle.'
6.30pm to 8pm | LifeCare Edinburgh · Stockbridge | 10 - More details here, shared by Susana Aznar Alvarez, PsycheNautics.
🥃 Free Whisky Tasting
Fri 07 August - 'Join us for a free whisky barrel top tasting session with Glenfiddich. This is an informal drop in session - come any time between 5 & 7 and you'll find the host near the entrance of the venue giving out free samples. Walk-ins welcome.'
5pm to 7pm | Malones Leith · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Steven Watson, Malones Pub Group.
📮 Got an event to share? Please send your local news and events using this link . Nothing's too local. Remember you can always see all 200+ upcoming local events on the TownSpot calendars and maps. Thanks to everyone who shares their things!
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🚦 Reddit discussion about Princes Street closure.
- 🛤️ Powderhall railway line could become council 'active travel project'.
- 🏊♂️ Local swimmer Archie Goodburn grades up for the Games.
- 🎟️ Locals' discount for Assembly festival events.
- 🚨 School staff face 21 incidents per day.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 955.
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