The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 23 July 2026
Plea for extra bus stops and tram substitute express bus, Argyle House plans scaled down, the 'disturbing pattern' behind Holyrood Park fires + Neighbourgood Gardens opens today at Ross Bandstand
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. It's a busy one! Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.
🏢 Developers have reduced the height of a proposed replacement of the Argyle House office block at Castle Terrace, after feedback during public consultations. A full planning application is expected in September. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
Ian Swanson
🚎 If it feels busy in town now, it's about to get even busier when the festivals begin. To help people get around, local transport campaigners and councillors are calling for extra bus stops, additional rush hour services and a tram substitute express bus to be set up, due to the disruption caused by the closure of Princes Street. Bus bosses say they are 'actively exploring options'. - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
⮑ The council says: "We've adjusted traffic signals to help improve the flow of traffic. We're also working very closely with our transport partners to make sure bus routes are running as regularly and efficiently as possible. We've asked bus companies that use the bus station to reroute from George Street to Queen Street to increase capacity for diverted Lothian buses. We’re also exploring the possibility of making additional Voi rental bikes available in/ around Leith to compensate for the loss of trams."
⮑ Regarding the news yesterday about the bus stops being removed from North Bridge when it (hopefully) reopens later this month, a Minute subscriber asked me if there were any equality impact assessments behind the decision. So I've asked the council and will share any response as soon as it comes in. There's a bit of discussion around this on Bluesky if you fancy joining in.
🔥 Heritage group The Cockburn Association says three major fires on Holyrood Park's hills within a year 'is becoming a disturbing pattern'. They wrote:
"Edinburgh declared a climate emergency back in 2019, and fires like this one are a reminder of what that declaration was responding to: drier, hotter summers create the kind of gorse and grassland that catches fire easily, leaving parkland increasingly vulnerable to this kind of damage. What could perhaps be written off as a series of unfortunate one-offs is becoming a disturbing pattern, and one that lines up all too well with what the climate emergency warned us about all those years ago."
🚒 Firefighters had to cross the causeway to Cramond Island to respond to a grass fire yesterday. - Ross Chalmers in The Edinburgh Reporter.
🏠 A group of residents in Gilmerton are being moved out after 'previously unidentified mining feature' was discovered below newly-built homes. - Some really good on-the-ground door-to-door reporting here by Chloe Goodall in Edinburgh Live.
🚲 Voi bikes are 'expected to be extended to more of the city shortly', reports Alastair Dalton in The Scotsman.
🩰 Scottish Ballet has cancelled five of its performances in Edinburgh and wants the council to introduce a tourist tax exemption for Scotland’s national performance companies. Boss Steven Roth said: "The economics of touring to Edinburgh are fast becoming unsustainable", reports Fergus Morgan in The Stage.
⮑ That was the lead story in this week's Edinburgh Culture Minute newsletter. Also in the edition: How to beat festival decision-fatigue, Sauna Theatre revealed, calls for tourist tax exemption + Arab Strap return to the Liquid Room.
Michael MacLeod
🌯 The new Neighbourgood Gardens pop-up music, food & drink venue opens today at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens. It's open daily until 31 August. - Today's line-up is here and includes the Blank Barbershop social run from 7pm.
🚈 ScotRail has announced plans for extra late-night services and additional carriages on key routes in and out of Edinburgh during the festivals. - More details in the press release here.
🏉 Former Edinburgh Rugby player Mark Blair has started a new business, called Effectivenow, to help more young people get into employment. He says: "AI is a fantastic tool, but it isn't taking over the workforce. There will continue to be jobs for young people, but they need the skills and confidence to access them." - Jacob Farr, Edinburgh Live.
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🍜 Asu by Five March launches at Brown’s of Leith in Edinburgh - 'Asu, the latest culinary project from the team behind Glasgow’s much loved Five March, is set to open at Brown’s of Leith on Friday 24th of July, bringing the vibrant flavours of Asia to The Shore in Edinburgh.' - The new addition at Brown's is on Instagram here.
👶 The Breastfeeding Café @ North Edinburgh Arts [Every Thursday]
Today, Thu 23 July - 'Drop in for breastfeeding support and chat with trained peer supporters'
12pm to 1.30pm | North Edinburgh Arts · Muirhouse & Drylaw | FREE - More details here, shared by Pauline Rafferty.
🧘♀️ Progressive Vinyasa - Headstand Masterclass
Tue 28 July - 'Learn to headstand in this fun, all levels, drills based masterclass. We are a community - we chat, we ask questions, we cheer each other on! For those who want a little more from their practice.'
6.30pm to 8.30pm | Custom House Leith · Leith | 25 - More details here, shared by Dee McQueen Yoga.
🎹 Lunchtime Organ Recital by Martyn Strachan
Thu 30 July - 'A lunchtime programme of organ music by Ned Rorem, Paul Creston, Robert Cundick and Theodore Beck played by distinguished Edinburgh organist Martyn Strachan on our grand organ. Free admission. Retiring collection in aid of the Organ Fund.'
1pm to 2pm | Barclay Viewforth Church of Scotland · Bruntsfield | FREE - More details here, shared by Michael Bonaventure, Organist, Barclay Viewforth Church.
🎨 HelloArt Summer Market
Sat 01 August - 'Step into summer with a vibrant celebration of art, food and creativity. Explore unique art stalls, discover handmade treasures, enjoy delicious food, and cool down with something icy and refreshing.'
12pm to 5pm | The Out of the Blue Drill Hall · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust.
🧶 Knitting Machine - Textile Techniques Course [Every Sunday]
Sun 02 August - 'This course is designed to take you through the different textile functions on a knitting machine. You can then use these textile samples to design and make a large project, potentially a vest, but I'm open to other ideas!'
10am to 2pm | Paradigm Shift Open Studio Ltd · Leith | 250 - More details here, shared by Paradigm Shift Open Studio Ltd.
🎭 Quentin Blake's Mrs Armitage on Wheels - Live on Stage
Thu 06 August - 'Quentin Blake's beloved Mrs Armitage races to the Edinburgh Fringe in a joyful new musical full of puppetry, live music, laughter and ingenious inventions. Join Mrs Armitage and her loyal dog Breakspear for a wheely wonderful adventure! Ages 3+.'
11am to 12pm | Assembly Rooms · New Town - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
📚 Edinburgh Korean Literature Book Club
Thu 06 August - 'Have you read The Memory Bookshop by Song Yu-Jeong and fancying discussing it? Join the Edinburgh Korea Literature Book Club 6th August at 6pm. I would love to see you there!!'
6pm to 8pm | Victoria Bar · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Sara.
🍵 Tea Social: A Relaxed Evening of Tea & Conversation in Edinburgh
Thu 06 August - 'Unwind with a relaxed evening of tea and conversation. Discover a selection of loose leaf teas, meet new people and enjoy meaningful connection in a welcoming setting. Come on your own or with friends. No tea expertise needed.'
6.30pm to 8pm | PekoeTea Edinburgh · Leith | £15 inc £5 voucher - More details here, shared by Sandra Benn, Chiya & Chai Tea Tasting Experiences.
🍀 Irish Boozy Brunches [Every Friday]
Fri 07 August - 'Every Friday this August, Malones Leith is running an Irish boozy brunch down on the Shore in Leith that includes 5 drinks, a large brunch dish, and a table that's yours for 2 hours.'
11am to 5pm | Malones Leith · Leith | £35 - More details here, shared by Steven Watson, Malones Pub Group.
🖼️ The Art of Travel Charity Exhibition [Until Mon]
Sat 08 August - 'Join us for The Art of Travel Exhibition 2026! The exhibition showcases a collection of beautiful travel-inspired posters created by our Amici guests during their trips with us. All proceeds will be donated to Maggie's Cancer Charity.'
10am to 3pm | Flavours Holidays · West End | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🏳️🌈 Big Hot Mess at The Pitt: Optimo (Espacio), Marie Davidson, Olof Dreijer (The Knife) and more
Sat 22 August - 'A huge day party for Scotland's longest-running and most beloved queer clubbing institution Hot Mess. Saunas, cocktails, street food and music. DJs Optimo (Espacio), Marie Davidson, Olof Dreijer (The Knife), Hot Mess, Accident Machine (live)'
2pm to 10.30pm | The Pitt · Granton & Pilton | £26 - More details here, shared by Nick, Stewart.
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You can always see all 190+ upcoming local events on TownSpot calendars and maps.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🔥 Photographer Tom Duffin document's Sunday's fire on the Crags.
- ☕️ West End cafe owner arrives at work to find it vandalised with paint.
- 🚔 Police update on death of Vikki Soloman at home in East Craigs.
- 🍻 New list of the city's 100+ child-friendly pubs.
- 🖼️ National Galleries of Scotland staff plan strike during Fringe.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 961.
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