The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 24 September 2026
New £2.66m arts fund opens for bids, Leith restaurant closing after 17 years, awards for Kebabish & St John’s Curry Club + local professor on the neuroscience of defeating dementia
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. It's a bright start to the day, compared to yesterday. Not even the usually doomy clickbait news sites predicted how heavy yesterday morning's downpours would be. Maybe they're realising people don't trust them. The Met Office got it right though, which is why I only trust it as my main weather forecast source. That and my window. Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.
🌦️ Today's weather forecast: A clear start. Cloud moving in around midday. Top temperature of 17C around 5pm. Rain overnight continuing in to Friday morning. - The full Met Office forecast for Edinburgh is here.
🎞️ Yesterday morning's rain and localised flooding caused some disruption:
- The lift at the Filmhouse cinema on Lothian Road is out of action. The cinema said in an email: "Unfortunately, due to the severe rainstorm this morning (Wednesday 23 September), the lift to Screen 1 is out of order and expected to be so until at least next week." - More accessibility details are here.
- Waitrose on Morningside Road had to close due to flooding. - Chloe Goodall, Edinburgh Live.
- The Balgreen tunnel was among other spots flooded. - Heather Carrick, Evening News.
🔥 There were dramatic scenes in Roseburn yesterday morning when a manhole cover exploded, sending flames up outside the entrance of The Murrayfield Bar. - Rachel Fergusson, Evening News.
💉 There are calls for a new drug-checking facility in Edinburgh to be 'urgently progressed', after new statistics revealed drug deaths in the capital rose by almost 9% last year. - Rachel Fergusson, Evening News.
- "The new figures mean Scotland remains Europe’s “drug deaths capital”, with the worst fatality rate in the continent." - Eve Livingston, The Guardian.
🚔 Police found cannabis plants growing inside a flat on South Clerk Street during a crackdown on organised crime linked to human trafficking. - David Cowan, BBC Scotland News.
- It was 'the biggest and most coordinated human trafficking operation that the force has ever carried out', reports Phyllis Stephen on Deadline News.
David Cowan
🧠 A new mental health hub, The Nook, run by Scottish Action for Mental Health, is due to open Lothian Road next year, replacing Poundland. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News.
🪫 What's happening with the AI data centre plans? - The Herald's Vicky Allan checks in with various plans and campaigns across Scotland, including in Edinburgh.
Vicky Allan
🌊 More 'worrying' news for the local seabird population in the Forth: a drop in puffin numbers on the Isle of May is reported by the Scottish Seabird Centre.
Scottish Seabird Centre
🍽️ Award-winning Leith restaurant Tapa will close on 3 October. Owner Daniel Shearon blamed illness and an 'incredibly challenging' time for business: "I’m heartbroken. Tapa was- in every possible way- my dream, but, we’ve had a cracking run at it and I’m determined that the end shouldn’t be a sad affair, so, if you’re free over the next week or so, I’d love it if you stuck your head in and join me in celebrating the last 17 years. " - More details in this post. The restaurant is now for sale.
- There is a chance that Tapa could continue under new owners. Selling agent Alan Goldie said: "We are delighted to have been instructed to bring yet another well known Restaurant and Bar to the market in Edinburgh and look forward to securing a buyer for the business for Dan and for the continuity of this popular Spanish Tapas business which sits alongside and shares its Award-winning status with some of the best foodie establishments in the Port of Leith."
⛔️ Managers of Asda in Chesser have decided to permanently close the front doors facing New Market Road, due to 'ongoing incidents of anti-social behaviour and an increase in shoplifting activity'. It means the shop can only be accessed from the back entrance at the carpark. - Jack Davies, Evening News.
🔑 Some residents at a block of flats near Ocean Terminal in Leith have spoken out about an 18% increase in their rent. - Tom Wilson writing in The National.
Tom Wilson
💰 All arts organisations in Edinburgh are being encouraged to bid for a share of the council's new £2.66m Innovate Fund. The new grants will come directly from tourist tax income. - Brian Ferguson, The Herald.
- You can find out more and apply here. The deadline is 29 October.
- The council is hosting online information sessions about the fund on Mondays 5 and 19 October. - Full details here.
🍛 Winners at this week's 10th annual Asian Restaurant Awards: Kebabish in Dalry won Asian Restaurant of the Year for Scotland, while St John’s Curry Club in Corstorphine was named 'Takeaway of the Year' for Edinburgh. - Liam Eunson, Midlothian View.
Liam Eunson
🪩 In this week's Culture Minute: Doors Open Day weekender + the Night Market returns to Leith + Elrow Hallucinarium at Ingliston + Sam Campbell at the Playhouse + the local creative industries jobs board.
Michael MacLeod
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💜 Friends complete Roslin man's final fitness challenge in his memory - 'Three friends completed the final fitness challenge of a much-loved Roslin man after he passed away before achieving his goal of 2,000 pulleys in a single gym session, raising funds in his memory.' - More details here, shared by Thistle Foundation.
🥃 Extra spaces added to Gringo Supperclub Burns Night - 'Due to popular demand we have added additional spaces to our sold out Scottish tasting menus on 22nd and 23rd Jan. An alternative Burns night and an 8 course love letter to Scotland. Spaces on sale at noon today.' - More details here, shared by Kevin, Gringo Supperclub.
🎬 Leith Kino October Programme Announced! 📽️ - 'Leith Kino has announced its upcoming October film programme, screening every Sunday at Leith Depot - ahead of our sold out Sam Neill Weekender. Films are My Brother's Wedding, Golden Eighties, Pepos and Tales from the Hood. Free popcorn! Good vibes! (Deadline: 24 Sep)' - More details here, shared by Morvern Cunningham, Leith Kino team member.
🏆 Get 80% Off Term Time Sports Coaching - 'Edinburgh Leisure is proud to offer 80% off term-time coaching programmes for children and young people from families that receive Universal Credit. This subsidised coaching offer is available until 31 March 2027. Apply now!' - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Leisure.
🍁 Autumn Reset - Davidson Massage 💆♀️ 🍂 - 'As the evenings draw in and days become darker, it’s the perfect time to slow down, switch off and reset. 🍂 10% off any 90 minute massage treatment for the month of October. ☺️' - More details here, shared by Kim, Davidson Massage.
🌍 Somewhere, After Leaving
Today, Thu 24 September - 'Somewhere, After Leaving is a documentary exploring the experiences of Ukrainians displaced following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, and the people and organisations who welcomed them across Europe. The film will be followed by Q&A.'
6pm to 9pm | Summerhall Arts · Southside | FREE - More details here, shared by Inga Freimane.
🍰 The Trusted Crumb Pop-up
Tomorrow, Fri 25 September - 'Pop into The Cookbook Shop any time we're open this Friday for unprocessed, naturally sweetened, entirely gluten-free bakes from The Trusted Crumb Bakery'
11am to 6.30pm | The Cookbook Shop · Canonmills & Broughton | FREE - More details here, shared by Liz Bryson, The Cookbook Shop.
🏫 Senior School Open Morning
Sat 26 September - 'Enjoying a personalised tour of our campus from pupil guides and hear from senior members of staff, all with your child's interests and future in mind. All families are invited to stay for lunch following the event. Register via the link.'
10am to 12pm | Loretto School · Musselburgh | FREE - More details here, shared by Kathryn Mutch Barrett, Loretto School.
🌳 Warriston Cemetery Doors Open Day
Sat 26 September - 'Opened in 1843, Warriston is Edinburgh's first Victorian garden cemetery. After years of abandonment, the Council & the Friends are working to restore the heavily overgrown cemetery. Visitors can take self-guided tours from 10am-4pm; maps provided.'
10am to 4pm | Warriston Cemetery · Inverleith | FREE - More details here, shared by The Friends of Warriston Cemetery.
📷 Project 26: A Photography Exhibition [Until 04 Oct]
Sat 26 September - 'Project 26 is an exhibition of diverse photographic styles by experienced amateur and professional members of Edinburgh Photographic Meetup Group. The exhibition will be held on the last weekend in September and the first weekend in October.'
10am to 4.30pm | Edinburgh Photographic Society · New Town | FREE - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Photography MeetUp Group.
🍏 Bridgend Farmhouse doors open apple press day
Sat 26 September - 'Come and have a go making your own apple juice and finding out about all we do at Bridgend Farmhouse community hub ! Food, nature kids activities and fun for all ages'
11am to 3pm | Bridgend Growing Communities · Cameron Toll | FREE - More details here, shared by Bridgend Farmhouse.
🎶 Doors Open Day at St Cecilia's Hall
Sat 26 September - 'Join us for an exciting programme of musical demonstrations and mini concerts every hour on the hour from 11:00 - 16:00 this doors open day.'
11am to 4pm | St Cecilia’s Hall: Concert Room & Music Museum · Old Town | FREE - More details here, shared by Hannah.
Sarah & Rajpreet
🥖 Inch Thick Bread and Butter Pop-up at The Cookbook Shop
Sat 26 September - 'Pop into The Cookbook Shop any time we're open this Saturday for sourdough bakes and hand-churned butter from the Fife-based Inch Thick Bread and Butter'
11am to 6.30pm | The Cookbook Shop · Canonmills & Broughton | FREE - More details here, shared by Liz Bryson, The Cookbook Shop.
🎶 Morningside Hope Dementia Friendly Concert
Sat 26 September - 'Concert featuring Bach cello and organ solos. Morningside Parish Church Saturday 26th September, 2pm Dementia Friendly, Open to All Teas and Coffee afterwards Our Heart for Art Annual Art Exhibition will be available to view after the concert'
2pm to 3pm | Morningside Parish Church · Morningside | FREE - More details here, shared by Morningside Hope.
🎶 Delhi to Kampala - Live Music & Dance Show from India and Africa
Sat 26 September - 'Our show brings together traditional music and dance from India and Africa in new and exciting ways, resulting in a deeply textured, immersive experience that bridges continents, celebrates heritage, and reimagines what global fusion can sound like.'
5pm to 6pm | PASS: Dance · Granton & Pilton | FREE - More details here, shared by Alec Cooper, Music Across Borders.
🎶 (Americana)Todd Henkin and The Good Grief Band Album Release w/Cameron Roxburgh
Sat 26 September - 'Banjo, guitar/harp, fiddle, bass, 4 singers, thoughtful songs, + a new album! Big harmonies to lift you up through fall. "Good grief is an alchemy, a spinning leaf, a come-uppance. Good grief pushes you high and rocks you back down." See you there.'
7.30pm to 10.30pm | Leith Depot · Leith | 11.55 - More details here, shared by Todd Henkin.
🌌 Saturday Night Sober Social - Late Session
Sat 26 September - 'An alternative way to spend your Saturday night, sober yet social. These sound bath sessions are popular with people new to the city and those who want to allow friendship to evolve slowly. Come and enjoy a sound bath and a chat. 7pm and 8.30pm.'
8.30pm to 9.30pm | Edinburgh Salt Rooms · Abbeyhill & Meadowbank | 25 - More details here, shared by Emma O Rorke, Sound Bath Edinburgh.
🧘♂️ When The Mind Won't Switch Off -- Half-Day Meditation Course with Kevin Thomson
Sun 27 September - 'Racing thoughts at 3am? A mind that won't rest even when your body wants to? This half-day course looks at why our minds struggle to switch off, and introduces a series of guided meditations that genuinely quieten mental busyness.'
10.30am to 1pm | Kadampa Meditation Centre Edinburgh · Leith | £20/Members Free - More details here, shared by Jen Derwingson-Peacock, KMC Edinburgh.
Kadampa Meditation Centre Edinburgh
🍣 Harajuku Kitchen x The Hoxton, Edinburgh Brunch
Sun 27 September - 'Tuck into a Japanese inspired brunch with Harajuku Kitchen featuring live sushi station, a selection of sushi per person, Japanese bowls, bites and two sake cocktails for one day only at The Hoxton, Edinburgh.'
11.30am to 2pm | The Hoxton · Haymarket & Dalry | 45 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎶 The Music of Heaven
Tue 29 September - 'The music of heaven, imagined across centuries. Come hear what composers down the ages have made of that otherworldly sound at Evensong & Benediction for St Michael & All Angels. Tue 29 Sep, 19:30. Free reception afterwards.'
7.30pm to 8.30pm | Saint Michael & All Saints · Tollcross | FREE - More details here, shared by Oliver Brewer-Lennon, St Michael and All Saints, Edinburgh.
🍻 Empty Chairs Pub Meet Up
Wed 30 September - 'Casual pub meet up for anyone who fancies some company or the chance to meet new people. No agenda or structure - come and chat for as long or as little as you like! Sign up via the link to receive a reminder or just turn up.'
6.30pm to 8.30pm | Hectors · Stockbridge | FREE - More details here, shared by Beth Anderson, Edinburgh Empty Chairs.
🎲 Boardgames at Betty's!
Wed 30 September - 'Wednesdays are perfect for board game nights, and we have just the location for you! Join us in the Sidecar room at Betty's in the west end for some friendly competitive fun. Bring your own games or choose from ours, bring a friend or make new ones!'
7pm to 10pm | Downstairs at Betty’s · West End | FREE - More details here, shared by Downstairs at Betty's.
📚 Pages@Piccallili Book Club [Monthly]
Wed 30 September - 'Pages@Piccalilli is on last Wednesday of the month at the cosy Piccalilli wine bar from 7-9pm. Ticket price includes a glass of house wine (or non alcoholic alt) and table snacks. Fun lively discussions in small groups of contemporary fiction.'
7pm to 9pm | Piccalilli · Southside | £15 - More details here, shared by Fiona Hall.
📚 South Korea Literature Book Club
Thu 01 October - 'We are reading Almond by Won-Pyung Sohn for this session! Come along to talk about this and more!'
6pm to 9pm | Victoria Bar · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Sara.
🦵 Move With Confidence - Recovery from Hip Replacement [Every Thursday]
Thu 01 October - 'Move With Confidence - six-week course for women rebuilding strength, balance and confidence after hip replacement surgery. Small group, Edinburgh's West End, starting Thursday 1st October. Cost includes handouts and access to online exercise videos.'
6.30pm to 7.30pm | Active X Clinics - Osteopath Edinburgh · West End | £125 - More details here, shared by Fiona Brown, Fiona Brown Unlimited.
🧘♀️ Silent Sunday: The Power of Intention -- With Gen Kelsang Tubchen
Sun 04 October - 'There is nothing more powerful than the mind -- it can create both happiness or suffering. Through understanding karma and harnessing the power of intention, we can take control of our future if both subtle and profound ways. (Includes lunch.)'
10.30am to 4pm | Kadampa Meditation Centre Edinburgh · Leith | £35/£5 members - More details here, shared by Jen Derwingson-Peacock, KMC Edinburgh.
🏳️🌈 Domestic Uncanny [Until Sat]
Thu 08 October - 'Domestic Uncanny A Perseverance of Crones is a collaboration between Jan Pimblett, Kate Charlesworth and Dianne Barry. In their age and queerness they bring together the hidden life of domestic objects and spaces and bring you Domestic Uncanny'
10am to 4pm | Custom House Leith · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Jan Pimblett, A Perseverance of Crones.
🍵 Tea Social: A Relaxed Evening of Tea & Conversation in Edinburgh
Thu 08 October - '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.
📚 Book Launch: Fighting for our Minds, the neuroscience of defeating dementia
Fri 30 October - 'Join Professor Tara Spires-Jones for the launch of her new book, Fighting for our Minds. Hear about the latest dementia research, promising approaches to prevention and treatment, and how we can support brain health and dementia research.'
5pm to 7pm | Edinburgh Futures Institute · Old Town | FREE - More details here, shared by James Catterson, the University of Edinburgh.
Remember you can always see all 340+ upcoming local events on TownSpot calendars and maps. Thanks to everyone who shares their things!
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- ⛈️ See where the lightning hit on the Met Office Lighting Map.
- 🍽️ Victoria Street restaurant Whirlybird added the Michelin Guide.
- 😡 Cowgate driver admits cyclist attack.
- 🎮 Dalry office block to become 'state-of-the-art VR gaming arena'.
- 🎬 'Why Sean Connery is set to put Edinburgh on the global map again.'
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 1,005.
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