The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 25 June 2026
Council staff seek World Cup compensation, university cuts continue with £73m saved so far, new community filmmaking hub opens in Slateford + free school-uniform exchange in Leith
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. It's a slightly calmer start today, news-wise. Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.
⛈️ The weather is expected to take a turn tomorrow with rain and a potential of some thunder overnight into Saturday. Meantime, clear and sunny for most of today, with a top temperature of 24C. - Edinburgh's full Met Office forecast is here.
💰 A financial update of the University of Edinburgh's cost-cutting project has been published, revealing no let-up despite savings of more than £73 million this year, reports Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco in The Herald.
Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
🏗️ Plans for 250 new homes within the Port of Leith have been approved by councillors, as part of the wider Harbour 31 masterplan. - Rose Moncur, The Herald / Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, Edinburgh Live.
🚉 Edinburgh’s former trams boss Lea Harrison received a pay-off of more than £327,000 when he left the job earlier this year, prompting an investigation. - Ian Swanson, Evening News / Scotsman / BBC Scotland News.
📆 Local council workers could get 'alternative forms of compensation' after they were denied an extra day off that some other councils had following Scotland’s World Cup debut. - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporting Service
🚔 Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has responded to criticism over the lack of a Cobra meeting following last Friday's series of 'anti-Muslim' attacks in Edinburgh. - STV News.
⛔️ The Powderhall Bridge over the Water of Leith in St Mark's Park remains closed, after failing a council safety inspection. - edi.bike has the details. In yesterday's newsletter a reader reported that people were still using the bridge.
- ⮑ Concerns were raised in 2022 about 'timber splitting', reports Broughton Spurtle,
🚔 Armed police seized a BB gun following after that a woman was in possession of a firearm on Princes Street on Tuesday evening. - BBC Scotland News.
🪫 An anti-data centre rally was held outside the Scottish Parliament yesterday. Comedian Eleanor Morton was among those protesting. - More details on the Stop AI Data Centres Scotland Instagram page.
- Meanwhile construction work has started on the UK's new £750m national supercomputer, hosted in University of Edinburgh buildings near Roslin. - Graham Fraser, BBC Scotland News.
👔 Once again the Leith Collective is launching its free school-uniform exchange. It's open from Friday at Ocean Terminal. - More details from the Spurtle.
🦁 A statue of a lion will be unveiled in West Princes Street Gardens next month, and you can get a first look at it in this report by Brian Ferguson in The Herald.
Brian Ferguson
🪩 In this week's Culture Minute: 'A disaster' - Graham Norton on Edinburgh losing a festival, EIF bans phones during shows, Filmhouse's first birthday + Hogmanay headliners & tickets update.
Michael MacLeod
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🚴♀️ Local mum's perimenopause journey to Sir Chris Hoy cancer fundraising cycling event - 'Edinburgh mum who suffered years of debilitating perimenopause symptoms is raising awareness & encouraging women to persevere to get correct treatment. She is back on her bike & turning her story into positive fundraising effort for Tour de 4.' - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎬 Community Filmmaking Hub Opens in Edinburgh - 'The Film Cult opens its doors to its community filmmaking hub and studios. The studios, based in Slateford, offer high quality preproduction, production and post facilities. At only £20 a month, join the cult and receive 24 hour access to the space.' - More details here, shared by The Film Cult.
🌸 St Andrew Square - 'Amusing comments thread below this piece. But more serious question arises about whether these plastic floral displays should be allowed, particularly on and around historic buildings and Conservation Areas. What's wrong with real flowers?' - More details here, shared by Broughton Spurtle.
🟡 Endometriosis & Menopause Study: Participants Needed - 'UK women aged 40-70 with endometriosis history needed for a 45-60 min Teams interview on navigating menopause. University of Edinburgh study Strictly pseudonymised Email s2872645@ed.ac.uk' - Shared by Sushmita Sadhra, University of Edinburgh.
🌳 Edinburgh Play Park Survey - 'What do you think of your local park? Play Scotland is running a research project for the Scottish Government to learn about how people use their parks, what they like, and what could improve. Results will be shared directly with Edinburgh council. (Deadline: 16 Sep)' - More details here, shared by Jenny Lester, Play Scotland.
🎨 Leith School of Art End of Year Exhibition 2026
Today, Thu 25 June - 'Visitors are encouraged to explore all three exhibitions across this celebratory weekend. Friday 26th - Sunday 28th, 10am - 4pm. Check the website for details on opening events. All welcome. 📍25 North Junction Street 📍Custom House 📍66 Albion Road.'
7pm to 9pm | Leith School of Art · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Leith School of Art.
🤝 Founder Friday - Coworking @ Lister Place
Tomorrow, Fri 26 June - 'Dedicated CoWorking for Founders and Freelancers!'
9am to 5pm | Lister Place · West End | £15 - More details here, shared by Nikki Gibson, SWURF.
🎶 Spiritsong and Friends
Sat 27 June - 'Join Spiritsong Choir and Friends for an unforgettable night of soulful tunes and good vibes! No charge. Donations to fund raise for St Columba's Hospice, Granton.'
6pm to 7.30pm | St Vincent's Chapel: Scottish Episcopal Church · New Town | FREE - More details here, shared by St Vincent's Chapel.
🎶 Girls Rock School Summer Showcase
Sat 27 June - 'Group music workshops run by women for women (Trans* and non-binary Inclusive). The showcase features bands of new and past graduates. Tickets money will help with funding.'
7pm to 10pm | The Wee Red Bar · Tollcross | 7.70 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader + the organisation is on Instagram here.
🎉 Habitat @ Port Of Leith Distillery
Sat 27 June - 'Habitat teams up with Another People Place, Glasgow based Hi-Fi soundsystem, to take over the iconic Port Of Leith Venue. With wide open views over the sea, this'll be a party to remember!'
7pm to 1am | Port of Leith Distillery · Leith | £10 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🧘♀️ Roll & Release Yoga Workshop
Sun 28 June - 'Looking for something relaxing to do this Sunday on Leith Walk? As well as lots of lying down, this workshop uses therapy balls to massage the body. This can improve mobility and breathing, and help relieve aches and pains. Open to all.'
3pm to 5pm | Ashtanga Yoga Edinburgh & Hillside Collective · Canonmills & Broughton | £45 - More details here, shared by Emma McCready.
🏳️🌈 Queer Coworking Edinburgh + Corvidaeum Creative - Coworking Day - 29th June
Mon 29 June - 'Queer Coworking + Corvidaeum Creative are collaborating... Join us to get some work done in an inclusive coworking space. 130 Leith Walk - 29th June from 10am - 5pm. Please pre-book. 130 Leith Walk is an accessible building.'
10am to 5pm | Corvidaeum Creative Limited · Leith - More details here, shared by Katie, Queer Coworking Edinburgh.
💰 Fundamentals of Financial Wellbeing Course
Mon 29 June - 'Come to our FREE course designed to help build your confidence managing your money, run by The Money Charity.'
2pm to 4pm | The Crannie Community Hub · Old Town | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎶 Free event - Wicked Pitch and Vocal Pur: Pop & Rock Choir
Mon 29 June - 'Wicked Pitch and Vocal Pur come together for an evening of contemporary choral music filled with energy, creativity, and connection.'
7.30pm to 9.30pm | Greyfriars Kirk · Old Town | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🧵 Two-week Sewing, Upcycling and Repair Course
Wed 01 July - 'Ready to tackle that pile of clothes that aren't quite right or need a repair? Whether you want to fix a garment, alter a skirt, or transform a dress into a top or cover up a stain, Jen will teach you the skills to bring new life to your wardrobe.'
6.30pm to 8.30pm | Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios · Abbeyhill & Meadowbank | 60 - More details here, shared by Jen Byrne.
🎨 Block Printing & Chai
Sat 25 July - 'Join us for a relaxing and creative afternoon celebrating traditional craftsmanship, mindful making, and the simple pleasure of sharing chai.'
2pm to 5pm | Yellow Souls Studio · Leith | £55 - More details here, shared by Elena Citarella, Yellow souls Studio.
📮 What's missing from the Minute? Got an event to share? Nothing's too local! Please share your local news and events here.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🇪🇺 Leith billboard mocks ten years of Brexit 'disaster'.
- 🚲 Local cycle couriers based 'appalled and concerned' by attacks.
- 🌳 New sensory garden has opened within Victoria Park.
- 🎾 Stockbridge padel courts plan.
- 💰 'Edinburgh's annual accounts have been published. What did we learn?'
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 937.
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