The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 30 October 2025

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Thanks to everyone who left nice comments on the post last night about leaving Substack. I'm still getting to grips with the new platform but hopefully the basics you need are here. Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.

🎇 Parents are being urged to play their part in preventing anti-social behaviour in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night. - Donald Turvill, The Herald.

• Writing in a joint letter to parents and guardians, authorities including the local police, council, fire brigade and Lothian Buses say: “Do not allow your children or young people to be involved in or accompany anyone who is involved in anti-social behaviour or disorder.”
• Unauthorised bonfires will be taken down by council staff, according to council leader Jane Meagher who said: “In the lead up to Bonfire Night, you’ll also notice Council teams and community volunteers working together to clear hazardous materials, tackling fly-tipping, and offering free bulky waste collections to reduce the risk of deliberate fires.”

🏥 After yesterday's news that 'serious concerns' were raised by a review of the maternity unit at the Royal Infirmary, one mother has shared her 'traumatising' experience. - Calum Loudon, STV News.

🩺 Three Edinburgh NHS GP practices could change hands after being put out to tender, prompting concerns for patients' services. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.

🗳️ The council's monthly full meeting starts at 10am today at the City Chambers. On the agenda:

• Claims that the trams consultation ‘was very poorly organised'. (The tram consultation is open until 17 November).
• A question about Roseburn Path trees from councillor Kevin Lang.
• How the council might respond to proposals for mandatory digital ID,
• ‘Cowgate Road Safety Measures’,
• ‘Democratic Engagement on City Mobility Plan and Transport Proposals’,
• A proposed new ‘Fit and Proper Persons’ test for landlords,
• ‘Flags on Lampposts’,
• Environmental concerns about data centres and AI,
• ‘Strengthening Community Cohesion in Edinburgh’.
  • The full agenda, reports and webcast links are here.

✈️ Edinburgh Airport had the most incidents of any Scottish airport involving drunk passengers, with the overall number of incidents across Scottish airports almost tripling in the last six years according to new figures. - Normal Silvester & Nicholas Malizia, Edinburgh Live.

• ⮑ A couple who both have deadly nut allergies say they felt 'forced off' a flight at Edinburgh Airport after claiming their airline refused to stop handing out free almond-topped cakes. - Hannah Robinson & Nicholas Malizia, Edinburgh Live.

🏠 Twelve families living in the Dreghorn Estate got together to celebrate becoming council tenants last week. They said they had been 'extremely worried' when the MOD announced plans to sell the properties in February. But the council purchased 78 homes in a deal with the MOD. - More details here.

🧘‍♀️ A new pilates studio is opening in Fountainbridge at the empty unit formerly home to the Akva bar. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News.

🦣 A piece of woolly mammoth tusk that went missing in Edinburgh 60 years ago could be hiding in an attic, say experts who have launched a new hunt. - Alison Campsie, The Scotsman.

🎅🏻 The full events programme for the Ross Bandstand during the festive season has been announced. - The list is published in The Edinburgh Reporter by Phyllis Stephen.

🎡 It's beginning to look a lot like... October:

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📌 "The Edinburgh Counselling Service is delighted to be able to offer a number of low cost counselling sessions starting from Monday 11 November. Fill in the form to self-refer here." - Thanks to The Edinburgh Counselling Service for sharing this.

📌 "Friday 31 October - Local musical innovators S!nk perform their live soundtrack to the classic 1922 Nosferatu (the first vampire film) at the Filmhouse for a spook-tacular Halloween special. The multi-instrumental trio bring their signature style to the show, including playing on a 'Zombie Piano'!" - Thanks to Matt from S!nk for sharing this.

📌 "✨ LIVE PIANO ✨ This Friday Dreamy neoclassical piano performance by Lindsay Taylor 🕐 Friday 31 October — 1:00–2:00pm at the Pianodrome in Bruntsfield 🎟 Free entry — donations welcome." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 "Friday 31 October: Join Edinburgh artist Suzanne Kemplay for a fun, beginner-friendly Art & Wine Evening at the Arienas Collective in Dublin Meuse. You'll be painting a Scottish Colourist image using acrylics, and no drawing skills are needed! Wine and cheese included." - Thanks to Lynn Powell, Founder of The Arienas Collective for sharing this.

📌 "Friday 31st October - Step into the historic and haunted Roxy Theatre, for a night of Halloween revelry. With enchantingly sinful cabaret acts and haunting live music join us for Halloween ball summoned from the shadows." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 2 November: Cheese lovers, this one’s for you! Join cheesemaker Kristen Allan at Elliott’s, Sciennes Rd, for a hands-on workshop where you’ll make fresh cheese, yoghurt, butter, and focaccia. Enjoy a seasonal lunch, then head home inspired, with your own handmade cheese and lifelong skills.” - Thanks to Kristen for sharing this.

📌 "One week to go on Friday Skate Club's Crowdfunder for indoor skate sessions. Edinburgh currently has no indoor space for skateboarding, roller skates and other wheeled sports. We are raising funds to put on free, weekly, community run, indoor sessions in various venues across Edinburgh!" - Thanks to Friday Skate Club for sharing this.

📌 "BOOK GIVEAWAY! It's been 2 years since publishing my first book, You're Meant to Move, and I am giving away free, signed copies to celebrate! If you're interested in stories of triumph over persistent pain through movement, fill out this form and you'll receive a copy in the mail." - Thanks to Dana Karen Ciccone, Founder of Movement Remedies for sharing this.

📌 "Saturday, 1st of Nov at 12.30pm at The Hermitage of Braid - Walk, talk & connect with other women at our Free Menopause Walk. It's a gentle yet invigorating way to move your body, connect with others, and feel good again. It's completely free, and there's no pressure at all." - Thanks to Julia from fitandhappy for sharing this.

📌 "Saturday 1st November - The newly opened Pianodrome Bruntsfield Community Hub hosts its very first evening concert! Edinburgh based composer, harpist and singer Esther Swift will release her glorious new Moon Dreams EP with guest musicians Aurora Engine and The Reverse Engineer. Utterly captivating" - Thanks to Pianodrome for sharing this.

📌 "Sunday 2 November - Looking for a fun fireworks night or an alternative to the Fawkes Festival? Join us at Myreside Stadium for Scottish Love in Action's Fireworks Extravaganza - an unforgettable evening of dance, music, and fireworks in support of vulnerable children in India." - Thanks to Scottish Love in Action in partnership with Truscott Property for sharing this.

📌 "Sunday: Our vibrant Makers Market - at Portobello Town Hall local makers, showcasing a gorgeous collection of handmade crafts from art, accessories, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, home wear, guest food traders, knifed sharpening, cake, coffee, creative workshops, vintage clothing & embroidery portraits!" - Thanks to Support The Makers for sharing this.

📌 "SUNDAY 2ND NOV 10am-2pm MONTHLY MARKET AT MCLARENS ON THE CORNER! We will be launching our Christmas pet range for 2025, new to Hill Lord & Co will be toys, treats and more ✨ See you there 10am-2pm 🎄🎅" - Thanks to Kayleigh Gordon from Hill Lord & Co Pet Supplies for sharing this.

📌 "Monday 3 November 7pm - Men's Clothes in late Medieval Scotland. Hear Jenn Scott, historian and author of "The Men of Warre", talking about the clothes and weapons of Scots men from 1460-1600. At Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge." - Thanks to Ros Williams of the Costume Society Scotland for sharing this.

📌 "Monday, 3 November. Walking campaigners Living Streets Edinburgh are holding an online meeting to hear what the Council's Dundee Street/Fountainbridge active travel proposals mean for pedestrians. They've also posted a briefing on their website which includes a link to book your place." - Thanks to Living Streets Edinburgh for sharing this.

📌 “Monday 3rd November at LifeCare Edinburgh: Have you ever wondered what your vulva might say if it wrote a letter? Come along to our creative writing workshop to see what it has to say… We are trans and NB inclusive - anyone with a vulva is welcome!” - Thanks to Eleanor and Jo from the Vulva Monologues project for sharing this.

📌 “Pregnancy Relaxation Circles - starting on Wednesday 5th November. A calming space to connect with yourself and your baby, each session combines birth prep, breath work, gentle movement and a guided meditation to create a relaxing and calming evening.” - Thanks to Rowan Louisa Birthworker for sharing this.

📌 “A winter movement - Movement as a means of understanding (Exhibition & Workshop). 01/12/25 - 06/12/25” - Thanks to Forth and third creative (Marcus Russell Slater) for sharing this.

📌 “The always free (except for a creative writing workshop) Pentlands Book Festival returns to south-west Edinburgh from 6 November to 3 December. There are children’s events, magic, gory stories, and much else. See the full programme and get your tickets at https://www.pentlandsbookfestival.org” - Thanks to Russell Salton of Pentlands Book Festival for sharing this.

📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.

👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:

1. 🏥 ‘Damning’ report finds ‘culture of mistrust’ at maternity unit.
2. 🎵 Self Esteem to join Florence & The Machine at Ingliston.
3. 🥐 Council apologises to South Queensferry bakery.
4. ⚽️ SFA to close Broughton High youth football performance school.
5. 🏫 The history of the Darroch School aka Gilmore Place Public School.

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