The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Tuesday 14 April 2026
Hundreds bid to save LGBTQ+ bookshop Lavender Menace, Wonderland Models on the move, top-10 most-viewed local homes + this newsletter now has 30,000 subscribers
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. There are now more than 30,000 of you on this mailing list. It's a number I never expected to reach when I started sending these daily emails three years ago. I didn't even expect 30 sign-ups, honestly. A lot of you have been here since the very start and some are just receiving the Minute for the first time. I appreciate your time and trust in this. I hope it stays useful to you. Ironically there's not a lot of new news this morning! (Please get in touch if I've missed something.) But there's plenty on the Community Noticeboard, thanks to you, dear readers. Here’s Tuesday's Edinburgh Minute.
🎨 After an open call received 54 entires from around the world, four female sculptors have been shortlisted to create a statue of author Dame Muriel Spark in Princes Street Gardens. - Jane Bradley, The Scotsman + Gabriel McKay, The Herald.
- ⮑ A decision is expected in early July and the winner is expected to finalise a design by autumn, before a planned unveiling in autumn 2027. The commemoration project is organised by the 'Spirit of Spark' group.
🚂 The owners of Wonderland Models on Lothian Road insist it's 'business as usual' while they try to relocate, after the council granted planning permission for the shop to become a restaurant. It's been on Lothian Road for more than 50 years. - Kevin Quinn has the details in the Evening News.
📚 The keepers of Scotland's first LGBTQ+ bookshop and archive, Lavender Menace, are appealing for a 'lifeline' to 'help us stay open while we secure long-term funding and build a stronger future'. They say: "We’re about to run out of funding, and without urgent support from our community, we may not be able to continue. It’s now or never." It's only been up for a day, but more than 300 people have already donated to the Crowdfunder, which you can find here.
- 'The significance of the archive’s work has long been recognised across Scotland’s cultural sector', writes Graham Robson in Scene Mag.
Graham Robson
🏡 Areas just outside of Edinburgh currently dominate the top-10 most-viewed homes on the ESPC local property portal. - See March's most-viewed homes here.
🏠 'Three years on: what I've learned leading Edinburgh homelessness charity' - Karen Barr, CEO of Rowan Alba, writes in Third Force News:
"The hard reality we face is that in Edinburgh alone, over 7,000 homelessness cases are still open. The longer people are left unsupported, the more we are all going to have to work with a rising number of people who are not just homeless, they also have mental health support needs, with some needing intensive, long-term support."
🖼️ The Edinburgh College of Art annual Graduate Show exhibition opens to the public from 29 May. - Rose Moncur has a preview in The Herald.
♟️ Having beaten multiple chess grandmasters, 15-year-old Edinburgh-based schoolboy Frederick Waldhausen Gordon will represent the Scottish senior team at the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan later this year. - He's interviewed by James Delaney of BBC Scotland News.
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📚 Scotland’s only queer books archive faces funding crisis and calls for community support - 'Lavender Menace, Scotland’s only queer books archive, is urgently asking for community support to continue vital work preserving LGBTQ+ literary history. The campaign launched last night and has already raised more than £5,000 of the £45,000 target.' - More details here, shared by Lavender Menace.
🤝 Polwarth Pre-Loved Sale - Volunteers Urgently Needed 24th & 25th April - 'Help needed with setup (Fri) &/or sale day (Sat). Sale day volunteers get early access to shop & everyone gets priority access to sell at our pre-Christmas sale. No experience necessary. Find out more & sign up on our website.' - More details here, shared by Elaine MacDonald-Keen, Polwarth Pre-Loved Sale.
🗺️ Local Place Plan - 'Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust are preparing a Local Place Plan – a community-led document. We want to hear from everyone who lives, works, studies, or spends time in the Old Town about what matters to you and what could be better.' - More details here, shared by The Crannie.
🎶 EHFM x SWNT Match Day Radio Takeover
Today, Tue 14 April - 'Ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier at Easter Road on 14th April, EHFM hosts a whole day of FLINTA in football and music to celebrate. Tune in from 10am!'
10am to 7pm | www.ehfm.live, EH6 5JB | FREE - More details here, shared by Vicky Kavanagh, EHFM.
⭐ Language study for 4-12-year-olds (University of Edinburgh) [Daily]
Today, Tue 14 April - 'We're looking for English-speaking children (ages 4-12) to play a short laptop game learning new alien words - the whole session takes about 15 minutes, at a time that suits you!'
2pm to 5pm | Dugald Stewart Building, EH8 9AD | FREE - More details here, shared by Shira Tal, University of Edinburgh.
🎲 Auld Reekie Board Gmaing Club
Today, Tue 14 April - 'Join the Second Auld Reekie Board Gaming Club on the 14th April! Friendly players, great games, relaxed vibes. We also have beginner & experienced Blood on the Clocktower Sessions. Don't miss out-book early to secure your seat at the table!'
6pm to 11pm | Assembly Roxy, EH8 9SU | £8 - More details here, shared by Graham Colvan.
🐾 Zoo Tails for Kids
Tomorrow, Wed 15 April - 'Something to keep the kids entertained over the easter holidays! Enjoy a talk from Edinburgh Zoo staff and an animal themed craft session afterwards'
10.30am to 12.30pm | McDonald Road Library, EH7 4LU | FREE - More details here, shared by McDonald Road Library.
🍵 Pure Leith x Griffen Fitness tea parlour pop-up
Thu 16 April - 'Happy 21st birthday to Griffen Fitness - we're celebrating with a Pure Leith mint tea parlour this Thursday. Pop by, try some tea, have a wee blether and see what we do in the studio... Old faces and new people all welcome (dogs and children too)'
2pm to 6pm | Griffen Fitness, EH6 5BY | FREE - More details here, shared by Tracy Griffen.
🎨 Modern Alchemy: Behind the scenes of an art science collaboration
Thu 16 April - 'Join us for an evening conversation between artist Susan Aldworth and scientist Dr Amanda Jarvis, discussing collaboration, sustainability and the overlaps between art and chemistry. Part of the Modern Alchemy Exhibition at Edinburgh Printmakers.'
6.30pm to 8pm | Edinburgh Printmakers, EH3 9FP - More details here, shared by Amanda Jarvis, University of Edinburgh.
🎥 Cinetopia Film Networking - April
Thu 16 April - 'Join us for our free film networking event! 🙌 Meet fellow film industry folks over informal drinks and chats, whether you're a seasoned pro, or just starting out in the film industry. We promise a chill, friendly, fun atmosphere. Please RSVP!'
7.30pm to 10.30pm | Little Picardy, EH1 3AA | FREE - More details here, shared by Cinetopia.
🔥 Mischief & Mayhem Live Storytelling Event
Thu 16 April - 'As the Beltane fires stir, the Trickster wakes. Cross the globe from Scotland and Ireland to South America with tales of mischief and mayhem. Vibrant storytelling to spark Beltane. Join us this Thursday and start your summer with a little mayhem.'
7.30pm to 8.30pm | The Outhouse, EH1 3LY | £10 / £8 concession - More details here, shared by The Compass Storytelling Collective.
🎭 Broadway Brunch [Monthly]
Sat 18 April - 'Ready to swap your Saturday lie-in for a standing ovation? Step into Broadway Brunch! Our cast of professional performers will whisk you away to the West End and beyond, delivering all-singing, all-dancing hits from your favourite musicals.'
11am to 1.30pm | Brewhemia, EH1 1DE | £40 (food and drink) - More details here, shared by Brewhemia.
🌄 The Bog Trot
Sat 18 April - 'Edinburgh's very own hill race! A good entry level hill race taking part in Holyrood park which is about 6.5k long with 240m elevation. Entries are on the day at Haggis Knowe, 12.00 - 12.40 registration for a 1pm start, look for the big brown tent!'
12pm to 2pm | Holyrood Park, EH8 8HG | £9/£6 Scot Athletics - More details here, shared by Hunters Bog Trotters.
🎨 Birchwood Art Courses: Lino & Sculpture
Mon 20 April - 'Join Marcela for Sculpture & 3D Art or Anupa for Lino Printing at Birchwood Art Studio for 8 weeks, all levels with all materials included. Step away from screens, try something new with your hands and enjoy the process. Book now!'
6.30pm to 9pm | Birchwood Art Studio, EH11 1RF - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🏡 Leith Neighbourhood Meet Up
Tue 21 April - 'One week to go to our next Neighbourhood Meet-up! Are you new to Leith? Are you bored of your friends and want new ones? 😉 Join us on 21st April 6-7pm We also have the extra benefit of Brewgooder Brewery talking about their green ethos.'
6pm to 7pm | Victoria Bar, EH6 8PD | £0 - More details here, shared by Victoria Bar.
📖 An evening with Charleen Hurtubise & Louise Nealon
Tue 21 April - 'We're so excited to welcome Charleen Hurtubise & Louise Nealon to Rare Birds! This will be a fascinating talk exploring themes like family relationships, strong female characters, love & heartbreak which are present in both of their new novels.'
7pm to 8.30pm | Rare Birds Book Shop, EH4 1HU | 5 - More details here, shared by Rare Birds Books.
💔 April Big Yin: Yoga for a broken heart
Fri 24 April - 'In this month's Big Yin, the theme is 'Yoga for a broken heart', with 90 minutes of yin yoga and guided meditation. You don't have to be heartbroken to attend, as we'll be focusing on self-care through difficult times.'
6.30pm to 8pm | The Salisbury Centre, EH16 5AB | £12.75 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
📸 Seeing the now
Sat 25 April - 'Mindful photography workshop - booking essential (with link below) but experience not! Take some time in Spring for yourself to look, enjoy and absorb yourself in nature 🌳🥰.'
11am to 1pm | Bridgend Inspiring Growth, EH16 4TE | £9 -£17 concessions - More details here, shared by Bridgend Farmhouse.
🏃 Yoga for Runners
Sun 26 April - 'Good Time Yoga presents Yoga for Runners at Up & Running Edinburgh. Come and join us for yoga and a test run round the West End - finishing up with great coffee and tasty treats with good folk. Absolute beginners absolutely welcome!'
8.30am to 11.15am | Up and Running, EH2 4QW - More details here, shared by Sim, Up & Running/Good Time Running Club.
🏋️♀️ 6 Week Beginners Pilates Course, plus Yoga and Strength Training
Mon 27 April - 'Believing that movement should be accessible and empowering, Emma has been teaching Yoga and Pilates since 2015, and is a 2x British weightlifting champion. Join her for this Pilates course, or get in touch about online classes and strength coaching.'
12.30pm to 1.30pm | Ashtanga Yoga Edinburgh & Hillside Collective, EH7 5JT - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🪫 Protect Your Energy
Tue 28 April - 'It's stress awareness month and Sabrina, Functional Health Coach is hosting a 50 minute sessions to help you understand if stress is affecting your health, and how to address it. Sign up and receive a personal assessment and 1:1 debrief on results.'
7pm to 8pm | Online Webinar (Zoom) | £25 - More details here, shared by Sabrina Rossetti.
🌼 The Eric Liddell Community's Annual Spring Fair and Plant Sale
Sat 09 May - 'Our Spring Fair & Plant Sale is back! Enjoy craft stalls, a plant sale, refreshing Pimm's and mocktails, plus a raffle with great prizes. Families are welcome, with fun children's activities throughout. Come along and support a great cause.'
10.30am to 3.30pm | The Eric Liddell Community, EH10 4DP - More details here, shared by Zsofia, The Eric Liddell Community.
👗 Tumble into Hobbs for the Tumbling Lassie!
Wed 13 May - 'Join the Tumbling Lassie at Hobbs on George Street in Edinburgh on Wednesday 13 May 2026 between 6pm - 8pm, for a private shopping experience, fashion show and refreshments, raising valuable funds and awareness of the Tumbling Lassie campaign!'
6pm to 8pm | Hobbs, EH2 2HT | FREE - More details here, shared by Tumbling Lassie.
📮 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:
- 🧘♀️ Porty yoga studio relocation row + petition to save it.
- 🍽️ Ailidh Forlan's round-up of new eateries on @plateexpectations.
- 🚔 Suspect charged after man 'stabbed' near Nicolson Street.
- 🚲 Voi hire bike spotted in Fisherrow harbour.
- 🌯 Neighbourgood Market returning to Stockbridge on 1 May.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 888.
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