The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Tuesday 14 July 2026
Doubts over George Street pedestrianisation after fire, locals' discount for the festivals, art students plan degree show protest + learn to lift weights with a local UK champion
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. It's another busy start to the day. Here’s Tuesday's Edinburgh Minute.
🌤️ Today's weather forecast looks similar to yesterday's: cloudy in the morning, clearing for a sunnier afternoon and evening. A low of 12C this morning, rising to 18C between 2pm and 5pm. - The full local Met Office forecast is here.
🎟️ Starting today with what might be good news for some of you, and not-at-all useful for others who aren't bothered: There are 25 days until the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and just 11 days until the Edinburgh Folk & Food Festival opens at George Square gardens. From 10am today, discounted Assembly Festival event tickets are available for people living at local postcodes beginning with: EH, FK, G, KY, ML or DG. The £8.25 tickets are available for more than 175 shows between 5-9 August. - Tickets available at this link using promocode LOCALAF26 from 10am today.
🚎 The summer's planned pedestrianisation of George Street is now uncertain, due to traffic diversions caused by last Thursday's Princes Street fire. Willie Hamilton, Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams chief operating officer, told BBC Scotland News: "It is a fluid situation and it will be changing, sometimes hour to hour. Once we've got a date for length of time for this, that will determine whether the upcoming closures, for example of George Street for the festival, has to be a consideration or not."
🚏 Calls are being made for new temporary bus-only lanes on George Street. The Edinburgh Bus Users Group say a 'rapid-response emergency traffic management plan' is needed to 'prevent total gridlock'. The group's chair Harald Tobermann says:
"George Street is bearing the brunt of the diverted traffic. The Council must install temporary, coned-off bus lanes along key operational sections of George Street to allow public transport to bypass private vehicles and delivery vans. Buses carry almost ten times more passengers in Edinburgh than any other form of public transport. When Princes Street closes, the city’s mobility depends entirely on keeping buses moving." - Read the full letter here.
⮑ Some bus stops at Shandwick Place, Princes Street and Waterloo Place have been out of service since the fire, reports Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco in The Herald. Currently 50 daytime and night bus routes are being rerouted. Trams are only running between Edinburgh Airport and the West End stop.
⮑ The call for new temporary bus lanes in George Street is supported by the Confederation of Passenger Transport Scotland, a trade association for bus and coach industries.
- As the Lothian Buses & Trams boss mentioned above, this is a fluid situation and things may change after I send this newsletter at 7am, so once again I'm sharing the following links in as I can tell from the click-through stats that they're useful to some of you: Find live travel updates from Lothian Buses here and Edinburgh Trams here.
🏗️ Plans for the £100m Ruby hotel due to be built next to the former Debenhams store in 'look likely to be delayed following last week's fire', reports Ian Swanson in the Evening News this morning.
Jim Waterson
🚔 It's reported that a gangland feud in Edinburgh spanning six months has come to an 'end' due to dozens of arrests and a 'resolution of differences' between rivals. - David Cowan, BBC Scotland News.
🏢 Residents in a block of flats at the Bond Building, on Breadalbane Street in Leith, that caught fire two years ago have been told they should leave their homes due to new safety concerns. - Alasdair Ferguson, The National & Gabriel McKay, The Herald.
🏥 The ground floor of the NHS Eye Pavilion at Chalmers Street was evacuated yesterday after a 'false alarm' prompted by smoke from nearby construction works. - Jacob Farr, Edinburgh Live.
🎨 Art students and staff are planning an 'Alternative Degree Show' at Edinburgh College of Art. They say the event aims: 'to highlight the £90m proposed job losses at UoE, to celebrate student-staff solidarity and discuss the future of art schools across the UK'. It's planned for Friday 21 August at Out of the Blue drill hall in Leith. - More details here.
🏠 City centre flats are nowhere to be seen in June's list of the most-viewed local homes on the ESPC property portal. Instead, the latest top-10 is dominated by homes and cottages on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Top of the list is a £595,000 semi-detatched bungalow in Craigleith.
📸 Edinburgh-based photographer Ritchie Elder has the guest take-over of the Scottish Working Class Network Instagram account this week. He shares some of his work with locals in Dumbiedykes in the gallery here.
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🚧 Never-ending building works on George IV Bridge - 'Walking campaigners Living Streets have raised concerns about pedestrian safety on George IV Bridge at the hotel building site. They also say that an update on when the works will finally finish has been promised at the end of the month.' - More details here, shared by Living Streets.
🎹 Pianodrome finds a new Bruntsfield home and launches its biggest Fringe yet! - 'Edinburgh's beloved piano amphitheatre has found a new home in Bruntsfield and is proud to launch its biggest Fringe Programme to date. Free lunchtime concerts, live music, comedy and jazz - 5th to 30th August. All welcome.' - More details here, shared by Julie, Pianodrome.
🌳 Summer Forest Bathing Walk in Dr. Neil's Garden - '🌱🌻 Saturday 18th July 10:30-12:30 Wild Rose will be guiding the last Forest Bathing Walk of the summer in Dr. Neil's garden. Soothe, restore and connect deeply to nature. Learn creative nature connection invitations & share with others.🌻🌱' - More details here, shared by Wild Rose Forest Therapy.
🎨 Raising funds for Edinburgh Art Map: a resource for Edinburgh’s visual arts community - 'EAM aims to strengthen the accessibility and visibility of contemporary art in the city. Funds raised will help us create a new website to host our online map and exhibition listings, as well as a printed map of Edinburgh’s permanent art spaces. (Deadline: 07 Aug)' - More details here, shared by Maggie Ashmole.
🏡 Inside a Renovated 1960s Family Home in North Berwick - 'Jo Holmes is a GP, a mother of two, and — by her own admission — terrible at DIY. None of that stopped her from creating exactly the house she wanted.' - More details here, shared by Ilya, NOSTALGIA.
💆♀️ 15% off First Massage with Kim - 'Get 15% off your first massage with Kim. Applies to a 75 or 90 minute massage. Mention ‘Edinburgh Minute’ when booking. Fridays @ The Whole Works Jacksons Close 209 Royal Mile Edinburgh EH1 1PZ' - More details here, shared by The Whole Works.
🎬 Doc Screen: Divorce Iranian Style
Tomorrow, Wed 15 July - 'Hilarious, tragic, stirring, this fly-on-the-wall look at several weeks in an Iranian divorce court provides a unique window into the intimate circumstances of Iranian women's lives. One of acclaimed director Kim Longinotto's most well known films.'
6.10pm to 7.40pm | Filmhouse · Tollcross | £5-£13 - More details here, shared by Scottish Documentary Institute.
🎨 Drawing the Portrait [Every Thursday]
Thu 16 July - 'A four week course suitable for beginners to advanced - with talented tutor and artist Laura Cullen.'
6pm to 8pm | Scottish Arts Club · West End | £120-£140 - More details here, shared by Scottish arts club.
✨️ Turning Point: Summer Visualisation (CROW creative wellbeing series)
Fri 17 July - 'Our next Creative Roots, Open Wings (CROW) 🐦⬛ wellbeing event is an invitation to pause and listen, tuning into your creative instincts through a guided visualisation to uncover what you want to carry forward through the rest of the year ✨'
7.30pm to 9pm | Corvidaeum Creative Limited · Leith | £16.96 or PWYC - More details here, shared by Corvidaeum Creative.
🏃♂️ Runners of Leith x Closet Brewing social 5km
Sat 18 July - 'A social 5km in collaboration with Closet Brewing. Meet at 12pm at the town hall for social and chatty 5k run at 12:15pm. After we head back for a delicious free Closet beer or soft drink and to enjoy the festivities!'
12pm to 3pm | Portobello Town Hall · Portobello | FREE - More details here, shared by Runners of Leith.
🍧 Japanese Calligraphy Workshop at Sushiya - Kakigōri (Shaved Ice) Theme
Sat 18 July - 'This summer, discover the beauty and stories behind Japanese seasonal customs while learning to write calligraphy and draw kakigori (shaved ice). Enjoy Japanese shaved ice served in a specially designed cup along with a drink at Sushiya!'
4pm to 6pm | Sushiya 寿し也 · Haymarket & Dalry | £30 - More details here, shared by Wayfarer Shodo Edinburgh.
🧘♀️ Tap into Calm with Sound and Salt Therapy
Sat 18 July - 'Join Ann and Emma to learn how to use EFT Tapping to calm stress, then relax in the salt rooms for a soothing & healing sound bath, to recharge, reset, and rejuvenate both mind and body, & find peace, healing, & mindfulness. 🌟 8 spaces available'
5.30pm to 7.30pm | Edinburgh Salt Rooms · Abbeyhill & Meadowbank | £40 - More details here, shared by Ann Diment, Resilience Rebel.
🎤 Underground Connect
Sat 18 July - 'GODLESS TRAP PRESENTS: INSTALLMENT OF UNDERGROUND CONNECT Featuring: EVENT HEADLINE - MADHAT (Energetic and Punchy Hiphop from Scotland) THE SUPPORT: AURXRA, LUVRUPT, VÊNICE STEMZ, SAVE-AZ, LIL PANDA, HANYA, PARIS PINK, JIN DARKCO & RIIFTY'
6pm to 11pm | The Banshee Labyrinth · Old Town | 10£ - More details here, shared by Underground Connect.
🎨 Your Inner palette: A creative one day Retreat- Edinburgh
Sun 19 July - 'Unique Discount for Edinburgh Minute: ENJOY20 A 5-hour immersive retreat designed to help you reconnect with your creativity, explore your identity, and express it through a personalised piece you'll take home. Pottery. Colors. Lunch. Mindfulness.'
11am to 4pm | Yellow Souls Studio · Leith - More details here, shared by Elena Citarella, YELLOW SOULS STUDIO.
🧺 Willow weaving workshop Sunday afternoon 19th July - hanging tray for pot plants or picnic platter
Sun 19 July - 'Spend a relaxing afternoon weaving willow and make either a hanging tray for indoor or out door pot plants or a serving picnic platter. Suitable for beginners all tuition and equipment provided. To secure your place email awaywithwillow@hotmail.com'
1.30pm to 4.30pm | Away with Willow Coffins · Morningside | £45.00 - More details here, shared by Koren, Away with Willow.
🏋️♀️ Learn to Lift Weights
Sun 19 July - 'Would you like to be more confident in the gym? Join experienced weightlifter and inclusive instructor Emma for this workshop learning technique on key strength training exercises. You'll also be given a training programme to take away.'
2pm to 5pm | Run Strong Studio · Leith | 75 - More details here, shared by Emma McCready.
🏳️🌈 Non-Traditional Families Workshop (free event) [Until Tue]
Tue 21 July - 'This event is for anyone who identifies as part of a non traditional family, including, but not limited to: same sex parents; multiple parent families; plural or poly relationships; non-sexual relationships, or solo people.'
2pm to 4pm | Duncan Place Community Hub · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Dr Rob Clucas, Centre for Child and Family Law and Policy, Edinburgh Napier University.
🧵 Teen - Absolute Beginners Sewing Course [Until 06 Aug]
Tue 21 July - 'Our Absolute Beginners Sewing Course for Teens is the perfect introduction to sewing! Learn the basics, including using patterns, cutting fabric, inserting zips, and simple alterations, to start making your own garments and homewares.'
2pm to 5pm | Paradigm Shift Open Studio Ltd · Leith | 165 - More details here, shared by Paradigm Shift Open Studio Ltd.
📖 Brandy Sour: A Cypriot Book & Wine night
Tue 21 July - 'Join us 21 July for an evening exploring Brandy Sour, the award-winning novel by Constantia Soteriou. Enjoy a Brandy Sour on arrival, a tasting of Cypriot wine, inspired snacks, and a celebration of Cyprus through stories, flavours, and conversation.'
7.30pm to 9.30pm | The Cottage at Royal Terrace · Canonmills & Broughton | £29 (+ booking fee) - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎶 Introduction to Music Therapy [Until Wed]
Tue 28 July - 'Interested to learn about the fascinating profession of music therapy? Sign up for the Nordoff & Robbins music therapy summer school for two days of learning with experienced music therapists, in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University.'
10am to 4pm | Edinburgh Napier University Merchiston Campus · Bruntsfield - More details here, shared by Jenny Laahs, Nordoff & Robbins Music Therapy/Edinburgh Napier University.
📮 Got news or an event to share? Please share your local news and events here. Nothing's too local! Remember you can always see all 183 upcoming local events on TownSpot calendars and maps. Thanks to everyone who shares their things.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🍷 Marchmont wine bar gets abuse over toilets.
- 🐾 Do you know this dog? Rupert's owners seek pics.
- 🚑 65-year-old woman hit by a on Morningside Road.
- 💰 List of 65 council contractors on £1m+ deals.
- 🚧 Closures for Westfield Road ahead of £1.3m rail bridge revamp.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 952.
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