The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Tuesday 20 January 2026

Rockstar North office 'explosion', more details on Gorgie Road closure, short-notice North Bridge closure, six new restaurants to try + the Hearts dilemma for Hibees

Michael MacLeod

20 Jan 2026 — 9 min read

Photo by Tom Duffin.

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Yesterday morning's spectacular cirrus clouds feature in today's lead image from Tom Duffin. Here’s Tuesday's Edinburgh Minute.

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🔥 A boiler malfunction is being blamed for a reported 'explosion' yesterday morning at the Holyrood Road office of computer game developer Rockstar North. - Keiran Fleming, STV News.

In a statement, a Rockstar Games spokesperson said: "Early Monday morning, there was a malfunction in one of the heating boilers at Rockstar North. Many thanks to those that reached out with concern, and also to the police and fire crews who were on scene quickly to assess the situation - please know that everyone is well and our studio remains open and operational."

🚔 Police are hunting an attacker who left a 20-year-old with 'extensive' injuries following a serious assault at a bus stop Nicolson Street on Friday afternoon. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.

⛔️ North Bridge is due to close to northbound traffic from 10pm to 5am tonight, resulting in 18 bus service diversions. - Edinburgh Travel News.

Apologies for the short notice on this...

North Bridge will be closed to northbound traffic, 10pm - 5am for 2 nights (19th and 20th Jan).#edintravel https://t.co/ma6phc6b7u
— Edinburgh Travel News (@edintravel) January 19, 2026

🚧 More details on yesterday's news that part of Gorgie Road will be shut for up to six months. It's the section at Ford's Road south of Saughton Park, meaning all buses to and from the west of the city are going to be diverted around the park. See the maps below.

Lothian Buses published diversion details here. These routes are affected: 3, 25, X27, X28, 30, 33 N25, N28 and N30.
The roadworks are part of Scottish Water's £3m project aiming to reduce sewer-related debris entering the Water of Leith. - More details from Scottish Water here.

**Bus diversions at Gorgie Road, from Lothian Buses**.

⮑ Ethan Gillies Denning of Scottish Water said: "We are acutely aware Gorgie Road is one of the key transport routes linking west Edinburgh with the city centre. But the road also sits above critical Victorian-era waste water infrastructure that helps protect homes and businesses during heavy rain. This project will significantly reduce debris entering the Water of Leith, supporting cleaner rivers and a healthier local environment for people and wildlife, including otters." - A few more details in this BBC Scotland News report.

🫀 A defibrillator heart restarter is to be installed on Calton Hill. The council is looking at locations for it, reports the Calton Hill Trust, which said it is 'long overdue'.

💰 A quick reminder about Leith Chooses this week: A total of 30 local Leith projects are competing for funding from the project. This year's funding pot is £44,707. Voting is in person this coming Saturday at Leith Community Centre. Online voting opens at midnight on 27 January until 10 February. A big 'thank you' to the dozens of organisations getting in touch asking to be featured in the Minute. In the interests of fairness, you can learn about all of the local groups up for the vote at this link.

What is Leith Chooses? Funded by the council, it's a form of participatory budgeting, described as: 'A process of democratic deliberation and decision-making in which local people choose how to spend a public budget'.
Grants of up to £5,000 will be awarded from the total of £44,707.16. These grants are for small, one-off projects that meet 'urgent needs and progress local priorities'. - Find out more from the council here. < That will be the same link for online voting between 27 January and 10 February.
The projects aim to address this year’s theme: Wellbeing in Leith.

🎓 The University of Edinburgh has published its annual commercialisation figures. It says £56m of a total £113m invested in University-associated companies went to: 'spinouts, and a majority of new companies formed to harness data and AI for public good.' - More details here.

🤝 The University of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian and Lothian Buses are among the employers taking part in a free jobs fair at The Broomhouse Hub next month. - More details here.

⮑ There are 15 paid social enterprise jobs in Edinburgh listed in this round-up by the Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network and on their website here. There are roles with Balerno Village Trust, Cyrenians, Shore Psychology, The Eric Liddell Community, Edinburgh Printmakers, Community Enterprise, Link Group Limited, EVOC, Four Square EFI, Change Mental Health, Columcille & Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland, plus trustee positions with Circle, Space at The Broomhouse Hub, The Heart of Newhaven and The Bike Station Edinburgh. - All listed here.

🎭 'King's Theatre: First images as Old Lady of Leven Street emerges from her scaffolding after four year closure'. - Jane Bradley, The Scotsman.

🍻 A new Wetherspoon pub is planned next door to Edinburgh Sheriff Court, taking the place of Revolution Bar which shut in 2024. - Jamie Calder, The Edinburgh Tab.

🍽️ Vinette, Bombay Bistro, Dogstar, Brown's of Leith, Nami and Abacus at the Scholar are six new Edinburgh restaurants and bars to try in 2026, writes Sarah Campbell in The Herald.

⚽️ Talk of the town among football fans continues to be the possibility that Hearts could win the league for the first time in 66 years. For a bit of fun, broadcaster and Hibs fan Grant Stott was asked whether he'd take Scotland winning the world cup if it meant Hearts won the league. - Here's his response to BBC Radio Scotland.

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📌 “Join us for our first blast around The Meadows of the year, the Robert Burns 5K on the 20th January 2026. Sip a dram and tak a piece o’ shortbread wi’ us efter yer run! Meet by the East End Playpark for a 12.45pm start- online and on the day entries accepted, online closes at 10am.” - Thanks to Catriona Bruce, Founder and Run Director, Blast Running, for sharing this.

📌 “Tonight, Tuesday 20th January, is the first Auld Reekie Board Gaming Club at the Assembly Roxy. Come along for great board games, great people, and a fantastic venue — doors open at 6pm and we run until 11pm. Tickets are £8, so why not head down and join us?” - Thanks to Graham Colvan, Creator of Auld Reekie Board Gaming Club, for sharing this.

📌 “Tuesday at Victoria Bar: UK Top 100 start up SWURF’s founder Nikki Gibson will be telling her story at Victoria bar - Swurf is an app for remote workers and digital nomads to find welcoming places to work. Recently SWURF has built pods in Edinburgh airport and Yotel for people to hav video calls and private working space.” - Thanks to Anna from Victoria Bar for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 22 January - Edinburgh Bookshop is hosting writer Elisabeth Wolf in conversation with Jenny Brown for the launch of her gothic novel, Winterbourne - "Unnerving, windswept, with a wild Gothic heart." Free but ticketed, with wine & home-baked goodies.” - Thanks to Alison Belsham for sharing this.

📌 “Thurs 22 Jan, 7pm. "Hope in the Darkness" Join storytellers Caroline, Ryan and Sam for tales of resilience, courage and quiet hope. The Outhouse 12A Broughton St Ln.EH1 3LY.” - Thanks to The Compass Storytelling Collective for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 22 January - Would you like to learn computer programming in a friendly and supportive environment? codebar Edinburgh offers free programming workshops for all levels (incl. absolute beginners), and the next one is on Thursday, 6-8pm. Join us for some coding, pizza and drinks!” - Thanks to Kasia Banas, Edinburgh codebar co-organiser, for sharing this.

📌 “Looking for a new challenge in 2026? Local runners can join Team LifeCare at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, 23–24 May. With full and half marathons sold out, charity places are now the only way in. Nine distances are available, and every mile helps support older people across Edinburgh.” - Thanks to Claire, LifeCare Edinburgh, for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 23 January - Calton Hill Conservation Trust would love some volunteers to help clear leaf litter and sort drains across the Hill. Tools provided, but please bring gloves. RSVP to joe.r.murphy@gmail.com or just turn up at the car park at Calton Hill at 11.00.” - Thanks to Joe Murphy from the Calton Hill Conservation Trust for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 23rd January - After last week’s event, we’re BACK with a second relaxed, beginner-friendly wine tasting at Appellation Wines, EH4 1AW. Expect a night of great wine with new friends and zero snobbery. Use the Instagram or ticketing link, or email anicedayoutclub@gmail.com for info.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 “This Friday 23 January, Edinburgh Rugby are back in action at Hive Stadium when they face South African powerhouse Vodacom Bulls. Expect a high-intensity battle under the lights as they look to defend home turf against one of the most physical sides in the league.” - Thanks to Edinburgh Rugby for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 24 January - Want to get your garden in shape this year? Join the Caley's Garden Design Courses to help plan and design your space. Open to all, discounted rate for members. Happening at the Stable Block, Saughton Park, Edinburgh.” - Thanks to The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society (The Caley) for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 24th January at the Heart of Newhaven - New Free Family Soup Lunch Club – Launch Event. Join us for the launch of our new FREE Family Soup Lunch Club during Warm Welcome Week. Open to all – families, neighbours, and community members welcome!” - Thanks to Heart of Newhaven for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 25th January 2pm - Join us for an outdoor Dance Fit Workshop, a fresh air high-energy, feel-good session that blends easy-to-follow dance moves with fitness exercises. No experience needed, just bring your enthusiasm and warm workout layers! Part of the Croftathon Fundraiser weekend.” - Thanks to Jaimie MacDonald, Earth in Common, for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 25 January - 6pm at Robin Chapel, EH16 4AE. Affirming Flame - a charity concert for Amnesty International by Laurentum Singers and Lumina String Quartet. One hour of enchanting vocal and string music including Tavener, and inspiring poetry by Auden and Burns. Tickets £15/10” - Thanks to Amnesty International Edinburgh Central Group for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 25th January 7-10:30pm, Burns Returns: kicking off '26 with a foot-stomping ceilidh. Putting ‘fun’ into fundraising, celebrating all things bardic, in support of Edinburgh Direct Aid. With live music, dancing, turns & tunes aplenty. All action happening at the Ukrainian Club on Royal Terrace.” - Thanks to Conrad Molleson from Hoda Productions for Edinburgh Direct Aid for sharing this.

📌 “Tuesday 27 January: At our monthly Greentech Meetup you'll mingle with Edinburgh's Green community and munch on complimentary breakfast over January's talk: Sustainable AI at the Speed of Light — Redefining the environmental future of artificial intelligence. We hope to see you there 💚” - Thanks to Jessica McClure, CodeBase, for sharing this.

📌 “Due to demand, we have added an additional Taco Cooking Class date for Thursday 29th Jan. Come learn how to make authentic taco fillings as well as salsas and tortillas from scratch in a social small group environment. It's also BYOB!” - Thanks to Kevin, Host, Gringo Supperclub, for sharing this. - See more in this video.

📌 “Thursday 19th February: Join us at Edinburgh Central Library for a highly anticipated “in conversation” with author and broadcaster, Damian Barr, and art historian and curator, Alice Strang, exploring Damian’s 2025 novel, The Two Roberts, inspired by the lives of Bobby MacBryde and Robert Colquhon.” - Thanks to Nicky from the Art and Design Library at Edinburgh Central Library for sharing this.

📌 “Johnny Collington lives in Edinburgh. Featured on BBC Breakfast Rise & Shine 15/01/26 performing Scottish songs engaging people with Alzheimer's disease. It all started when he found this helped to communicate with his father. Filmed at Lifecare, Stockbridge.” - Thanks to a kind Minute subscriber for sharing this.