The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Tuesday 23 December 2025

Minor plane crash at airport, Leonardo factory could close over chopper contract, why city's buses are slower + charity shop gears-up for 'legendary' annual sale

Michael MacLeod

23 Dec 2025 — 5 min read

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Remember there's no newsletter on Thursday or Friday this week, so tomorrow's your last chance to get any weekend events on to the Community Noticeboard (via this form). Here’s Tuesday's Edinburgh Minute.

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🚨 A 22-year-old man appeared in court yesterday accused of nine sex attacks on women in Stockbridge on a single evening (12 December). He made no plea and was remanded in custody to appear again in court within the next eight days. - Keiran Fleming, STV News.

⮑ The number of alleged attacks was initially reported as three last week, rising to six by yesterday. Court documents yesterday included nine charges.

✈️ A Ryanair plane collided with the cab of a fuel truck on the Edinburgh Airport runway yesterday morning. There were no injuries reported. - Holly Lennon, STV News.

Both the headline and sub-headline of this Edinburgh Live report say passengers onboard were 'terrified', but nobody in the report says they were terrified.

🚁 Around 2,500 jobs could go at Crewe Toll's Leonardo military radar factory if a £1bn helicopter contract is not awarded. - The news was first reported in The Telegraph by Matt Oliver & Szu Ping Chan, then in the Evening News by Callum McCormack.

🚔 A masked thief robbed a Lauriston Place / Keir Street newsagent on Saturday. - Lee Dalgetty, Edinburgh Live.

🚎 The average bus speed in Scotland is now 11mph, down from 15mph two years ago. The number 38 Lothian Bus (West Granton to Royal Infirmary) route took 53 minutes in 2005. This year it averaged 72 minutes. Increasing car usage is blamed. - BBC Scotland News reporter Andrew Picken hops on a 38 and studies the data.

🥾 The former ESPC building on George Street is being taken over by Australian bootmaker R.M.Williams. - Fiona Briggs, Retail Times.

💰 Edinburgh-based firm ScrubMarine has attracted almost £1m of investment to build ship-scrubbing robots. - Tom H. Wilson, Deadline News.

🗳️ The council has been awarded almost £240,000 by the National Lottery to work on commemorating the city’s history of colonialism and slavery. - The council published details here.

🍔 The TGI Fridays restaurant on Castle Street could close after the US chain's owners entered administration. - Callum McCormack, Evening News.

🏃‍♀️ Van on the run: A former pie van has been transformed into something much healthier. The team behind Easter Road running shop Interval have turned the vehicle into a mini coffee shop and retail space. They plan to take it to races around Scotland in 2026. - More details here.

🍽️ The Rapid Relief Team charity has delivered 1,176 meals to families in need across the capital. - Nicholas Malizia, Edinburgh Live.

🛍️ Staff at the Shelter Scotland shop in Stockbridge are getting ready for charity's 23rd annual new year sale event on Saturday 3 January 2026. Shop Manager Peter Jew says: "I can’t wait to welcome all our customers to our legendary event in Edinburgh. Those who queue outside are always in for a massive treat with exciting quality finds everywhere around the shop. It is a great opportunity to grab something special while supporting Shelter Scotland in the fight against the Housing Emergency." - More details are here.

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⮑ Please get in touch using this form. < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter. (Remember there's no newsletter on Thursday or Friday this week, so tomorrow's your last chance to get any weekend events in before the following edition on Monday 29th.)

📌 “18th Rainbows Edinburgh Girlguiding Unit have open spaces for girls 5-7 years old to join from January! Based in Slateford, we welcome girls from all surrounding neighbourhoods.” - Thanks to 18th Rainbows Unit leader, Girlguiding Scotland, for sharing this.

📌 “Earth in Common Climate Choir meets every Tuesday evening 6pm to 8pm at Populus Cafe, 4A John's Place, EH6 7EL.
All ages and abilities welcome..we sing for joy and for change. Donation basis.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 “On Saturday 27 December, Edinburgh Rugby are in action at Scottish Gas Murrayfield when they take on Glasgow Warriors in Rugby's Oldest Derby - the 1872 Cup! It's the perfect activity for the in-between days between Christmas and Hogmanay.” - Thanks to Edinburgh Rugby for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 28 December - Afternoon Delight: It's Twixmas! is a great way to support local live music, with Sons of the Descent, SheBeat, The Folk Drama and Sleekit (acoustic) performing in the Voodoo Rooms Speakeasy 5-8pm - so getting home after is no bother :)” - Thanks to SheBeat Jodie for sharing this.

📌 “Monday 29th December - Join us at Paradigm Shift Open Studio for our last Monthly Mending of the year. Bring items from home that are in need of repair and learn about darning, patching and felting. Pay what you can.” - Thanks to Paradigm Shift Open Studio for sharing this.

📌 “Granton based gym, Pitt Strength, is running Edinburgh’s first FREE Hogmanay community workout. Designed to bring gym-goers and friends together to finish (and start!) the year on a high! Book you spot now.” - Thanks to Pitt Strength member Fiona for sharing this.

📌 “Friday, January 2nd at 12 noon: Join the audience in the Usher Hall for Edinburgh Royal Choral Union's 138th performance of Handel's 'Messiah'. Edinburgh Pro Musica orchestra will accompany the choir and a superb line up of soloists, under the baton of the Early Music specialist, David Bates.” - Thanks to Celia Coulson for sharing this.

📌 “Kick off 2026 with 3 incredible free photography exhibitions, showcasing stunning photography from around the world. Come and see images from the 4th EPS Digital International Salon, 110 prints from the 111th London Salon of Photography and 30 prints from Dublin Camera Club. It's superb!” - Thanks to Isobel Lindsay 0f Edinburgh Photographic Society (68 Great King Street) for sharing this.

📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here. (Remember there's no newsletter on Thursday or Friday this week, so tomorrow's your last chance to get any weekend events in before the following edition on Monday 29th.)