The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Tuesday 3 March 2026

Misinformation rife after Sighthill 'stabbing', bar staff laid off after BrewDog collapse, Leith pub's 'urgent' holiday flats appeal + The Reeling trad music festival is coming to town

Michael MacLeod

03 Mar 2026 — 11 min read

Cobbinshaw House, Sighthill.

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Today's newsletter starts with some potentially upsetting news from Sighthill. And the very end of the newsletter has details of a 'meet the editors' event I'm participating in next week, if you fancy saying hello. Here’s Tuesday's Edinburgh Minute.

Subscribe for free or upgrade here

🚨 Two people were injured after a man was seen with bladed weapons in the Calders area of Sighthill yesterday. Three schools and two nurseries were closed after reports of a stabbing just after 8am. - Claire Thomson & David Cowan, BBC Scotland News.

⮑ Live-streamers and tabloids claimed there had been a 'mass stabbing' with 'multiple people' attacked in a 'knife rampage', along with claims that 'two people were stabbed' and there was a 'hostage situation', which did not turn out to be true. Police confirmed one man was stabbed, while a woman suffered a cut to the head, 'not believed to be caused by a bladed weapon'. The injured man was home from hospital before the suspect was arrested shortly before 4pm. - Police published this update.
Among those spreading incorrect information about the incident were Elon Musk and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) on X, formerly known as Twitter.
🇺🇸 The story went global, with US news outlet CBS News publishing photos by local photographer Alan Simpson.
"A lot of locals came in and helped us clean the store. There was glass everywhere." - Calder Park Premier shop owner Asif Hussain spoke to Chloe Goodall of Edinburgh Live.
Council leader Jane Meagher said she was 'deeply shocked', in a statement, adding:

"I want to pay tribute to council colleagues, Police Scotland and other emergency services for their quick response and to wish the two people who were injured a speedy recovery. I would urge people not to speculate or share unverified information on social media."

🚔 Police and the RAF are holding a planned firearms training exercise at Murrayfield Stadium today. They warned the public that 'blank ammunition will be heard from around 1:30pm and 2:30pm.' - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.

🍻 Around a dozen Edinburgh bar workers are among hundreds made redundant after beer firm BrewDog went into administration and shut down 38 UK bars yesterday, including its Cowgate pub. BrewDog's two other Edinburgh bars, on Lothian Road and New Street, are reported to have been rescued by US firm Tilray, according to administrators. - Craig Williams, BBC Scotland News.

⮑ Two other BrewDog bars, at Edinburgh Airport and Edinburgh Waverley Station, remain open as they are franchise operations managed by SSP Group.
Tilray Brands, the new owner of the Lothian Road and New Street bars, published this press release yesterday about its acquisition.
The Grocer editor James Beeson commented: "James Watt and Martin Dickie each pocketed more than the price BrewDog was eventually sold for, while 500 hardworking staff are now out of a job & 220k equity punks don't get a dime."

🍺 Owners of the Malt & Hops pub in Leith are appealing to locals to help them oppose plans for short-term holiday lets in the office space above their bar. - The pub posted details in this Facebook post.

⮑ More than 100 people have already commented on the change-of-use application by Gregor Properties Ltd for 46 The Shore, known as Waterside House. - See the firm's 20-page planning document here [PDF].
Local MSP Ben Macpherson is quoted as saying he 'will be urging those involved to totally and urgently rethink' the plan, according to The Shore Business Collective on Instagram.

🎵 The Reeling trad music festival is moving from Glasgow's Rouken Glen Park to Ingliston in June, on the Saturday of the Royal Highland Show. - Brian Ferguson, The Herald.

🗞️ With updates on the New Town Quarter planning appeal, Elm Row bike lane and ongoing Tram route snagging issues, the March issue of the Spurtle is out now and online here.

You'll find city-wide news in the March edition of The Edinburgh Reporter, including an exclusive story on page-5 about council staff being overpaid again.

🤝 There are 15 local paid positions in this week's Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network jobs round-up.

📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

⮑ Please get in touch using this form. < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter.

♻️ Edinburgh’s Library of Things is Gaining Momentum - In September, Edinburgh’s first dedicated Library of “Things” opened for membership. Since then they have secured two grants and are expanding their stock this month and next month to include exciting new items you can borrow. - Thanks to Alix at Edinburgh Library of Things for sharing this piece by Tracy Griffen.

🥘 Children's cookery classes during the Easter holidays - A skill building, fun and social activity for children during the holidays. Edinburgh New Town Cookery School have a selection of children and teenager's cookery classes on across the Easter break. - Thanks to Edinburgh New Town Cookery School, for sharing this.

📜 Tales of Old East Lothian - From the ‘Tranent Tyger Chace’ to the Great Coal Sink of Port Seton, historian Ed Bethune will uncover East Lothian myths & legends and help us learn more about our ancestors. 7:30pm, Wed 11 March, St Peter's Church Hall, High St, Musselburgh. - Thanks to Musselburgh Conservation Society, for sharing this.

🧭 Join our Young People's Advisory Group! - Are you aged 12-25? Are you able to speak and read in English? Then you're invited to join our Young People's Advisory Group (YPAG) for the ADAPT study at the University of Edinburgh. Join for up to 3 sessions and receive up to £120 for taking part! - Thanks to The University of Edinburgh, for sharing this.

📢 RALLY at Parliament on Thursday 5th 11 - 12 - Have an hour to spare on Thursday to support education in this city? Edinburgh Napier, which serves many home students is undergoing a round of compulsory redundancies. Come to Parliament Thursday 5th 11 - 12 in solidarity! Thanks! - Thanks to Zoe Irvine, for sharing this.

🌿 Wildlife on the Water of Leith - February 2026 - During February there were lots of roe deer, foxes, badgers & otters along the river, even a cormorant made an appearance! After a wet start to Feb, there was a feeling of Spring in the air, by the end of the month, as breeding season approaches! - Thanks to Tom Kelly, GoWildinEdinburgh.co.uk, for sharing this.

🎨 Edinburgh Women's Mural [Daily]
Today, Tue 03 March - Edinburgh Central Library's local community created a beautiful stencil project in 2022, celebrating some of Edinburgh's notable women. It's back on display at the Library, each day during opening hours for the month of March. Come and visit!
10am to 8pm | Edinburgh Central Library, EH1 1EG | FREE - More details here, shared by Central Library staff.

🖼 Past Shelves: Queer Histories of Reading (Exhibition) [Daily]
Thu 05 March - Visit Past Shelves to explore the impact of LGBTQ+ reading, publishing, and bookselling. The exhibition is inspired by Scotland's first LGBTQ+ bookshops, community experiences of reading and life in Scotland in the 80s & 90s. 5 March - 3 May.
10am to 5pm | Museum of Edinburgh, EH8 8DD | FREE - More details here, shared by Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive.

🗣️ We Are The University! - EIS Rally at the Scottish Parliament
Thu 05 March - Join EIS Thursday 05 March for our rally marking the tenth day of strike action in defence of jobs at Edinburgh Napier University. Compulsory redundancies are a choice, and we are standing together to demand they are stopped. All supporters welcome.
11am to 12pm | Scottish Parliament Building, EH99 1SP | FREE - More details here, shared by EIS-ULA.

🎨 Paloma Proudfoot: Launch event at Collective
Thu 05 March - After our winter closure, Collective reopens this week! Join us on Thursday 5 March, 6 - 8pm, to celebrate the first solo show in Scotland by Paloma Proudfoot, a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art.
6pm to 8pm | Collective, EH7 5AA | FREE - More details here, shared by Collective.

📖 An Evening With Elisabeth Wolf
Thu 05 March - Join Elisabeth Wolf on Thursday 5th March, as she chats to Amanda Block about her haunting, ominous and astonishingly compelling new book, Winterbourne. Get swept up in this chilling and unpredictable mystery and book your tickets today!
7pm to 8.30pm | Waterstones, EH2 4AD | Tickets £5 - More details here, shared by Alison Belsham.

🖋️ Corvidaeum Launch: Curiosity for Corvids
Thu 05 March - Join the flock for the launch of a new co-working space for writers & creatives! Tour the space with founder Kim Grant. Experience a workshop on how curiosity can fuel creative fires & build resilience by ICF-certified coach Caitlin McDonald.
7pm to 9pm | Corvidaeum Creative, EH6 5DT | FREE - More details here, shared by Corvidaeum Creative.

🎶 Amy Leach and Alasdair Paul - Album Launch
Thu 05 March - Join Scots song duo Amy Leach and Alasdair Paul for the launch of their debut album They'll Aye Remain, with support from Catriona Hawksworth.
7.30pm to 10pm | Scottish Storytelling Centre, EH1 1SR | £14, £12 concessions - More details here, shared by Amy Leach, Amy Leach and Alasdair Paul.

🗣️ Napier Talks: International Women's Day Professorial Lecture
Fri 06 March - Celebrate International Women's Day by joining us for a celebration of academic excellence. This event brings together 5 appointed professors, who will reflect on their academic journeys and share insights from their research expertise.
1.30pm to 6pm | Edinburgh Napier University, EH14 1DJ | FREE - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Napier University.

🎭 SPIRITUEUSES - Women and Whisky
Fri 06 March - Don't miss "Spiritueuses: Women and Whisky", an original theatrical performance by the Collectif de l'Âtre uncovering the hidden history of women in the whisky industry! A fine blend of theatre, music, and archives in French and English
6.30pm to 7.30pm | French Institute of Scotland, EH1 1RN - More details here, shared by Institut français d'Écosse.

✍️ By The Beach Writing Retreat with Women Who Write
Sat 07 March - Join Women Who Write and our welcoming community at a day retreat (full or half-day slots) for writing sprints, refreshments and a saunter to the beach. Open to all women and non-binary writers. 20% off to first-timers with code 'TheMinute'.
9am to 5pm | Tribe Porty, EH15 2AJ - More details here, shared by Dominique, Women Who Write.

✊ ️ International Women's Day March!
Sun 08 March - Raise your voice and join the fight this Int'l Women's Day! 11:30 Pre-March Seminar exploring key campaigns in Edinburgh (registration needed) | 13:00 March begins at the Mercat Cross | 14:00 Post-March Speeches in front of the Scottish Parliament
1pm to 3pm | Mercat Cross, EH1 1RF | FREE - More details here, shared by Victoria Plutshack, International Women's Day Edinburgh.

🎶 LOUD WOMEN at the Banshee Labyrinth for IWD 2026
Sun 08 March - Join LOUD WOMEN for a special International Women's Day celebration at Banshee Labyrinth, live music from Aino Elina, SheBeat, Dart Hearts and Arrows Meet!
7pm to 10pm | The Banshee Labyrinth, EH1 1LG | £9/ £10 - More details here, shared by SheBeat.

🧶 Beginners knitting class - join our small, friendly class and knit your own triangle scarf! [Weekly]
Tue 10 March - Have you ever wanted to learn to knit or are you looking for a refresher course? Join us for a 4-week course of fun, inspiring classes to learn the basics, while hand knitting beautiful gloves and triangle scarf using high quality Scottish wool.
5.45pm to 7.45pm | Scottish Textiles Showcase, EH1 1SU | £125 (4 week course) - More details here, shared by Carrie.

🧩 codebar's March workshop
Tue 10 March - Free coding workshop! Join codebar at the FanDuel office to learn to code in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Or sign up as a coach to share your skills with others. Light refreshments will be provided!
6pm to 8pm | FanDuel, EH3 9FQ | FREE - More details here, shared by Diani Teixeira, Edinburgh codebar.

🛍️ Style Confidence: Colors, Personal Style and Body Shapes [Monthly]
Fri 13 March - This isn't just a workshop about colours or "perfect" outfits. It's about self-love and self-expression, embracing who you are and confidence. Expect guidance, colour tips, a personal style questionnaire, wardrobe edit tips and a moodboard activity.
5.30pm to 8pm | Round The World Studios, EH6 6RS - More details here, shared by Yellow Souls Studio.

🎨 How to break into Scottish arts journalism
Thu 19 March - Join Art UK on Thursday 19th March 2026 from 6 -7:30 pm to discover how to begin a career in Scottish arts journalism.
6pm to 7.30pm | Zoom | FREE - More details here, shared by Art UK.

🍻 Paris in a Glass
Thu 26 March - An evening of music, language & culture with performances of French classics by Chanteuse Taylor Wilson. Tickets include a glass of fizz & small sharing cheese plate on arrival. Reserve your place & let the music transport you to Paris. On sale NOW!
7pm to 9.30pm | Le Petit Raisin, EH2 1DY | £35 per person - More details here, shared by Le Petit Raisin.

📮 Anything missing? Or an event to share? Nothing's too local! Please share your local news and events here.

⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 853.
📬 Free subscribers: 29,000+.
📲 Visits generated for local news sources: 2,000,000+.

👍 The Edinburgh Minute only exists thanks to voluntary subscribers. Please consider chipping in for a fiver a month to ensure it continues.

Subscribe for free or upgrade here

📆 Meet Kirsty Peebles, founder of The Peeblean and The Borderer, and me for a 'Meet The Editors' event on Wednesday 11 March at 8.30am, hosted by the Charlotte Street Partners communications agency. - More details here.