The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Tuesday 6 January 2026
Snow warning this morning, thousands of pupils skipping school, charity shop makes £14k in one day, local wildlife round-up from Tom Kelly + 'end of an era' for Victoria Street's Maison Bleue restaurant after 28 years
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. There's something unusual in today's newsletter, which a (short) press release published in full. It's from the family who have run the Maison Bleue restaurant on Victoria Street for 28 years. It's news that hasn't been published anywhere else so I didn't have any site to link to. You'll find it just above the noticeboard below. Here’s Tuesday's Edinburgh Minute.
❄️ There were more snow flurries overnight and more could come this morning. A new Met Office yellow weather warning for snow and ice in Edinburgh was extended last night. The snow warning is currently in place until 11am. There's also a chance it falls as rain or sleet. - Get live updates on the Met Office page for Edinburgh here.
- 🛟 Rescue teams were called to Threipmuir reservoir in the Pentlands after a woman fell through the ice on Sunday. - Matthew Fulton, STV News.
- 🧊 "One benefit of the cold weather is parts of the river have iced over making access to litter pick Longstone Island a breeze." - A volunteer with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust stepping on to the river.
- 🦢 "Only a swan could fall through broken ice so gracefully" - This video by broadcaster David Tanner shows wildlife dealing with the frozen Union Canal.
🚲 Gilmerton Road features in the latest Road CC website's Near Miss of the Day series.
Megan Huws
✏️ The council has insisted 'attendance levels are still generally good in Edinburgh' after it was revealed more than 3,300 pupils missed the majority of their classes between 2020 and 2024. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.
⚽️ Proposals to replace the Corn Exchange World of Football site with nearly 400 new homes and student housing have been approved. - Brian Donnelly, The Herald.
🎓 The University and College Union has published an update on yesterday's news about possible strike action at Heriot-Watt University. Kate Sang, Heriot-Watt UCU president, said: "The university's plans to further reduce staff numbers across the teaching teams are worrying, especially given that the management has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. We remain committed to working constructively with the employer."
- A subscriber working at a university in Edinburgh contacted the Minute to respond to yesterday's news, saying: "An article in today's EM states that Heriot-Watt lecturers are considering strike action. I'd like to point out that it isn't only lecturers, it is also the professional services staff who work are as important to the running of our universities as the lecturers. I know your link leads to an EEN article and it is the source of the infelicity. The UCU represents academic and non-academic members of staff. I know this sounds pedantic but as a non-academic working in a university dealing with all the sh*t going on HE right now it does hurt a wee bit to be consistently overlooked by the media!"
⛰️ Campaigners claim Historic Environment Scotland is trying to permanently close the Radical Road path on Arthur's Seat. - Donald Turvill, The Herald.
🛍️ The Stockbridge Shelter Scotland charity shop raked in more than £14,000 on Saturday for the start of its annual sale week. - Rab Armour, Third Force News.
🎸 Local rockers Goodbye Mr Mackenzie will join Garbage on stage at this summer's Edinburgh Castle concert. Singer Shirley Manson spoke about her history with both bands at Portobello Town Hall. - Brian Ferguson, The Scotsman.
🎆 'This year's Hogmanay concert with Wet Leg, Hamish Hawk and Lucia & The Best Boys gets a four-star review from Tara Hepburn in The Skinny.
- ⮑ 'Fancy a night at the opera? How about a tribute to Taylor Swift by candlelight?' The List has a guide to Edinburgh's 'off-beat' events in 2026.
The List
🍽️ As mentioned in today's newsletter introduction, I'm publishing a press release in full. It's not something I normally do but the news isn't anywhere else and they came to the Minute first:
End of an era for beloved Edinburgh landmark Maison Bleue:
'Maison Bleue, a landmark of Edinburgh’s dining scene since 1998, has announced it will close this month following the imminent retirement of its founder Dean Gassabi, and the subsequent sale of its iconic flagship restaurant, situated on Victoria Street. The move marks the end of a 28-year legacy for the much-loved, family-run restaurant. The decision to close the venue - famed for its distinctive blend of French, Scottish and North African cuisine - is driven primarily by the forthcoming retirement of owner Dean Gassabi after 31 years in the hospitality business. Dean began his hospitality journey as part of the famed Pierre Victoire franchise, then went on to open several other venues such as Boudoir, Massimo’s, the non-profit social enterprise Maison Bleue at Home, and the much loved Maison Bleue Le Bistrot in Morningside, to name but a few.While acknowledging soaring operating costs and the financial pressures facing the hospitality sector, Dean has stressed his desire to close on their own terms, protecting the restaurant’s legacy.
A message of thanks: Dean paid tribute to the generations of diners who have supported Maison Bleue since its opening: “We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the loyalty the people of Edinburgh have shown us, particularly through challenging times like Brexit and the pandemic,” said Dean Gassabi. “This restaurant has been our blood, sweat and tears for nearly three decades, and we’ve been honoured to mark countless special moments with our patrons, from first dates and engagements to family weddings. That commitment from our customers is a treasure that will never be lost on us.”
Mr Gassabi also highlighted their pride in supporting Social Bite, describing their long-running cooperation with the social enterprise as a core part of the restaurant’s community focus. Mr Gassabi emphasised that his first priority throughout the closure process has been the welfare of their staff and suppliers. Maison Bleue’s tentative final day of trading is 11th January 2026. The building will then undergo a programme of refurbishment, with Slievemore Properties Ltd expected to reopen the site in spring.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard
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📌 “It's been another fantastic year, living in Scotland's capital city, with all this wildlife around us. So here's a lookback at some of the wildlife activity, on the Water of Leith, in 2025.” - Thanks to Tom Kelly of GoWildInEdinburgh.co.uk for sharing this.
📌 “Tuesday 6th January, 6pm - 7:45pm - Psychotherapists from 3CBT are running free community classes. They will teach some therapy tools to the local community, upstairs in Morningside Library. The focus will be on helping you to self-manage anxiety and low mood.” - Thanks to Neil from 3CBT for sharing this.
📌 “New Year - New Skill. Sign up to Beginner's Bridge classes starting this Wednesday 7th January at the New Melville. More experienced classes are also available, find out more via the link.” - Thanks to Troy van de l'Isle, Bridge Teacher, for sharing this.
📌 “Wed 7th Jan at 12- 12.30 pm. Start your year by 'looking back to look forward' in this FREE reflective self-coaching 30 minute session. Get in touch with Kate Flory from Kapow Coaching to book via kate@kapowcoaching.com” - Thanks to Kate Flory, Founder of Kapow Coaching, for sharing this.
📌 “Wednesday 07 January. The impact of the First World War on East Lothian will be examined by Dr Hanita Ritchie at 7:30pm at St Peter's Church Hall in Musselburgh, with local regiments, airfields, the role played by women and the subsequent war memorials erected to honour the dead discussed.” - Thanks to Musselburgh Conservation Society for sharing this.
📌 “Edinburgh City Jiu Jitsu, a non-profit self-defence club, are running classes in Morningside as well as other training events around the city. It’s free to try and anyone can get involved.” - Thanks to the club for sharing this.
📌 “If you've made a commitment to self-care/wellbeing this year, join me at my art studio in Leith on Thursday 8th Jan (18:00 – 20:30) for an intuitive painting workshop designed to help you slow down, reconnect and set meaningful intentions for the year ahead. Tickets £50, all materials provided.” - Thanks to Vicky Paul for sharing this.
📌 “Thursday 8 Jan - 6 week Beginners Yoga Course, every Thursday 5.45-6.45pm at Yoga Now studio in st. Margaret’s House, the Scot-Art building on London Road. Friendly and supportive class, to help you move, feel and live better. Suitable for beginners and returners, all equipment provided.” - Thanks to Lucy Brownhall, founder of Yoga Now, for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 11 January - Edinburgh Police Choir is having an open night - no connection to the police needed. We sing acapella in 4-part harmony, and are super-friendly. Email edinburghpolicechoir@gmail.com for more info.” - Thanks to Alison for sharing this. The club is also on Facebook.
📌 “Wednesday 7th January - Edinburgh Southside Choir looks forward to starting our next session. Why not join us at the Charteris Centre? New members are welcome in all voice parts but we’d particularly like to increase our soprano section, no auditions required and two free taster rehearsals.” - Thanks to the choir for sharing this.
📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🇬🇷 Greek man's parents fundraising to get his body home from Edinburgh.
- 🚔 Man arrested after car crashes into scaffolding.
- 🏗️ 'Major projects - how to get them right'.
- 🛟 Cramond Island lifeboat rescue.
- 🎨 New workshops at Marpole on Leith Walk.
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⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 806.
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