The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Tuesday 7 April 2026
Police called in over Edinburgh International Festival vandalism, bus driver attacked, Beltane Fire Festival seeks volunteers + two houses vying for 'Scotland's Home of the Year'
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. With council meetings paused and some journalists taking the bank holiday off, it's been a quieter start to the news week. But the Community Noticeboard shows no signs of slowing down. Thanks to everyone sharing news and events. A calendar version of the noticeboard is nearly ready to launch. It will make finding everything much easier and I'm excited to share it with you. Also, today's edition contains a University Challenge spoiler. Don't say I didn't warn you. Here’s Tuesday's Edinburgh Minute.
🟨 Organisers of the Edinburgh International Festival reported vandalism to police yesterday after The Hub building was hit by graffiti. The festival said: "We respect and support the right to peaceful lawful protest, however, this crosses a line." - First with the story was Brian Ferguson in The Herald.
Brian Ferguson
- The Arts Workers for Palestine Scotland organisation posted photos of the graffiti at The Hub here, criticising the festival's sponsor Baillie Gifford's investments. The firm insists it has 'high ethical standards'.
🚨 A 53-year-old Lothian Buses driver was attacked by 'a large group of youths' at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh bus stop on Sunday night, reports Rachel Fergusson in the Evening News.
🎓 Some good news for the University of Edinburgh: Its team has made it through to the final of the University Challenge TV show after beating Darwin College, Cambridge. - Alison Rowat, The Herald.
- ⮑ You can watch the semi-final on BBC iPlayer here. Edinburgh will find out who they face in the final after next week's other semi which is between Manchester and Imperial.
🏡 Two Edinburgh houses, in Craiglockhart and Mortonhall, are featured in the latest series of 'Scotland's Home of the Year', which returns to BBC 1 Scotland last night. - Read more about them here and watch it back here.
🔑 'Home, cheap home: Your Edinburgh flat hunting guide on how not to get ripped off' - Jorja Lindsay, The Edinburgh Tab.
Jorja Lindsay
🏗️ After a decade-long campaign, construction has begun on a new community hub in Colinton with the redevelopment of Spylaw Coach House. - Urban Realm shows the plans.
🍞 Kelly’s Bakery, of Sighthill, yesterday opened a new branch on Slateford Road, in the unit vacated by The Bald Baker in January. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News.
☕️ The current trading climate for local businesses may be 'even harder than during Covid' due to the lack of financial support that was available during the pandemic, says Robi Lambie of Cairngorm Coffee Roasters. - Kristy Dorsey, The Herald.
🛍️ 'What business do you wish would open on Princes Street?' - There's a discussion about it on the local Reddit forum.
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🗳️ Multilingual and Accessible Voting Guides Launch Ahead of Scotland’s 2026 Election - 'A community-led project, Everyone’s Vote Matters, has launched free voting guides in 20+ languages, Easy Read, Large Print and Audio formats. Designed to help New Scots, disabled people and first-time voters understand how voting works in Scotland.' - More details here, shared by Francesca Munoz, Everyone's Vote Matters Scotland.
🌱 Volunteers Wanted: Help Build an Urban Croft - 'Help us transform unused bowling greens into a thriving space for food-growing and wildlife. No experience needed, just energy and enthusiasm! We're at Victoria Park on Wednesday and Friday mornings and St Margaret's Park on select Saturdays.' - More details here, shared by Earth in Common.
🔥 Final Call for Beltane Fire Festival Stewards - 'Beltane Fire Festival is still looking for volunteer stewards to join the festival. Stewards, clad in high-vis, answer audience questions, guide them and hold the performance space. They are also part of the fire safety for the festival.' - More details here, shared by Ann, Nightwatch Group Organiser, Beltane 2026.
✂️ Guillotine - New Hair Dressing Studio Opens in Leith - 'Forget the salon/barber labels. Guillotine is Leith’s newest chop shop—a hair design studio for everyone that specialises in precision cutting. Step inside Bev Bev’s world and see the vision behind the studio in our exclusive interview here:' - And they're on Instagram here.
🎉 Women of EHFM x Women In Football: Womens World Cup Qualifier Kick-off Party
Today, Tue 07 April - 'EHFM is throwing a party to kick off a whole week of celebrations leading up to the FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier against Belgium at Easter Rd on 14th April. EHFM DJs, great tunes and a celebration of women and their achievements! Entry is FREE.'
7pm to 11pm | The Lioness of Leith, EH6 8HH | FREE - More details here, shared by Vicky Kavanagh, EHFM.
🇪🇸 Leith Mum launches Spanish summer camp for Scottish teenagers - 'A Leith mum inspired by European exchange students at Queen Margaret University is launching a week-long language camp for Scottish teenagers (13-17) in Spain this summer.' - More details here, shared by Rachel Athey, Athena Language Camps.
🗺️ Mapping & Antiquities: Four Centuries of Myths, Mistakes and Misinformation
Tomorrow, Wed 08 April - 'Chris Fleet, Map Curator, NLS, will reveal how mapping over the centuries has often misrepresented archaeological features, usually due to changes in understanding and the varying priorities of different map-makers. But not always!'
7pm to 8.30pm | Paterson's Land, EH8 8AQ | £3 donation - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society.
🐑 The Future of Livestock Farming
Thu 09 April - 'Can genetic science tackle farming's toughest challenges? How has science moved on since Dolly the Sheep was born? Join us for a lively discussion on genome editing in livestock and how this emerging science could shape the future of global food.'
7pm to 9pm | The Bayes Centre, EH8 9BT | £13.50/11.50/6.50 - More details here, shared by Helen Sang.
🎶 Patagonia Latin Sound in concert!
Thu 09 April - 'Edinburgh-based Patagonia Latin Sound celebrates the depth and power of Latin American music. From energetic cumbias to soulful boleros, you'll get lost in their close vocal harmonies, soaring wind arrangements and driving percussion.'
7pm to 9.30pm | Pianodrome Bruntsfield Community Hub, EH10 4NB - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🚆 Capital Rail Action Group - talk on the success of the reopened Northumberland Line
Thu 09 April - 'The re-opening in December 2024 to passenger services of the railway between Newcastle and Ashington has been a great success, with 1.44m journeys made so far. Come and hear from Dennis Fancett, who led the campaign for its re-opening.'
7pm to 8.30pm | The Quaker Meeting House, EH1 2JL | FREE - More details here, shared by Lawrence Marshall, Capital Rail Action Group.
🧘♀️ Mat Pilates Classes | Pilates by Catrin [Weekly]
Fri 10 April - 'All-levels contemporary mat pilates classes to strengthen, lengthen, and improve flexibility. You'll leave feeling good in both mind and body. All welcome, no experience required - modifications and adaptations will be offered throughout the class.'
7.15am to 8am | Edinburgh Yoga Room, EH1 3JX | £12 drop-in - More details here, shared by Pilates by Catrin.
🎨 Duo Return
Fri 10 April - 'Small exhibition of contemporary paintings by local artists, Evie Jamieson and Lorna Balmer.'
2.30pm to 7pm | Whitespace, EH8 9HQ | FREE - More details here, shared by Evie Jamieson.
✍️ Edinburgh Writers' HQ Retreat [Monthly]
Sun 12 April - 'Spend the day in a room with a bunch of writers, limitless caffeine, snacks, a tasty lunch, and all the pep and encouragement you need to get those words down. Booking now open for Sunday 12th April.'
10am to 4pm | Tribe Porty, EH15 2AJ | £45 - More details here, shared by Veronique Kootstra, Writers’ HQ.
🌲 Forest Bathing Walk & Sencha Tea Ritual Experience
Sun 12 April - 'Experience a guided Forest Bathing walk in a private woodland with a calming Sencha tea ritual. Slow down, engage your senses, reconnect with nature, and leave refreshed, grounded, and restored. Book your place today!'
10.30am to 1pm | Duddingston Loch, EH15 3PX | £27.80 - More details here, shared by Creative Roots in Nature.
🏛️ Extending the National Gallery of Scotland
Mon 13 April - 'Dominic Echlin, structural engineer, and Thomas Hamilton, architect, will share some of the challenges associated with the construction of the new Scottish Galleries at the National Gallery of Scotland on the Mound.'
6.30pm to 8pm | Augustine United Church, EH1 1EL | £6 - More details here, shared by AHSS.
RootsWings
🎶 Experimental Music Event in Leith
Wed 15 April - 'Unusual music from unusual places. Archival recordings by a border violence researcher. Guitars smacked by couscous filled gloves. Masa Nazzal + Ailie Ormston + Ellen ER + DJs Slipping and Interim of EHFM. More details at the ticket link!'
7pm to 10.30pm | Dissenter space, EH6 6JH | £10 + booking fee - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
📚 Author Event: Krystelle Bamford at Golden Hare Books
Wed 15 April - 'Join us for the paperback launch of Idle Grounds - a chilling, evocative and darkly comic debut about childhood, legacy, and the burdens and privileges we carry with us. Krystelle Bamford will be in conversation with fellow author Aimee MacDonald.'
6.30pm to 7.30pm | Golden Hare Books, EH3 5AQ | from £6 - More details here, shared by Golden Hare Books.
📚 A discussion of the uncanny with authors Lisa Tuttle and Brigid Lowe
Thu 16 April - 'For this special double-feature event, we're delighted that authors Lisa Tuttle and Brigid Lowe are coming to the bookshop to talk to Haunt Publishing's Rebecca Wojturska about their respective novels ('My Death' and 'The Bloody Branch').'
7pm to 8pm | The Portobello Bookshop, EH15 1DA - More details here, shared by The Portobello Bookshop.
💃 Care to Dance? Dance to Care!
Sat 18 April - 'Join us for a ceilidh night in aid of the Care Van, which supports people experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just want to try something new, it's all about good vibes, great company, and plenty of laughs!'
7pm to 11pm | Lauriston Hall, EH3 9DJ | £10 - More details here, shared by Church of the Sacred Heart.
🎤 One Day Choir Edinburgh
Sun 19 April - 'Join a fun, one-day singing session where everyone's welcome to belt out tunes and make new friends! No commitment. No auditions. No preparation. This time we'll all be harmonising to 'Man I Need' by Olivia Dean. No singing experience is necessary!'
1pm to 3.30pm | LifeCare Edinburgh, EH4 1JB | £15 - More details here, shared by Noomi, Thian, and Nic, One Day Choir (on Instagram here).
📮 What's missing from the Minute? Got an event to share? Nothing's too local! Please share your local news and events here.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- ☕️ Black Medicine Coffee investigating stooshie.
- 🎭 (Yet another) 'First look' at the King's Theatre ahead of July opening.
- 🪙 A pop-up art vending machine touring local independent shops.
- 🐑 'Is Edinburgh Black Sheeped out?'
- ☕️ Two new independent cafes: Gorse and Carter Coffee.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 882.
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