The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 11 February 2026

Tributes to ESF and Breakfast Bothy charity founder, council house allocations frozen, new GP clinic in Wester Hailes, houseplant festival + introducing the 'Better News'

Michael MacLeod

11 Feb 2026 — 11 min read

Photo by Tom Duffin.

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. The news has been a bit bleak recently. So I've added a 'Better News' section today. Feel free to share yours in the comments section or by sending it in here. I'll still continue sharing the things we all need to know, so nothing will change in terms of the news section. It's just part of a tidy-up to make the newsletter easier to read. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.

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🍽️ Tributes have been paid to Andrew Marshall, the founder of Edinburgh Street Food among a wide range of other successful local brands. He was also the founder of The Breakfast Bothy charity in Marchmont. - His colleagues posted this message on Instagram and LinkedIn.

In 2023, Andrew was listed in The List’s Top 100 for his contributions to Scottish life and business.

🏠 A freeze on council house allocations will be extended to March 2027, after it emerged 646 homeless people and households couldn’t be housed in December. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News.

🎭 The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is hoping to secure a £2.1 million Scottish Government 'lifeline' for the event to help secure its future. - Exclusive by Brian Ferguson in The Herald.

🎮 A group of former Rockstar North employees say the fallout over their dismissals from the gaming firm has left them struggling to pay bills. - They spoke to the Big Issue.

🚨 Stalking crimes in Edinburgh are up 40% according to new data released by Police Scotland. - Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan, in Midlothian View.

⮑ Councillors are due to review the figures, at today's Culture and Communities Committee. - See the meeting agenda here.

🚔 CCTV footage shows a group of thieves pushing West End shop staff before stealing vapes from behind the till at Torphichen Place on Monday. - Lee Dalgetty, Edinburgh Live.

🔥 Swanston residents were woken up at 3am on Monday morning by a car 'fully ablaze' outside their houses. Police are now investigating the ‘wilful' fire. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News.

🚎 Lothian Buses say a 'full investigation is underway to establish the circumstances' after one of their vehicles caught fire on South Clerk Street on Monday. - Tom Wilson, Deadline News.

🩺 The new walk-in GP clinic in Wester Hailes is due to be officially opened by First Minister John Swinney today. - Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter.

🏡 The former GP surgery on Hermitage Terrace in Morningside is to be redeveloped into a house, having closed last year. - Rose Moncur, The Herald.

✌️ Better news

This section aims to include better news from all over Edinburgh. It’s a wide range of things, and as always you’re welcome to submit yours here. My hope is that it inspires more civic pride and community spirit, new plans in your calendar and a few smiles or laughs along the way.

🪴 Tickets have gone on sale for Scotland's first houseplant festival, named Green AF, at The Pitt in Granton on 22 & 23 May. - Tickets and more details here.

🎤 Marchmont's 'Fill This Space' monthly music and poetry nights have a new location: the MF Coffee cafe at Summerhall. The event returns on Sunday. - More details here.

🏫 Another one for fans of local history: Historian Andy Arthur has published the latest in his Lost Board Schools of Edinburgh research series, this time focused on the long-lost St Leonard’s Public School. - Read it on Threadinburgh.

🍽️ The local Edinburgh foodie podcast, Eating and Waiting to Eat, wrapped up its first season yesterday with the release of its tenth episode: an interview with Fortitude Coffee Roasters. You can catch-up with the stories behind many of your favourite restaurants and bars wherever you get your podcasts. - Thanks to Eating and Waiting to Eat co-host Carlos Miranda for sending this in.

🚲 Edinburgh RC’s Youth Race Team has announced its 2026 cycling squad. Fourteen riders aged 12–16 will compete across road, track, MTB and cyclocross. The announcement comes ahead of the Tour de France Grand Départ in Edinburgh in 2027. Edinburgh Road Club, founded in 1925, has established itself as Scotland’s most successful youth racing programme. - More details from the club here.

🛣️ A Gilmore Place pavement previously described as 'horribly narrow' has been widened as part of the council's roadworks in the area. - 'Delighted' with the progress, The Living Streets campaign group is now inviting readers to share their nominations for which pavements should be next.

LSEG were delighted to see a horribly narrow pavement widened as part of the Gilmore Place roadworks.👏 This is needed across the city - We urge Edinburgh Council to invest more £££ into the footway maintenance budget in the coming year ! Do you have a narrow pavement near you that needs widened ?
— Living Streets Edinburgh (@livingstreetsedi.bsky.social) 2026-02-08T11:00:56.955Z

🏃‍♀️ The We Run Edinburgh weekly women’s social run is free to join this evening from 6.30pm. - More details here.

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📌 “Wednesday 11 February - Join us at Filmhouse for the screening of The Dating Game by Violet Du Feng. Three serial bachelors join an intensive 7-day dating camp led by one of China’s most sought-after dating coaches, in what may be their last-ditch effort to find love and companionship.” - Thanks to Scottish Documentary Institute for sharing this.

📌 “Wednesdays 5:30pm | FREE Run Club | Meet at Marpole, 378 Leith Walk. If you've always fancied getting into running, now is the time to join - we're kicking off a new run club and the group is starting off on shorter runs. Led by Feel Good Fitness with Cem.” - Thanks to Marpole Retreats for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 12 February @ 10.30am. The History of James Clark School presented by Andy Arthur (the author of the threadinburgh blog). Open to all, free entry (donations gratefully received) Southside Heritage Group, Nelson Hall, 5 Spittalfield Cres, Edinburgh EH8 9QZ” - Thanks to Elaine of Southside Heritage Group for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 12th February - free talk, hosted by Dr Neil's Garden Trust, about Edinburgh architect William H. Playfair by Hetty Lancaster. Starts 7.30pm in the Millar Hall (Church Cafe), Duddingston.” - Thanks to Hetty Lancaster for sharing this.

📌 “During February and March enjoy womens history walking tours on a 2 for 1 offer - except for those which are running on Sat 7th/Sun 8th March which are for free! Check out the link for more details and to book.” - Thanks to Ruth, Womens History Walking Tour Guide, for sharing this.

📌 “Come and join Astronomy for All at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, a series of talks from our scientists and Engineers about what goes on behind the walls up on Blackford Hill. From building space telescopes to entire galaxies, each Tuesday evening in February and March will have something new.” - Thanks to Royal Observatory Edinburgh for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 12 February - Join us free online or in Edinburgh in celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month as Dr Keava McMillan explores memorials by or for queer women who campaigned for suffrage in Scotland.” - Thanks to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 13 February, King's Hall: Ceilidh Plus with us + celebrate the arrival of the Lunar New Year + Valentine's Day + midterm school break with Scottish Country + Chinese Square + American Line dancing to live trad music. Plus, demo + food pop-up + BYOB. Get the last remaining tickets now.” - Thanks to the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland team for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 13 February (10:30am-11:00am) – Come & Play Session – Bounce & Rhyme Time at St George’s School Nursery. Fun Friday mornings led by Bookbug Session Leaders in our Nursery! Open for families to attend with 1-3 year olds - Free entry!” - Thanks to St George's for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 13 February at 5pm - Join us at the Institut français d’Écosse for an inspiring roundtable on what it means to be an independent businesswoman in 2026, with journalist Assa Samaké-Roman, artist manager Mélanie Roman, Wee Ecosse co-founder Sarah Lachhab and Jeffreys Interior MD Georgina Fraser.” - Thanks to Institut français d'Écosse for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 14th & 15th February - Creating and managing basketry willow beds at Lauriston Farm Agroecology Co-op with Anna Liebmann. We will do the first full harvest of the the new 'perfect, model' willow bed, planted in 2024 through ecotex mulch mat.” - Thanks to Anna Liebmann Basketweaver for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 14 February - Caley Growing Workshop - Dividing Perennials - A workshop on how to divide perennial plants for plant health and to make free plants! This two hour workshop will cover the lifting and splitting of different types of plant crowns and their aftercare.” - Thanks to The Caley for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 14 February — Concerned about AI? Join our AI & Gender Conference to explore its impact on young women and help shape future regulation. Tickets are free and open to young people (16+) and professionals dedicated to ending digital violence. Join us to lead the change.” - Thanks to Robyn Barclay, Communications and Campaigns Coordinator at The Young Women's Movement, for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 14th February - Friends of Inch Park monthly litter pick, come and give Inch Park some love on Valentine's Day. Meet outside Inch House Community Centre at 11am, all equipment provided. Refreshments to follow in Inch House at 1pm, open to all, even if you're not joining the litter pick.” - Thanks to the Friends of Inch Park for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday, 3pm: Restorative Sound Bathing at Tidal Yoga on Leith Walk - join Alex and Jyoti for 60 minutes while they guide you through relaxation and a sound bath that will restore your energy and give you an opportunity to switch off. Jyoti will use her skill with singing bowls, percussion and voice to send you on a peaceful journey.” - Thanks to Alex at Tidal Yoga for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday: Join Professor John Morrison for a short lecture at the launch of The Scottish Gallery Press’s new book, James Morrison, Under a Northern Sky. John Morrison and Guy Peploe will be available for book signings until 12.15pm. Tickets £10 please rsvp.” - Thanks to The Scottish Gallery for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 15 February - Postcards for Palestine: join us at Lighthouse Bookshop for a relaxed crafting session fundraising for Palestinian families in Gaza. Let's gather in radical love and solidarity this Valentine's weekend! All ticket proceeds donated.” - Thanks to organiser Xuanlin for sharing this.

📌 “Humanist Book Group (Online) - Looking for a friendly, informal book group? Join our quarterly online meet-up on Tuesday 17th February at 7.30pm (Zoom). This session, we’ll be discussing The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adam—everyone welcome, whether you’ve finished the book or not!” - Thanks to Imogen, Volunteer with Humanist Society Scotland, for sharing this.

📌 “Wed 18 Feb, 12-2pm - FREE community party Gracemount Mansion Gardens, top of Gracemount House Dr. All welcome no need to book. Free hot lunch, family-fun activities, crafts, face painting, drum circle, dance performances and Sleep Station!” - Thanks to Jane Hartley, Gracemount Mansion Development Trust Development Coordinator, for sharing this.

📌 “⚙️ On Sunday, 22nd February 2 - 5 pm, Greenbank Church are hosting the next Repair Café. ⚒️ Book a slot if you have an item that needs an expert touch to extend its life - repaircafeedinburgh@gmail.com. 🐻 Last year, 22 items were repaired from a gramaphone to a much loved teddy bear!” - Thanks to Rachel at Greenbank Church for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 22 February - Beginner polymer clay jewellery workshop: come along for a fun and cosy afternoon where you'll get to take home two finished pieces of jewellery and the skills to get started making your own jewellery right away! At the Crannie Community Hub just off the Canongate from 2-4.30pm.” - Thanks to Ruth Appleby of Mud and Marsh Jewellery Design for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 22 February - Get ready to sing some sweet melodies with One Day Choir at LifeCare in Stockbridge. No audition, no prep, no commitment, and no prior experience needed, just join a group of like-minded music-lovers for one afternoon as we sing 'Too Sweet' by Hozier.” - Thanks to Nicole from One Day Choir Edinburgh for sharing this.