The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 11 March 2026
Uni costs 'rising faster than income', another new strategy for Princes Street and George Street, honour for hospital radio hero + Morningside Umbrella Festival
🌦️ Good morning Edinburgh. A chance of rain is forecast for much of today, according to the Met Office. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.
🎓 University of Edinburgh principal Peter Mathieson issued a statement yesterday insisting 'costs are rising faster than our income', amid another staff strike threat. He also said the uni was 'seeking to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible', adding: 'Constructive and ongoing engagement with trade unions is so important'. - The full statement is here.
- ⮑ University and College Union general secretary Jo Grady said: "University staff have suffered real term pay cuts, year after year, for more than a decade."
- University union members are to be balloted on fresh strike action, 'if senior managers press on with their planned cuts, job losses and revert back to the possible use of compulsory redundancies after July.'
🚦 Yet another new strategy on future plans for Princes Street and George Street is expected to be put to councillors later this year. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
☃️ Always curious to see if this actually happens: 'Snow showers are predicted to start at 3am and last until 11am' on Friday 13 March, reports Edinburgh Live.
☂️ Morningside Parish Church is to be decorated with more than 150 umbrellas as part of a community fundraiser for roof repairs. - Tom H Wilson, Deadline News.
- ⮑ Find out more about Morningside Umbrella Festival on Instagram, Facebook and JustGiving.
🏠 Construction is complete on 31 new homes at the former Royal Hospital for Sick Children site opposite the Meadows. Now Home Group Scotland is offering 20 apartments for social rent and a further 11 for mid-market rent. - Scottish Construction Now + Scottish Housing News.
🎸 Staff at Legends bar, formerly known as Opium, say they are 'heartbroken' after learning about a takeover of the venue, saying it 'could potentially close as early as next week with no notice'. The bar's current owner Old Town Pub Co / Bruce Taverns and potential new owner, Encore Bars, were all contacted by the Minute last month and again this week, but as yet no replies have been received. - More details here.
Michael MacLeod
🍺 The Cold Town House bar in the Grassmarket has a new retractable roof, due to open on Friday 3 April. - Dram Scotland.
📻 After six decades of broadcasting on Red Dot Radio at the Western General Hospital, Malcolm Kirby, now 75, has been honoured with an MBE for his work. - Iona Young, BBC Scotland News.
🍦 The family-run Oscar's Gelato in Portobello was crowned 'National Champion' at the Golden Scoop Awards at the weekend.
🎾 Students who exercise for more than 150 minutes per week were more likely to achieve higher levels of academic achievement, according to a new University of Edinburgh study.
🇮🇷 The Pianodrome venue in Bruntsfield is to host a concert in support of the people of Iran. - More details here.
Iran’s culture runs deep: poetry, art, music, family, and community. If you want to learn more, a free event is planned for the 19th of March: www.citizenticket.com/events/piano... @edinburghminute.com @edinreporter.bsky.social
— Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West) 🌍🌈🌹 (@drscottarthurmp.bsky.social) 2026-03-10T14:59:53.650Z
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🤝 Southside Local Place Plan- Have Your Say! - The Southside Community Council is shaping a 10-year local place plan. Businesses, community organizations, residents & students please have your say by completing our short survey or join an in-person workshop. Your say matters! - Thanks to Southside Community Council, for sharing this.
🌸 Get Your Stall at the LifeCare Spring Fair! - LifeCare invites sellers, artisans and creatives to take a stall at their Spring Fair on Sun 12 Apr 10.30–1.30 at the LifeCare Hub, Stockbridge. £20/table proceeds go to the charity's vital services. Contact sarahduckmanton@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk - Thanks to Claire, LifeCare Edinburgh, for sharing this.
🎥 Help Us Make a Scottish Rom-Com Only on Kickstarter! - Men I’m Not Married To is a rom-com short film written by Lauren Piskothy and directed by Kate Hammer. The film follows Elsie Bell, a hopeless romantic who nearly dies alone on Valentine's day, her gran returns as a ghost to fix her dire love life. - Thanks to Lauren Piskothy for sharing this.
🪄 Underground Magic [Fortnightly]
Today, Wed 11 March - Every 2 weeks, Underground Magic presents a night of magicians, mind-readers, and the occasional wild-card variety act in the city centre's newest comedy venue! Fast-paced and full of energy; packed with laughs, surprises, and unforgettable moments!
8pm to 10pm | The Gilded Saloon, EH1 1HB | £12 - More details here, shared by Cameron Gibson, Edinburgh Magic Company.
🏺 At the Far End of Everything: A Likely Ahrensburgian Presence on Skye
Tomorrow, Thu 12 March - The west coast now represents the largest concentration of evidence for pioneer human populations anywhere in Scotland. On 12 March, discover how archaeology is revealing that early humans ventured much further north than previously believed.
6pm to 8pm | Augustine United Church, EH1 1EL | FREE - More details here, shared by Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
🤖 Fearless Fridays - Robots in Action
Fri 13 March - P5, P6, P7 girls - Free Entry! Bring robots to life through coding, obstacle courses and other exciting challenges! Develop coding skills, apply logical thinking and teamwork, and build confidence in technology by bringing innovation to life.
1.30pm to 3pm | St George's School, EH12 6BG | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🖼️ Lothian Postcard Club Meet-up
Fri 13 March - First meeting of the year for Postcard geeks. For anyone who loves finding and collecting vintage postcards or postal history.
7pm to 9.30pm | Murrayfield Parish Church, EH12 6EQ | FREE - More details here, shared by Lothian Postcard Club.
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🌼 Easter Fayre for Ukraine 🇺🇦
Sat 14 March - Join us for an Easter Fayre for Ukraine! 🐣 Browse unique stalls with Ukrainian gifts, crafts, home baking, handmade bags and more. A lovely way to spend your Saturday morning - come along, shop local, and make a difference! 💙💛
11am to 2pm | Ukrainian Community Centre (AUGB Edinburgh), EH7 5AB | £2 w. T&C. U12 Free - More details here, shared by Nadia.
🏄♂️ Cat's skate club Fun day!
Sat 14 March - This Saturday, from 12pm at the paper factory! join us for free skateboard lessons, (book your free ticket ahead via our booking site) and stick around for music, art, open skate session and skate jams throughout the day!
12pm to 5pm | Hidden Door, EH12 8NP | FREE - More details here, shared by Cat Bruce.
🌳 Spring Forest Bathing Taster session (mindful walk) in Leith - 🌱🌻Saturday 14th March 10-11am Wild Rose Forest Therapy will be guiding a Forest Bathing Taster Session in Leith to welcome spring. Soothe, restore and connect deeply to nature. Learn creative nature connection invitations & share with others 🌻🌱 - Thanks to Wild Rose Forest Therapy, for sharing this.
🏃 Yoga for Runners
Sun 15 March - Good Time Yoga presents Yoga for Runners at Up & Running Edinburgh. Come and join us for yoga and a test run round the West End - finishing up with great coffee and tasty treats with good folk. Absolute beginners absolutely welcome.
8.30am to 11.15am | Up and Running, EH2 4QW | £16 - More details here, shared by Sim Scott, Good Time Running Club / Up & Running Edinburgh.
🧘♀️ 'The Art of Calm and Caring' - a gentle meditation course on Mother's Day.
Sun 15 March - Enjoy an afternoon of guided meditations for calm, love and connection. In between sessions, relax in our cafe or sunny outside area or curl up with a book. This event is open to everyone; come with your mother, as a mother, or join on your own ❤️.
2pm to 5pm | Kadampa Meditation Centre Edinburgh, EH6 5EA | £20 per person. - More details here, shared by Kadampa Meditation Centre.
🔥 Powderhall Bronze foundry tour
Tue 17 March - Join us for a tour of our fine art foundry in Granton, learning how we use the ancient lost wax casting process to create bronze sculptures. Gleam insight into our current foundry projects and past well-known public artworks along the way.
6pm to 7.30pm | Powderhall Bronze, EH5 1PN | £20 - More details here, shared by Lucy Caster, Powderhall Bronze.
Powderhall Bronze Editions
📚 Book Launch - Mamie Philp & her DI Kim Berry Series
Tue 17 March - Crime fiction fans: local author Mamie Philp launches her DI Kim Berry series at Morningside Library. Join an author conversation about her twisty Ayrshire-set mysteries. Free event. Reserve: 0131 529 5654 or morningside.library@edinburgh.gov.uk
6.30pm to 7.30pm | Morningside Library, EH10 4PU | FREE - More details here, shared by Laura Barnet of The Secret Book Swap.
🎥 COPAN film screening
Wed 18 March - Rising above São Paulo, the Copan Building is a vertical city. Home to thousands from every walk of life, this documentary explores democracy, inequality, and community inside one monumental building of thirty-five floors.
6.05pm to 8.05pm | Filmhouse, EH3 9BZ | £0 - £12 - More details here, shared by Scottish Documentary Institute.
🌸 Spring journal workshop
Sat 21 March - Join our Spring Journal workshop to create a beautiful journal that you can use to record thoughts, ideas, observations and inspiration for living seasonally. We'll decorate the journals and prepare pages for you to add to over the coming months.
10.30am to 3.30pm | Bongou Cafe, EH6 4HB | £75 - More details here, shared by Suzy Ensom, North Fort Arts.
🎶 Death and Resurrection in 17th Century Venice
Sat 21 March - Marking the 350th anniversary of Francesco Cavalli's death EURS are performing Cavalli's double choir setting Missa Pro Defunctis. Monteverdi's Ave Maria Stella, and motets by Giovanni Croce and Giovanni Gabreli are also included in the programme.
7.30pm to 9pm | Church of the Sacred Heart, EH3 9DJ | Tickets £12/£6 concs - More details here, shared by Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers.
🍍 Leith Kino presents Still Pushing Pineapples at Leith Dockers Club
Thu 26 March - Leith Kino is delighted to bring this UK documentary to Leith Dockers Club following the last member of Black Lace as he makes a living touring Britain's seaside towns. From Blackpool to Benidorm, come push your pineapples with us! 😎🌴🦩🍹🍍.
7.30pm to 11pm | Leith Dockers Club, EH6 7EF | £6, limited free tix - More details here, shared by Morvern, Leith Kino.
🔨 Weekend Woodworking Introduction
Sat 28 March - In this fun packed workshop you will have first hand experience in sharpening and tool maintenance, as well as developing an understanding of the accurate laying out skills required for cutting and fitting your project components to make a mallet.
9.30am to 5pm | Unit 5, EH7 5QZ | £285 - More details here, shared by Isabelle Moore, Isabelle Moore Design.
🎸 Immecke All Stars + Driven By Harness + Scott Curley Allan
Sun 29 March - Germany's best rock covers band, Immecke All Stars, return to Scotland to mark 30 years of the International band exchange between UWS and the iRock festival - joined by local bands/former exchange students Driven By Harness and Scott Curley Allan.
7pm to 10pm | The Wee Red Bar, EH3 9DF | £8 / £10 - More details here, shared by Andrew Burton, Driven By Harness.
📮 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:
- 🏡 Top-10 most-viewed local homes for sale.
- 🕌 CCTV image published after mosque 'racist graffiti attack'.
- 🚔 Seven teenagers charged after man, 38, stabbed in Clovenstone.
- 🚖 Airport taxi fares may rise under new plan.
- 📍 'Turning over a new Leith - locals fighting back against big business'.
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