The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 17 December 2025

Hunt for Stockbridge sex attacker, Porty paid parking plan rejected, student flats for former Scottish Widows HQ + street photography competition open

Michael MacLeod

17 Dec 2025 — 6 min read

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Today's edition starts with two reports on crimes which may be triggering for some. You can scroll to the line-break to skip them. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.

Subscribe for free or upgrade here

🚨 Police are hunting for a man who sexually assaulted three women in Stockbridge last Friday afternoon, 12 December. Police said: "We are carrying out extensive enquiries and doing everything we can to trace the man responsible." - The police appeal including a description of the attacker is here.

⮑ Chief Inspector Ran MacDonald said: "I want to reassure that there will be an increased visible police presence in the local area as officers carry out enquiries. Anyone with any concerns should approach officers without hesitation, as they are there to help."
⮑ Anyone with information should phone police on 101 quoting incident number 2889 of 12 December.

🚔 A man has admitted trying to murder two teenagers by stabbing them with scissors at Portobello beach in April. Local resident Amar Mudawi pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday after the attacks were caught on CCTV and a doorbell camera. - BBC Scotland News.

🅿️ Councillors voted 5-4 against plans for a new controlled parking zone in Portobello yesterday. More than 2,000 residents objected to the move. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.

🚳 Plans to allow two-way cycling on Rose Street have been delayed by councillors. Active travel campaign group Spokes described yesterday's council transport debate as 'crazy'. - They posted live updates here.

🛍️ M&S Food has lodged plans to turn the former Ali's Cave homeware shop on Lothian Road into a supermarket, reports Kevin Quinn in the Evening News.

🏗️ The empty former Scottish Widows office next to the Commonwealth Pool is being sold to a student accommodation firm after the collapse of a £100m housing and office scheme, reports the Edinburgh Inquirer.

🏥 Union leaders have accused NHS Lothian of removing two of its members from the city's health and social care board because they voted against cuts to community and third sector groups. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.

🏡 A family bungalow in Fairmilehead tops this year's list of most-viewed homes on the ESPC property listings website. Second top is a flat in Trinity, followed by a flat in Corstorphine. Five of the ten are already sold, three are under offer and two remain available. - The full list is here.

🚈 ScotRail has published its train timetables for the Christmas and New Year festive period. As usual, no trains will run on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. - Full details are here.

💚 A list of local charities you can support to help those in need this Christmas has been published by Nicholas Malizia on Edinburgh Live.

📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

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

📌 “Wednesday 17 December - Tesco Express Dundas Street is organising a bake sale and a raffle to support Cancer Research UK. There are 2 amazing hampers to be won as well as some delicious cakes, so please join us on the day and help raise money for a good cause!” - Thanks to one of the volunteers for sharing this.

📌 “Wednesday 17th December 6.30pm - The last Chess & Tunes for 2025 at The Royal Dick in Summerhall! Free to play and all skill levels welcome. It will be back in 2026 but that's next year...” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 “Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th December (11am-4pm) free textile art exhibition at Whitespace gallery. Showcasing rugs, tapestries, furniture and more. everyone welcome.” - Thanks to Textile Artist Ellen Arosio for sharing this.

📌 “Wednesday 17 December - SMITH & GERTRUDE Vinyl Club #2: Following last month's sold-out Joni Mitchell: Blue, join us for a deep dive into our club's monthly chosen wine-vinyl experience: Buckingham/Nicks (1973) and its reimagining, Cunningham/Bird (2025), led by our musician/sommelier team. 25-person capacity!” - Thanks to Todd Henkin, Vinyl Club Curator, for sharing this.

📌 “Today, 6-7pm. Palestine Museum Scotland, 13a Dundas Street is hosting a talk featuring a display of Palestinian national dresses. Rayya Ghul, a local retired academic, has a collection of dresses from her Palestinian family and will tell her family story through each dress. Free.” - Thanks to Palestine Museum Scotland volunteer Rayya Ghul for sharing this.

📌 “Celebrate Solstice at the Pavilion Community Hub. Carols, music, craft making, bonfire 🔥🔥” - Thanks to Walter ('I'm running the Pavilion Cafe in the winter') for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 20 December - Umbrella Vinyl in store launch & signing event to celebrate the vinyl release of Kai Reesu’s award winning debut album KOMPROMAT vol.i ! From 3pm members of Kai Reesu will be at Umbrella Vinyl! Customers will be able to buy signed copies of the limited edition release.” - Thanks to Laura, co-owner of Umbrella Vinyl, for sharing this.

📌 “Rachel Lighbody (best vocalist in recent Scottish Jazz Awards) is performing with pianist Ben Shankland this Thursday at 7pm. Come and join us for some pre Christmas jazz vibes.” - Thanks to The Scottish Arts Club on Rutland Square for sharing this.

📌 “Comedy at The Stand on Sunday: Take a break from the Christmas shopping! Join Susan Morrison for the festive history they never taught you at school in a frankly filthy and funny look at Christmases past. Go on, treat yourself. Grab a drink, take a seat and have a laugh.” - Thanks to Susan Morrison for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 6pm: Come to celebrate Ukrainian cinema with the screening of Roman Bondarchuk's "The Editorial Office" at the Institut français d'Écosse, in partnership with the Museum of Ukrainian Craft and Culture Scotland (★★★★ Berlinale 2024 review)” - Thanks to the Institut français d'Écosse for sharing this.

📌 “Street Photo Social is holding its first photography exhibition in February. We have an open call for submissions until 19th December. We're looking for great street photographers to exhibit their work. It's free to enter! Full details on the website.” - Thanks to Olly for sharing this.

📌 “Want to read more books and make more friends in 2026? Join Plot Twist Book Club to find like-minded readers, free books, giveaways and a monthly social.” - Thanks to Local author Rosie Walker for sharing this.

📌 “Hogmany 2025: Join us and see the year out in style at the Reggae Got Soul Hogmany party at Leith Depot, Reggae and Soul on rotation throughout the night with the inimitable MC Ista on the mic. All welcome. Good Vibes Guaranteed.” - Thanks to George Reid for sharing this.

📌 “Hogmanay Meditation & Celebration: An Alternative New Year’s Eve at KMC Edinburgh | 172 Leith Walk. Join us for an uplifting, alcohol-free evening filled with connection, inspiration, and peace — a cosy mocktail reception, guided meditations and teachings, a delicious vegetarian meal, a candlelight meditation on compassion, a peaceful mantra chanting over the bells – all dedicated to world peace.” - Thanks to Jonathan Scott for sharing this.

📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.