The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 17 June 2026
E-bikes linked to Dalry Road shop fire, Southside scooter hit & run, council plans to fight dodgy landlords + dive in to the history of the flumes (RIP)
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. A busy morning of updates. This morning's rain is due to clear up before midday, according to the Met Office. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.
🔥 People were evacuated from properties and one person received medical treatment after a shop fire on Dalry Road yesterday. The road was closed to traffic around 5pm. - Police Scotland shared this update.
⮑ Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. Firefighters hauled a pile of electric bikes from a shop on to the street to avoid batteries exploding. - Photos were shared on Reddit.
LordWoolamaloo
🚨 Police are hunting for two electric scooter riders who hit an elderly woman near St Patrick Square yesterday around 2.20pm. - Holly Lennon, STV News.
⮑ There's no update this morning yet on the woman's condition. She was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh by ambulance. The two suspects fled the scene.
⮑ Morningside councillor Marie-Clair Munro and Edinburgh South West MP Scott Arthur are among politicians calling for tougher measures on the electric scooters. - Rachel Fergusson has today's Evening News front page story.
🚨 Police are trying to find a man who robbed a 93-year-old woman of jewellery in broad daylight on Sunday on Stevenson Road in Gorgie. - Police Scotland published a suspect description and appealed for witnesses.
🔥 Police are also hunting for the people behind a 'wilful' fire at a garage on The Wisp yesterday morning. - Lee Dalgetty, Edinburgh Live.
🏡 The council is considering spending £350,000 to tackle an increase in 'dodgy' landlords, with the private rental sector enforcement workload reportedly on the rise since the introduction of new short-term let licensing. - Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan, in Midlothian View.
🚧 The planned removal of road safety filters in the Braid estate, will put children's safety at risk, according to campaigners. - Ian Swanson, Evening News. The removal plan is on the agenda of tomorrow's council transport meeting.
🗳️ The Herald has sifted through hundreds of pages of campaign receipts following last month’s Scottish Parliament election in Edinburgh. It's reported that defeated former SNP minister Angus Robertson spent twice as much as his victorious Scottish Greens opponent Lorna Slater in the run-up to last month’s Holyrood election. - Exclusive by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco in The Herald.
💦 River Rapids, Vortex, Twister and Stingray. Why did the Commonwealth Pool's famous flumes close down in March 2000? It was nothing to do with razor blades and more to do with money. - Having truly flushed out the archives, Threadinburgh historian Andy Arthur dives in to the details.
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🏆 Fledgling Edinburgh-based podcast up for 2 Scottish Podcast Awards - ''Have You Frozen Your Eggs Yet? made by Kelly Crichton and Louise Mason is up for 2 awards at the 1st Scottish Podcast Awards in Glasgow on Thurs 25th June. This refreshingly honest podcast's most recent episode looks at the importance of community.' - More details here, shared by Kelly Crichton.
💡 Research survey request - Democracy & Digital Deliberative Platforms - 'I'm a University of Edinburgh student completing a Master's in Future Governance. I’m researching how to improve digital platforms for participatory democracy (ideally in Scotland!) and would love to hear Edinburgh's thoughts on this. (Deadline: 30 Jun)' - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🧑🍳 New Cooking Class Dates at The Wee Kitchen Cookery School - 'Fun, relaxed BYOB cooking classes - from Korean Kitchen to Lebanese Street Food. New class dates up to the end of the year are available to book now. Classes take place at the Cyrenians Kitchen in Leith, with 10% of profits donated' - More details here, shared by Ailsa McGuinness, The Wee Kitchen Cookery School.
🎨 Generation Arts seeking new Chair of the Board - 'Generation Arts is an arts, health and wellbeing charity based in West Lothian. We are currently seeking a new Chair of the Board. For further information please email the Director, Emma Stewart-Jones on generationarts.info@gmail.com (Deadline: 31 Jul)' - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎶 Listening for Home
Today, Wed 17 June - 'Listening for Home is an immersive performance through chants, voice, sound and stories. The work explores memory and belonging. Fragments appear and fade, traces of journeys, silences, and whispers of lived experience.'
6.30pm to 8pm | Scottish Storytelling Centre, EH1 1SR | FREE - More details here, shared by MAIMOUNA LY, Naomha OM.
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🇺🇸 Democrats Abroad Scotland June Social
Today, Wed 17 June - 'Join fellow Democrats Abroad in Scotland for our monthly drinks social. All those interested in politics, or the goings on in America generally, are welcome. Casual community drinks - non-American friends welcome as well, drop in/out as you like.'
7pm to 10pm | The Outhouse, EH1 3LY | FREE - More details here, shared by Jack Nevin, Democrats Abroad Scotland.
🪄 Underground Magic: Edinburgh's Night Of Live Magic!
Today, Wed 17 June - 'Edinburgh's place to catch some of the country's best magicians and mind-readers Hosted by Kate Hammer; this show features magicians Luke Osey, Alexis The Magician, Matt Keys, and Steven Blair - not to be missed!'
8pm to 10pm | The Gilded Saloon, EH1 1HB - More details here, shared by Cameron Gibson, Edinburgh Magic Company.
🌈 Pride Week Karaoke with Molly Mo Thóin
Today, Wed 17 June - 'Pride Week Karaoke with the magical Molly Mo Thóin! This Wednesday in Bar Salsa from 9pm.'
9pm to 1am | Bar Salsa, EH1 1JY | FREE - More details here, shared by Aino Merilainen, Bruce Taverns.
🎨 Last of the summer sketching with the Edinburgh Sketcher
Fri 19 June - 'For his final sketching workshops before taking a break artist Mark Kirkham will be sharing tips on how to create a Travel Journal Sketchbook. And he's back at 2.30pm for a street sketching tour so why not book both to beat his Autumn price rises.'
10am to 1.30pm | The Arienas Collective - Creative Workshop Hub, EH3 6NW | £60 (£35-45 tour) - More details here, shared by Lynn Powell, The Arienas Collective.
🏳️🌈 Edinburgh Frontrunners 5k Pride Run 🌈
Fri 19 June - 'Following the success of last year's Pride Run, we are delighted to be returning! Come celebrate Pride with us - run, walk or jog - around the beautiful Holyrood Park. Medals and prizes for the best dressed and the best finishing pose!'
6.30pm to 8pm | Holyrood Park, EH8 8HG | £20 / £12 - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Frontrunners.
🌈 Pride Edinburgh 2026 Queer Creatives Market
Sat 20 June - 'Pride Edinburgh's Community Fair and Queer Creatives Market are at the heart of our celebrations. bringing together LGBTQ+ organisations, artists, makers, small businesses and community groups from across Scotland. Come along for a fantastic time!'
12.30pm to 5pm | Potterow Dome and The Chaplaincy ground floor room, EH8 9AL | FREE - More details here, shared by Amy Liston, alistondesigns.
🧘♀️ Slow Start Saturday Club
Sat 20 June - 'Come join Colette for 1hr Yoga, fresh air, coffee & catch ups afterwards! Meet at the meadows compass (middle meadow walk).'
9am to 10am | The Meadows, EH9 1ND | FREE - More details here, shared by Claire Cordiner.
👨👧👦 Local Dads Go Free at Camera Obscura
Sun 21 June - 'On Sunday 21 June 2026, Camera Obscura is treating local dads to a free visit when accompanied by a paying guest. It's the perfect excuse to gather the family and enjoy a day packed with laughter, surprises and unforgettable moments together.'
9am to 6.30pm | Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, EH1 2ND - More details here, shared by Camera Obscura & World of Illusions.
Next week:
📚 Local history drop-in sessions: Granton archive project [Every Tuesday]
Tue 23 June - 'Want to find out more about the fascinating history of Granton? Come along to Granton Hub on Tuesday afternoons to ask questions, be curious, and learn. You'll receive a warm welcome and cup of tea!'
2pm to 4pm | Madelvic House, EH5 1HS | FREE - More details here, shared by Juliet Henderson, Grantob Hub.
🖌️ Zine Making Research
Tue 23 June - 'Please help a MSc Social Anthropology Student do their Dissertation Research by coming to a zine-making focus group on queer-veganism and community building. Spots are limited though, so if interested please contact me at s2231916@ed.ac.uk'
4pm to 7pm | Paterson's Land, EH8 8AQ | FREE - More details here, shared by Emma Amster.
🪽 TALKS AT THE LANE evening talk with Louise Bennetts and David Lemm
Wed 24 June - 'For our fourth talk of Season 3, we are delighted to welcome Edinburgh-based artists David Lemm and Louise Bennetts in a conversational wander through their comparable routes of enquiry, considering how their ideas emerge and works unfold.'
6pm to 8pm | Custom Lane, EH6 6AL | £10/12 - More details here, shared by Paula, TALKS AT THE LANE.
🎨 Oor Mad History: a community collaging workshop
Wed 24 June - 'The Oor Mad History Collective Advocacy group at CAPS Independent Advocacy has developed a free collaging workshop. Join us for a relaxed and informal afternoon of creativity, community and discussion around mental health.'
2pm to 4pm | Duncan Place Community Hub, EH6 8HW | FREE - More details here, shared by CAPS Independent Advocacy.
🌸 Summer Flower Crown Workshop at Gorse
Wed 24 June - 'Edinburgh author Rosie Steer is hosting a summer flower crown workshop at Gorse to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Local flowers grown by Ochre, floral-themed baking and refreshments from Gorse, and a reading from Rosie's book.'
3.30pm to 5.30pm | Gorse - Northern Irish Bakery, EH8 9RU | £50 - More details here, shared by Rosie Steer, author of 'Slow Seasons'.
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🌈 Happiness Habits [Every Wednesday]
Wed 24 June - '6 weeks learning to be happier, kinder and more resilient Excellent for those newly bereaved, at a crossroads or a bit lonely'
7pm to 9pm | The Open Door., EH10 5HY | £25 for the Course - More details here, shared by Caroline Flint, Action for Happiness.
🌀 Embodied mandala art workshop
Thu 25 June - 'A creative, self-exploratory workshop designed to help you slow down, journey inwards and reconnect with your creative flame. Rachael is a Clinical Psychologist and artist. Her workshops focus on connection to creativity, and authentic expression.'
7pm to 9pm | The Salisbury Centre, EH16 5AB | £8-£15 - More details here, shared by Rachael McDonnell Murray.
🕺 Higher Ground - The Music of Stevie Wonder
Thu 25 June - 'Higher Ground puts the 'Fun' into 'Funk' by playing Stevie's popular dance hits from 60s and 70s by some of Edinburgh's top musicians!'
7pm to 11pm | The Voodoo Rooms, EH2 2AA | £14.50 - More details here, shared by Simon Sheward, Higher Ground.
🛍️ Style Confidence Workshop - Body Shapes, Colors, Personal Style & Identity
Fri 26 June - 'This workshop is about self-love, confidence, and authentic expression. Body-shape guidance, colour tips, a personal style questionnaire, wardrobe edit tips and a moodboard activity to inspire future outfits.'
5.30pm to 8pm | Round The World Studios, EH6 6RS | 35 - More details here, shared by Elena Citarella, Yellow Souls Studio.
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🍵 Tea Social: Sunday Edition [Monthly]
Sun 28 June - 'Start your Sunday slowly with a welcoming morning of tea and conversation. Explore a selection of loose leaf teas, meet new people and enjoy unhurried connection in a relaxed setting. Come on your own or with a friend. No tea expertise needed.'
10am to 11.30am | PekoeTea Edinburgh, EH6 8LN | £15 inc £5 voucher - More details here, shared by Sandra Benn, Chiya & Chai Tea Tasting Experiences.
📮 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:
- 🤝 Find 27 jobs with Edinburgh-based social enterprises.
- 🎭 A look inside the new Fringe HQ.
- 📚 Full programme for this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival.
- 🏗️ 'From across the bridge: massive data centre proposed in Fife'.
- 🚲 Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route update.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 930.
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