The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 19 November 2025

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Thanks to everyone for their feedback on the events calendar idea I mentioned in yesterday's newsletter. I also heard that some readers weren't aware you could leave a comment. You can comment on any newsletter by viewing it online (here) the logging in using your email address. The comments section is at the end of each day's post. Thanks to all who do! Your feedback makes the Minute better. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.

❄️ It's zero degrees outside this morning, with the temperature unlikely to go above 3C today. There's currently no snow forecast, despite the usual clickbait headlines for the past fortnight that snow was coming at 6pm today. - Met Office.

🎇 A man in Liverpool has been charged in connection with the distribution of more than 1,200kg of illegal fireworks in Edinburgh. - Police Scotland published more details here.

🚉 A tram had a 'minor derailment at Edinburgh Airport' on Sunday, reports Gareth Prior of British Trams Online.

🚦 After rejecting a major council masterplan for the future of Princes Street last week, councillors are planning to rethink and regroup with a new summit 'to try and get a more ambitious and imaginative plan.' - Ian Swanson, Evening News.

• Applications open at midday today for artists who want to design a statue to commemorate author Dame Muriel Spark, reports Phyllis Stephen in The Edinburgh Reporter. The website to check after noon is here.

🎓 Bosses at the University of Edinburgh could be ordered to negotiate with unions over proposed cuts, if Higher Education minister Ben MacPherson can convince the Scottish Government to use its 'convening' powers. Today staff are on their third day of strikes this week. - Catriona Stewart, The Scotsman + Rebecca McCurdy, The Herald.

📙 Waterstones has apologised to Leith Walk independent bookshop Argonaut 'for any upset this has caused' after announcing it plans to open nearby on the Kirkgate. But it currently doesn't appear to be backing down despite criticism. - Brian Ferguson, The Herald.

• ⮑ Many local independent businesses came out in support of Argonaut, including The Portobello Bookshop, which said:

"Waterstones’ MD once stated they wouldn’t open on high streets where a successful indie already exists. Elliott Advisors, the hedge fund that owns Waterstones, along with Waterstones’ board, wants growth and more retail footprint. There’s amazing booksellers and managers at Waterstones, and opening branches in areas in need of a bookshop can be a great thing, and infinitely preferable to business going to the big online place we won’t name. But Leith is not such an area."

• ⮑ In response, Argonaut said: "Independent bookshop solidarity makes it obvious how lonely Waterstones are. It's a privilege to be one part of the vibrant literary ecosystem in this city. Cherish your indies, ever single one of us does this out of love."

🎄 The lights on the Mound Christmas tree were switched on yesterday. - Alan Simpson has a photo in The Edinburgh Reporter.

🏉 The University of Edinburgh has been granted permission to transform its Cameron Bank sports pitches at Peffermill, which it says 'are regularly water-logged or frozen', leading to cancellations. The grass pitches will be replaced with new 3G synthetic pitches allowing year-round play, along with a 300-person stand and floodlights. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News. - The approved plans are here, with the main application document here.

🥊 A boxing and MMA training academy has applied for planning permission to open in Leith. - Plans spotted by Peter Matthews.

🍛 A new Indian fusion restaurant called Bombay Bistro has opened in Bruntsfield, replacing Tom Kitchin’s Kora. It's run by award-winning ex-Gleaneagles hotel chef Mandeep Saini, who speaks to Sarah Campbell in The Herald.

✍️ A New York-based 'expert in occultism' has offered some insights into the mysterious markings, apparently in Latin, that appeared on a bridge in Stockbridge. - The Spurtle has this update.

⚽️ There were wild scenes at bars across town last night as the Scotland men qualified for next year's football World Cup Finals. - Here's how Leith Athletic celebrated that half-way-line winner.

📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

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📌 "January and February dates of the Taco Tuesday Cooking Class are on sale now! A fun BYOB cooking class where we learn how to make tacos, fresh tortillas and salsas from scratch. An ideal Christmas Present for the foodie in your life." - Thanks to Kevin of Gringo Supperclub for sharing this.

📌 "Thursday 20th November, 8pm. Bannermans: tribute double bill, Guns McRoses (GnR tribute), and Diamond Dugs (Bowie tribute)." - Thanks to John Slater for sharing this.

📌 "Birchwood Art Studio: On Saturday 22nd get ready for Christmas with a relaxing day of creativity! Design and draw your own unique Christmas cards using dip pens, ink, and watercolour wash. Learn fun "wet-on-wet" techniques, add metallic touches and eco glitter. All materials, bubbles, nibbles, tea & coffee included! ✨" - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 "Sat 22 Nov - One of Scotland's most accomplished painters, Joe Hargan PAI PPAI RGI, returns to Morningside Gallery with a new solo exhibition of 36 paintings which showcase his mastery of colour & tongue-in-cheek humour." - Thanks to Carrie for sharing this.

📌 "Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 November 10am-5pm Christmas Open Studios at Beaverhall Art Studios is an opportunity to see the working studios of four local artists and makers. There will be jewellery, enamel work, paintings, prints, textiles and upholstery to see and buy. We're at 6 Beaverhall Rd EH7 4JE." - Thanks to Beaverhall Art Studios for sharing this.

📌 "Supper Club returns to the Safari Lounge in Abbeyhill on Saturday! This time we have two really exciting live electronic acts from Glasgow – Tupper Werewolf and allmyfriendsaresynths – plus all-vinyl, all-genre DJ sets throughout the night." - Thanks to Supper Club for sharing this.

📌 "Wednesday 26 November 2025 - Saturday 29 November: It's a Wonderful Life, Church Hill Theatre. George feels life has passed him by, but when his guardian angel visits him, he's amazed to discover what life in his beloved town would be like without him - maybe it's a wonderful life, after all?" - Thanks to Sammi Watson of Leitheatre for sharing this.

📌 "Friday 28th - Sunday 30th Nov. The Hopetoun House Christmas Shopping Fair returns with over 50 Scottish exhibitors, festive food, and the House beautifully dressed for the season. Tickets are still available but must be pre-booked online in advance. Join us for a magical Christmas weekend!" - Thanks to Hopetoun House for sharing this.

📌 "29th November: Come along to the Bridgend Farmhouse Christmas Fair! Plenty of fresh hot food, activities, and stalls of handmade goods along with our own honey, jams and apple juice made onsite." - Thanks to Zoe Murdoch Bridgend Farmhouse community development for sharing this.

📌 "Friday 29 November & Wednesday 11 December – Celebrate the season with a festive Christmas Canapés Cooking Class! Learn to craft tasty bites perfect for entertaining, all while soaking up the cosy scents of mulled wine and holiday cheer. A delicious way to kick off your Christmas celebrations." - Thanks to Ailsa McGuinness, Founder of Eat with Ailsa, for sharing this.

📌 "LifeCare Edinburgh marks five years of Meals on Wheels, delivering 42,000 hot meals to older people, 60% free for those on low incomes. Each delivery provides a vital check-in for isolated clients. The charity is calling on local support to continue meals, companionship, and festive deliveries." - Thanks to Claire at LifeCare Edinburgh for sharing this. - There's a report on the appeal by Graham Martin in Third Force News.

📌 "With BHF closing its furniture store in Leith, a reminder to locals that St Columba's Hospice Furniture Centre in Bonnington Industrial Estate is open Tuesday - Sunday." - Thanks to S A Hamilton for sharing this.

📌 "Edinburgh's first Hunan restaurant has opened in Portobello serving Chinese food with a focus on Hunan province. The owners are Tai Chi teachers and daytimes during the week are pushing the tables aside and running sessions for all ages and skill levels. The website has the menu and class timings." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 "Edinburgh Open Workshop has launched an exciting new course line-up for 2026 featuring a range of hands-on workshops in woodworking, welding, DIY, mixed media, and two newly developed laser-cutting workshops." - Thanks to Edinburgh Open Workshop for sharing this.

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

👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:

1. 🍸 Awards, new openings and new menus in The Edinburgh Edit.
2. 📙 Waterstones' Leith plan angers independent shop nearby.
3. 📸 Photographer Tom Duffin opens calendar nominations.
4. 🐧 Penguins get vaccinated.
5. 🏢 More student flats planned for Fountainbridge.

⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 773.
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