The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 21 January 2026
Council’s tourist tax income shopping list, George Street & Porty Prom revamps, Abbeymount community swap event + Morningside girls' tiny trophy triumph
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Morning rain should clear up by around 9am, then return around 3pm. It's due to clear again around 8pm but do check the Met Office forecast for details as it can change. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.
💰 Tourist tax could fund George Street & Porty Prom revamps: Council officials have drawn up a multi-million pound shopping list of projects they want to spend using cash from the upcoming tourist tax scheme. Although the visitor levy doesn’t begin until 24 July (read more here), councillors will next week be asked to sign off on spending for projects including a £32m revamp of George Street, reports Ian Swanson in The Scotsman.
- ⮑ Other projects that could be funded by the tourist tax include 'upgrades' at Portobello Promenade and Cramond Foreshore.
- The proposals will go to the vote when councillors on the Transport and Environment Committee meet on Thursday 29 January. - See the full agenda and background reports here.
- The council has also published a list of projects it does not plan to fund using income from the tourist tax. - See the full list in this document.
🚦 The council says it has made 'improvements' to the Barnton road junction where 11-year-old Thomas Wong was struck and killed by a bin lorry being driven on to Whitehouse Road. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News.
🗳️ Local Scottish Greens MSP Lorna Slater has announced she'll take on the SNP's Culture Secretary Angus Robertson for his Edinburgh Central constituency at May's Holyrood election. - Coverage from Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco in The Herald, Michael Blackley in the Daily Mail and Ross Chalmers of Deadline News.
🚧 Ahead of a six-month partial closure for sewerage works, some Gorgie Road business owners fear it could affect business. - Nicholas Malizia of Edinburgh Live hit the streets to hear from them.
🍻 The owners of the Boston Bar on Hanover Street say it will form the 'blueprint' of their plans to take over the former Globe Bar on Niddry Street, having been granted a 3am Friday and Saturday night licence yesterday. - Joseph Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, Midlothian View.
🤝 The Waverley Gate building is on the verge of changing hands in 'one of the biggest Scottish office deals in many years', reports Brian Donnelly in The Herald.
🏆 South Morningside Primary School girls football team were left 'shocked and angry' when they realised their Edinburgh Schools Cup plastic trophy was much smaller than the grand trophy given to the winning boys team. Now organisers of the local football tournament admit they were 'embarrassed' by the 'glaring inequality', reports BBC Scotland's Angie Brown.
🏗️ Good news if you missed out on tickets for architect Malcolm Fraser's lecture on 'A Deep History of Health and Healing in Edinburgh'. Having initially sold out, the 5 February event's venue has been moved to the Edinburgh Futures Institute. - More details and more tickets here, including this nice line: "Malcolm notes this is "the Large Event Space” and is alternately feared that anyone turns up, then that those who do rattle around. So please come, if interested."
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📌 “Gringo Supperclub's 21st Feb Supperclub goes on sale today at 8AM. A BYOB 8 course tasting menu inspired by the flavours of Mexico served in a warm relaxed environment in our home in the West End.” - Thanks to Gringo Supperclub hosts Kevin & Paulina for sharing this.
📌 “Wednesday 21st January: FREE RUN CLUB - all experience levels welcome. Join Mikey each week to steadily build up your endurance and get into running. Group leaves from 378 Leith Walk at 5:30 tonight.” - Thanks to Marpole, 378 Leith Walk, for sharing this.
📌 “It’s the last day of Mega Epic SALE of STUFF! at Whitespace on Wednesday 21st January! Open from 12 noon with 50% off all items until 5pm and then what’s left will be FREE to take away from 5 to 7pm! We'll donate >33.3% of any profit to the charity Phone Credit for Refugees.” - Thanks to Kat for sharing this.
📌 “Friday 23 January, at the Pianodrome (Bruntsfield). Join us for a night of acoustic folk, indie and Americana with three of Edinburgh’s finest - Paper Sparrows, Other Dog and Amy Hill - performing in no particular order.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 24th January - The Neighbouring Orchard Walking Wassail! Join us in Portobello to Wassail the apple tress of our dispersed orchard. Full details can be found on Instagram @Artwalkprojects.” - Thanks to Art Walk Projects for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 24th January at 6pm, Isla Radcliff, Natalie Haas and Iona Reid will play a Scottish Trad reinterpretation of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Refreshments will be available for donation. At the Stockbridge Music Hub, Stockbridge Church, EH3 5BN.” - Thanks to Clea Friend - Creative Director, Stockbridge Music Hub, for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 24 January - The Kind Body Club is hosting a gentle yoga and reflection session, focused on slowing down and continuing the year with intention. Expect breath-led movement, time for rest, journalling, tea and chats in a welcoming space. Tickets via Eventbrite.” - Thanks to Mikaila & Lily, The Kind Body Club, for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 25th of Jan, 10am -1pm 📚🪴👖 COMMUNITY SWAP 👖🪴📚 Bring your once loved books, healthy houseplant cuttings, and clean gently-worn adult clothing to share with the community and take home whatever catches your eye or fulfils your needs. Free event with donations welcome in aid of MSF.” - Thanks to organisers Pat & Jen for sharing this.
📌 “Wednesday 28 January. Do you dream about a grand career in the culinary industry? Edinburgh New Town Cookery School is hosting an Open Evening for their Professional Cookery Courses. Meet the teachers, get hands-on and have your questions answered about culinary training in central Edinburgh.” - Thanks to Edinburgh New Town Cookery School for sharing this.
📌 “Are you parenting after separation or divorce? Do you have a child aged between 4-8 years? Share your story and take part in a vital research study at the University of Edinburgh that is exploring the experiences of parents and children in different post-separation child arrangements.” - Thanks to Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, for sharing this.
📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🎭 King's Theatre: First images as scaffolding comes down after four year closure.
- 🚔 Serious assault at Nicolson Street bus stop.
- 🤝 15 paid social enterprise jobs in Edinburgh.
- 🍽️ Six new Edinburgh restaurants and bars to try in 2026.
- ⚽️ Hibee Grant Stott's Hearts dilemma.
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⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 819.
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