The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 22 April 2026
Brewer owed £20m, Leith gaming firm staff take legal action, mum forces thief to change tune as VoxBox amp is returned + how should the council fund community projects?
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. It's another relatively quiet news morning so far on the news front, while the community noticeboard is bustling as ever. Also busy: the weekly Culture Minute, dropping in paying subscribers' inboxes later today. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.
🍻 Edinburgh-based beer company Innis & Gunn owed creditors almost £20 million when it went into administration last month. Among those left out of pocket: Majestic Wine Warehouses Ltd (owed £48,737), Hogmanay organisers Unique Assembly (owed £27,600) and the City of Edinburgh Council (owed £3,158). - Exclusive by Brian Donnelly in The Herald.
🎵 A thief's mother forced him to return a stolen amplifier to the Stockbridge VoxBox music shop owner yesterday, after it was stolen amid a busy Record Store Day on Saturday. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.
🚐 On today's Evening News front page: Some locals in Newbridge are annoyed about the return of an illegal camp at Huly Hill, reports Kevin Quinn in the Evening News.
🏨 The Dakota Hotels UK chain has lodged plans to replace the Centrum House office block on Dundas Street with a 143-bed hotel. - Lee Dalgetty, Edinburgh Live.
🍕 The former Pizza Hut on Hanover Street could become a '24-hour adult gaming centre', reports Lee Dalgetty in Edinburgh Live.
🎮 A group of Build A Rocket Boy employees have started legal proceedings against the Leith-based gaming studio over allegations of data privacy violations related to the installation of surveillance software on work devices, reports Chris Kerr or Game Developer News.
- ⮑ Meanwhile, it's more than four months since Edinburgh-based gaming firm Rockstar North dismissed dozens of union members. The company denies any wrongdoing. - Rachel Crawford of Scottish Left Review reports on the workers’ struggles since.
NEW: IWGB union workers have taken legal action against MindsEye creator Build A Rocket Boy over alleged privacy violations. Separate legal claims have also been filed against the studio accusing it of mishandling a redundancy process that took place last summer.
— Chris Kerr (@kerrblimey.bsky.social) 2026-04-21T13:10:04.426Z
🖼️ Eve Tong, the artist behind a mini print vending machine popping up in independent shops around town is interviewed in Scottish Field about her work.
🌳 Funding has been awarded to two local community projects (Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust’s Canopy Custodians programme and the Edible Estates’ South West Edinburgh Urban Woodlands project) to 'create lasting environmental change'. - Rose Moncur, The Herald.
🤝 There are 26 different paid jobs available in the city now and a multitude of voluntary positions in the weekly Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network round-up. - Links to apply to each role are here.
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📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard
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🗳️ How should the Council fund community projects? - 'The Council are making changes to our Community Grants Fund. Help us choose between 3 options for how funding should be allocated and who should get a say in which projects are funded. Please complete our short survey by 4th May 2026.' - More details here, shared by City of Edinburgh Council.
🎧 The Workers' Observatory launches the podcast series “Gig Workers’ Guide to the Scottish Election” - 'Ahead of the Holyrood Election, this podcast series explores 5 policies to improve gig work in Scotland, bringing together delivery riders, grassroots organisers, and academia, keeping a strong focus on Edinburgh streets. First episode is out now!' - More details here, shared by The Workers' Observatory.
🫖 Tea Ceilidh Dance
Tomorrow, Thu 23 April - 'Anyone up for a Tea Ceilidh Dance this Great fun, great company, great live music. TEA and cake! What's not to like!'
2pm to 4pm | Marchmont St. Giles’ Parish Church, EH9 2DW | £6 - More details here, shared by Stan Reeves. Thank you once again Stan!
👹 Fiends in the Furrows Folk Horror Film Festival
Fri 24 April - 'Fiends in the Furrows is a brand new folk horror film festival for Leith, brought to you by the peeps behind Cinetopia and Leith Kino. An eclectic and accessible programme awaits which explores folk horror in all it's myriad forms, runs 23-26 April.'
12.30pm to 11pm | Leith Depot, EH6 5DT | £6/8/10 - More details here, shared by Morvern Cunningham, Fiends team. Thanks as always, Morv!
🎲 IWGB Game Jam
Sat 25 April - 'Design some games and support a good cause here at the Workshop! Support ex-Rockstar workers Fighting Fund and the IWGB by designing your own tabletop game. We'll provide a theme and materials, all you have to bring is your passion for making games!'
3pm to 9pm | Ancient Robot Workshop, EH6 5DT - More details here, shared by Ancient Robot Workshop.
🎶 Tierhaus @ Summerhall
Sat 25 April - 'After our sold-out march event, Tierhaus returns to Summerhall, continuing to develop a new clubbing space for Edinburgh inspired by 90s electronic music culture, bringing the communal spirit of 90s rave and dance music into 2026.'
9pm to 1am | Summerhall, EH9 1PL - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🌼 Still Life x Collage Workshop
Sun 26 April - 'Come celebrate spring with a two-hours still life meets collage workshop at Field Studio on Sunday 26th! All materials provided, all levels welcome, spaces limited.'
11am to 1pm | Field Studio Ltd, EH9 1ST | £17.50 - More details here, shared by Concrete Nature.
🛒 Ravelrig RDA Car Boot Sale
Sun 26 April - 'Ravelrig RDA are having a car boot sale to raise funds. There will be loads of bargains as well as refreshments and home baking. Come and support our wonderful charity.'
12pm to 3pm | Ravelrig Riding for the Disabled, EH14 7NH | Free entry - More details here, shared by Emma Urquhart (volunteer), Ravelrig Riding for the Disabled.
🌸 Walk celebrating Agnes ‘Nancy’ Maclehose — ‘Clarinda’ to Burns’ Sylvander — Sun 26 April at 14.00 - 'Celebrating 'Nancy' Maclehose's birthday, we begin at 14 Calton Hill at 14.00, and end at her memorial in Canongate Kirkyard. Lots of poetry. Calton Hill Conservation Trust members free, non-members £5. Contact <chair@caltonhilltrust.org>.' - More details here, shared by Calton Hill Conservation Trust.
📚 Edinburgh Graphic Novel Book Club - Beverly by Nick Drnaso
Sun 26 April - 'Quiet suburban lives with a creeping eerie undercurrent from one of comics' best new voices. No prior knowledge needed, short read (~2hrs), incredible art. Come ready to discuss! Beginners and enthusiasts both welcome! Dockside - Leith Shore.'
4pm to 6pm | Dockside, EH6 6LL | FREE - More details here, shared by James Doherty, Edinburgh Graphic Novel Book Club.
🍹 Brick and Sip (A LEGO workshop with Alcohol) [Monthly]
Sun 26 April - 'Get a drink on arrival to loosen up those creative gears. Then our Master Builder will guide you through challenges, from an "architecturally possible" task, to copying a technical build, and finally, designing something you've only once dreamed of.'
4pm to 6pm | The Gilded Saloon, EH1 1HB | £29 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🌸 Spring Time Celebration: North Merchiston Club Sunday 26th April 1-3pm
Sun 26 April - 'Celebrate Spring with us at NMC: Intro to Skateboarding, creative Arts/Crafts, Music Class taster, experience a VR session, Soft Play area for younger children and don't miss our Tombola or our Special Spring Cupcakes. Parents can relax in Cafe 48.'
1pm to 3pm | North Merchiston Club, EH11 1EP | FREE - More details here, shared by North Merchiston Club.
🎨 Feminist Lino Printing Workshop
Sun 26 April - 'Join us for an afternoon of creativity and trans-inclusive feminism, exploring our relationships with our bodies, taking time to think about what and how we want to represent them. All tools, materials, and tuition for lino printing provided.'
2pm to 5pm | Graft, EH8 8BA | £15-£30 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎥 Film Fundraiser for Lebanon
Sun 26 April - 'Falastin Film Festival presents a screening in aid of displaced people in Lebanon, comprising several short films plus a raffle with plenty of incredible prizes up for grabs!'
6.30pm to 9.30pm | Līla Yoga, EH10 4HJ - More details here, shared by Falastin Film Festival.
🗳️ Election Hustings- Southside
Mon 27 April - 'Meet your candidates before you vote! 🗳️ Join us for an Election Hustings on Mon 27th April, 6:30PM at Greyfiars Charteris Centre, Edinburgh. Ask questions ahead of the Scottish Elections on May 7th. All parties you can vote for will be there!'
6.30pm to 8.30pm | Greyfriars Charteris Centre, EH8 9RR | FREE - More details here, shared by Southside community council.
🤝 The Women in Programmatic Network - April Meetup
Wed 29 April - 'If you work in advertising and marketing and looking to make new connections in a welcoming environment, come along to the Women in Programmatic Network's upcoming event at Bonnie and Wild. Free entry, with drinks and nibbles provided!'
6pm to 8pm | Bonnie & Wild, EH1 3AE | FREE - More details here, shared by Natasha Walker, 8 Million Stories.
🎭 Fringe teachers' webinar
Wed 29 April - 'An online session for teachers interested in bringing a class to Fringe 2026. Find out about shows that are suitable for schools, teachers and young people, and ask any questions you might have. Email learning@edfringe.com to sign up.'
6pm to 7pm | Online, EH1 1PE | FREE - More details here, shared by the Fringe Society.
🌍 Online Zoom Forum: Etty Hillesum: Spiritual, Ethical, Social & Humanitarian Vision on Her Life Work - 'There will be five talks, each of 12 minutes, followed by discussion among the speakers and the chair, followed by Q & A. Date: Wednesday 29 April 2026. Time: 7pm-9pm (UK time).' - More details here, shared by Neill Walker, Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality and Peace.
🎶 Music workshops at Edinburgh Tradfest
Sat 02 May - 'Join us for our fabulous music workshops at Edinburgh Tradfest. Choose from group singing with Bruce Ncube, Lori Watson on fiddle, guitar with Anna Massie, Cahalen Morrison on songwriting, or for those of you 12-17, a young musician's intro to folk.'
11am to 12.30pm | Traverse Theatre, EH1 2ED | £15-£30 - More details here, shared by Jane-Ann, Edinburgh Tradfest.
🏵️ Braid Bowling Club Try Bowls Weekend - '2–4 May, 10am–4pm: As part of National Try Bowls Weekend, Braid Bowling Club, Morningside, offers free sessions for all ages. Come along, try bowls, meet new people, and see if it’s the sport for you. First-year membership free.' - More details here, shared by Ian, Farmer.
🪑 Learn to Make Your Own Furniture [Weekly]
Tue 05 May - 'New to woodworking? Our 6-week Make Your Own Furniture course is perfect for beginners. Design and build a side table with guidance from James of Birbeck's Woodwork. Learn skills, tools and techniques - then keep making.'
6pm to 9pm | Edinburgh Open Workshop, EH6 7BQ - More details here, shared by Ruth Findlay, Edinburgh Open Workshop.
🚴♀️ Active Travel, Active Hope [Weekly]
Sat 09 May - 'A daytime event (10-2) and 24hr relay (noon to noon, 9th-10th) around St Mary's Episcopal Cathdral, celebrating active travel and active hope. Includes talks, tours, performances, info stalls, exhibitions, and a bike repair station. All ages welcome.'
10am to 9.30am | St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, EH12 5AW | FREE - More details here, shared by Jonathan Baxter, A+E.
💃 Costumed ball with live music at Dalkeith Palace - 'Only 2 months left until Edinburgh Quadrille Society's Summer ball! Dress up in your best Jane Austen-era costume for an evening of Regency dances in the beautiful ballroom of Dalkeith Palace. With live music and a light buffet. Saturday, 4th July.' - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Quadrille Society.
📮 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:
- 🎓 Spoiler alert: Who won Edinburgh v Manchester University Challenge final.
- 👮♂️ Court security guards 'sacked' after 'issue with prisoners'.
- 🔭 Blackford observatory 'at risk' in UK Government cuts.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 894.
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