The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 26 August 2026
Silence of the trams: Leith trade down 35%, 'one crime in city every 12 minutes', tourist tax blamed for 'spending slump' + Volunteer Edinburgh Recruitment Fair returns
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. It's a bumper Community Noticeboard today. Proof there's so much more to our city than festivals, even during the festivals. Thanks to everyone who sends things in. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.
🚉 Council leader Jane Meagher says she is 'confident' Princes Street will reopen by Monday (the last day of the festivals). Writing in the monthly Leader's report, she said: "I’m reassured by the progress being made on site and, if the good (calm) weather continues, remain confident that we’ll be in a position to reopen Princes Street by the end of the month. It goes without saying, however, that this will only be when it is safe to do so."
🚎 The Princes Street closure 'affects 120,000 journeys each day', according to Edinburgh Bus Users Group. - Phyllis Stephen in The Edinburgh Reporter.
📙 Sales have fallen 35% at Leith Walk's Argonaut Books. The shop's owners criticised what they called 'a council effectively asleep at the wheel' during the Princes Street fire response and the resulting silence of the trams, saying: "It has undoubtedly had a profound negative impact on our trading this summer and it will have knock-on effects far beyond this one month." - The shop published its sales data on Instagram.
- The council leader will tell tomorrow's monthly full council meeting that she wants 'a structured lessons learned review' looking at 'the resilience of the tram network, including consideration of operational dependencies, potential single points of failure, depot resilience, engineering and operational contingency arrangements, and options for improving network redundancy as the tram system develops.'
🗳️ Also on tomorrow's council meeting agenda: questions on the closure, cost and repair timescale of Powderhall Bridge at St Mark’s Path - (by Leith Walk councillor Jack Caldwell), a request for an updated risk assessment for Portobello beach lifeguarding, alongside concerns around sewage and bacteria levels in the sea and sand (from Portobello/Craigmillar councillor Alys Mumford), questions on 'ghost buses' on bus stop screens" (from Sighthill/Gorgie councillor Dan Heap) and questions over removed bus stops (from councillor Claire Miller). - The meeting agenda is here.
🎭 Some of the income from the city's new tourist tax will be used for the next 30 years to meet the final cost of refurbishing the King’s Theatre, reports Brian Ferguson in The Herald this morning. He writes: "The city council’s decision to allocate an additional £5m to the project was taken behind closed doors and has only just been disclosed in a new report on the visitor levy spending plans".
Brian Ferguson
💰 It's claimed that tourists are spending less due to the tourist tax. Scottish Tourism Alliance boss Mark Crothell said: 'We’re hearing a softening of expenditure by visitors.' But council leader Jane Meagher insists the 'modest 5% levy doesn’t make a massive difference'. - Amie Flett, STV News.
- The tax is estimated to have generated £5m in its first month of operation, reports Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco in The Herald.
🚨 'One crime in city every 12 minutes' is today's Evening News front page headline. You might find the report by Jack Davies on new crime stats among the adverts and pop-up autoplay videos here.
🚔 Edinburgh's involvement in gang conflict is not over, according to one of Scotland's former top cops Graeme Pearson, after a resurgence in violence. - Norman Silvester, Edinburgh Live.
🎬 ''It's a big step up': Behind the scenes as Netflix hit Dept Q returns to Edinburgh' - BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent Pauline McLean gets on the set of the crime show.
🇮🇹 It appears to be the end of an era for Leith Walk as the owners of Eatalia's have put a notice in the window saying they're retiring. The poster says the chippy's last day of business will be next Monday. Thanks to Minute subscriber Chris Burden for sharing the news. I contacted the owners earlier this week to verify.
📶 If you need to vent about the lack of phone signal due to the lack of network capacity, join the discussion on r/Edinburgh on Reddit. This isn't event news, sadly.
🌯 'We tried all the Fringe food at Edinburgh’s Pleasance Courtyard – here’s what we thought' - Eva Chown, The Edinburgh Tab.
Eva Chown
🎟️ In the latest Edinburgh Festival Minute bonus newsletter for paying subscribers: the Comedians’ Choice Awards nominees are revealed, an emergency meeting on festival funding, why star ratings still 'shape cultural conversation' + eight new 50% off Gilded Balloon deals including Slay, Fred MacAulay + Comedy Night at the Museum.
Michael MacLeod
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard
⮑ Please get in touch using this form. < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter. People have been sending in things for October and November. Just FYI, because this is still August, I won't put those in the newsletter until closer to the time. And don't worry, they won't get lost in the shuffle. They'll still be on TownSpot and the system bumps them back in to my publishing queue when your event date gets closer. You can also pick a specific newsletter publishing date when you submit. No other service online offers this, anywhere! But it's been built especially for you based on how this newsletter section has evolved, because Edinburgh's community deserves it.
🤝 The Volunteer Edinburgh Recruitment Fair 2026 is back! 🎉📅 Tuesday 1 September 2026 🕙 10am–5.30pm - 'If you’ve ever thought about volunteering but weren’t sure where to start, you can meet organisations face-to-face, have a chat about what they do and find out what opportunities might suit you. You never know where one conversation might lead! 💙' - More details here, shared by Volunteer Edinburgh.
📣 Autistic? Peri/menopausal? Senior at work?📣. Research participants wanted. - 'As part of my PhD, I am looking at the workplace experiences & employment decisions of autistic women during peri/menopause. If you'd like to share your story with me, I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact me on ggg4000@hw.ac.uk' - More details here, shared by Gemma Gray.
🐝 CfP for Beelines: Edinburgh. Exploring how bee and human cultures in(ter)sect. - 'We are calling for proposals to take part in Beelines: Edinburgh, an interdisciplinary day conversations buzzing around all things bee. If your work or research - creative or academic - in(ter)sects with bees, we’d love to hear from you! (Deadline: 04 Sep)' - More details here, shared by Apicentre / Cultural Commons CIC.
🧘♀️ Free Open-Air Yoga Class
Sat 29 August - 'Join us for our annual Yoga on Links - a free open-air class to welcome the new yoga season. From complete beginners to experienced practitioners all levels welcome. 🗓 Saturday 29 August, 10:30-11:15 📍 Bruntsfield Links, opposite Bruntsfield Hotel'
10.30am to 11.30am | Bruntsfield Links · Bruntsfield | FREE - More details here, shared by Elena Rodchenko, The Edinburgh Iyengar Yoga Centre.
🏃 Stride Out Running Tours X Trusted Crumb - 5k Crumb Run
Sun 30 August - 'Join Stride Out Running Tours this Sunday for a social 5k guided run tour, followed by discounted, delicious bakes from the newest whole food bakery to land in Edinburgh - Trusted Crumb! The ideal morning of fitness, community and scrumptious bakes.'
9am to 10am | Leith Walk Police Box pop ups · Canonmills & Broughton | FREE - More details here, shared by Jayne Lawson, Stride Out Running Tours.
🦙 Alpaca Gala Day at BobCat Alpacas
Sun 30 August - 'Join us for a fabulous and cute experience with BobCat Alpacas and baby crias in aid of Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh. - Feed the Alpacas - Children's activities - Games - Live music - Tombola - Craft stalls - Refreshments and more'
10am to 4pm | BobCat Alpacas · Colinton | £6 - More details here, shared by Marie Curie.
🎨 Mindful Watercolour Workshops [Every Monday]
Mon 31 August - 'Weekly Mindful Watercolour Painting Workshops Monday Mornings in Davidson Mains with Fiona Wilson Sandpiper Arts. Friendly, Supportive, Relaxing. All levels welcome. Materials, Painting Equipment and a hot drink provided.'
10am to 11.30am | Ye Olde Inn · Silverknowes & Blackhall | £27 - More details here, shared by Fiona Wilson, Sandpiper Arts.
🎶 Musica Antica Rotherhithe: La Decima Musa or The Tenth Muse
Mon 31 August - 'Music from the Golden Age of Venetian Opera, 1650-1660. Musica Antica Rotherhithe present cantatas and extracts from operas written for Venice's public theatres in the mid-seventeenth century, many of which have lain unperformed for over 350 years.'
4pm to 5pm | St Cecilia’s Hall: Concert Room & Music Museum · Old Town | £5-15 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎶 Free tea & a taster rehearsal with Conan Doyle Choir
Mon 31 August - 'Join Conan Doyle Choir for a free taster rehearsal - sing with us, meet the group and see what our rehearsals are like, with no commitment to join. No audition and no previous choir experience required.'
7.30pm to 9pm | The Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre · West End | FREE - More details here, shared by Irina Brodskaya, Conan Doyle Choir.
🎨 POLSKI Exhibition: Adela Kałuzińska, Kasia Matyjaszek and Gabriela Pieniążek [Until 09 Sept]
Tue 01 September - 'Now in its 11th year, POLSKI is Scotland's programme of residencies by Scottish artists of Polish heritage at a state primary school: Edinburgh's Abbeyhill, spreading the wonder of the expressive arts to every learner in and outside the classroom.'
9am to 9pm | St Margaret's House · Abbeyhill & Meadowbank | FREE - More details here, shared by Iliyana Nedkova, Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland.
🥋 Introduction to Self Defence [Until 03 Oct]
Tue 01 September - 'The Useful Self-Defence Company is proud to present: Introduction to Self-Defence Course A mix of self-defence theory, practical exercises, deescalation, boundary setting, situational awareness, body language, and some combat skills from Krav Maga.'
7pm to 8pm | Access Parkour · Granton & Pilton | £12/ session - More details here, shared by Rob Burgess, The Useful Self-Defence Company.
💃 Try Blues Partner Dancing @The Shore! [Every Tuesday]
Tue 01 September - 'Friendly weekly dance classes - no partner needed! 7:30pm Improvers for those with some partner dance experience (£8), 8:30pm Beginners (£5 or £2 with Improvers class), 9-10:30pm Social dance (£3 or free with either class). Register in advance.'
7.30pm to 10.30pm | 3 Old Monks · Leith | £10 for whole night - More details here, shared by Leigh Anderson.
♠️ Bridge Taster Sessions in Edinburgh [Until Sat]
Wed 02 September - 'Ever thought of playing one of the most popular card games - Bridge? Then sign up for a free Taster Session on 2nd or 5th Sep at the New Melville Bridge Club. Bridge combines luck, skill and friendship to make it uniquely sociable and challenging'
7pm to 8.30pm | The New Melville Bridge Club · Corstorphine | FREE - More details here, shared by Troy van-de-l'Isle, New Melville Bridge Club Limited.
📚 The Secret Book Swap [Monthly]
Wed 02 September - 'A book group with a difference and no set reading! Just wrap up a book you've enjoyed, bring it along, share why you loved it, pick one you like the sound of and unwrap! Plus, bookish games, banned book talks, and local guest authors!'
7pm to 9pm | Craws nest collective · Currie & Balerno | £14 - More details here, shared by Laura Barnet, The Secret Book Swap.
🎶 LOUD WOMEN Edinburgh: Second Idol + YIOTA + SheBeat + Von Dodds
Wed 02 September - 'LOUD WOMEN is back in Edinburgh for a night of post-punk and indie noise. Sydney's Second Idol are here on tour and they'll be joined by Your Illegal Operations on Transgender Aliens, aka YIOTA, SheBeat, and Von Dodds for a midweek takeover.'
7.30pm to 10.30pm | The Banshee Labyrinth · Old Town | £12/15 - More details here, shared by SheBeat Jodie, LOUD WOMEN.
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🌱 Thinking Otherwise: Pedagogists and Feminist Praxis in Early Childhood Education
Fri 04 September - 'During this lecture and networking event, Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw (Professor of Early Childhood Education, Western University in Ontario, Canada) will argue for reimagining early childhood education as a relational commons.'
12.45pm to 3.45pm | Thomson's Land · Old Town | Free - More details here, shared by Kirsten Darling-McQuistan, University of Edinburgh.
🎨 Art Walk Weekends [Until 13 Sept]
Sat 05 September - 'Art Walk Weekends 'Shift and Flow' celebrates Portobello's creative community with a town-wide exhibition across artists' homes, shops and community spaces over the first 2 weekends in September . 6 walking routes, 70 artists and 53 locations'
10am to 6pm | Portobello EH15 · Portobello - More details here, shared by Art Walk Weekends.
🎹 Pop Piano for Beginners (Free Taster)
Sat 05 September - 'Taking you from never having played the piano to accompanying your first pop song! No music reading required :)'
10.30am to 12pm | 86 Causewayside · Southside | FREE - More details here, shared by Nicholas, nicholasfranck.com.
🌳 Victoria Park Creative Writing Walk
Sat 05 September - 'Find inspiration in nature on this guided creative writing walk. Let's slow down together and take some time to reflect and create while walking through beautiful Victoria Park.'
10.30am to 12pm | Victoria Park · Trinity & Newhaven | £10 - More details here, shared by Cameo Marlatt.
🤱 Mothers Space | Gentle Yoga & Creative Journalling [Every Monday]
Mon 07 September - 'Motherhood can be beautiful, exhausting & everything in-between. Join us for 75minutes of gentle yoga & creative journalling. A chance to pause, spend time with other mothers navigating this same season & capture the beautiful, messy moments.'
2pm to 3.30pm | Līla Yoga · Bruntsfield | £85 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎩 Living a Polite Life from Cradle to Grave - British rules for living and dying well
Mon 07 September - 'Explore the traditional codes of conduct that directed the lives of past polite people. These codes go far beyond table manners or social etiquette, extending into areas of spirituality, mental self-discipline, personal ethics and temperament.'
7pm to 8.30pm | The Royal Scots Club Edinburgh · New Town | £8 - More details here, shared by The Royal Scots Club.
🧘♀️ Vinyasa Yoga weekly classes [Every Tuesday]
Tue 08 September - 'A dynamic Vinyasa class for those with some yoga experience who love to move and want to take their practice further. Expect creative flows, challenging postures, playful transitions and plenty of options to explore, build strength and have fun.'
6.15pm to 7.30pm | Custom House Leith · Leith - More details here, shared by Dee McQueen Yoga.
🩺 Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - Patient Info Event (Sept '26)
Wed 09 September - 'Living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis? You're not alone. A free evening for people living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, and those close to them. Hear practical talks about IBD medicines, ask questions, and meet the IBD team.'
6pm to 7.30pm | Lecture Theatre EG.02 IGC East Building Western General Hospital Crewe Road South Edinburgh EH4 2XU · Craigleith | FREE - More details here, shared by Hannah Schafer, Edinburgh IBD.
🍷 Vinyl Club #9: Adrianne Lenker's Bright Future
Wed 09 September - 'Welcome to Vinyl Club, where we pair two glasses of inspired wine with a vinyl record and listening experience. The force behind Big Thief, Adrianne Lenker, heads to the woods with old friends and makes a poetic Grammy-nominated masterpiece. Cheers'
7.30pm to 10pm | Smith & Gertrude · Portobello | 28.00 - More details here, shared by Todd Henkin.
Smith & Gertrude
📮 What's missing from the Minute? Got an event to share? Nothing's too local! Please share your local news and events here. Remember you can always see all 240+ upcoming local events on TownSpot calendars and maps. Thanks to everyone who shares their things.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🎭 'Transphobia and racism have become a theme of this year's Fringe'.
- 🗳️ MSP Ben Macpherson resigns from Ministerial role to give Leith 'more time'.
- 🌍 Find a screening of the National Emergency Briefing film.
- 🏫 Boroughmuir pupils could be sent to Tynecastle High.
- 🎭 Fringe to get £8,625 from city’s new tourist tax.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 983.
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