The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 28 October 2026
Centre shuts in childcare 'crisis' as birthrate blamed, Oi Musica van stolen in Porty, Leithers share ideas for 'Town of Culture' + hundreds back church community bid
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.
🌦️ Today's weather forecast: High winds have begun to calm down. Today's highest gust is forecast to be 30mph this morning. Scattered showers will continue, clearing up by afternoon. Calmer tomorrow with cloud and a high of 14C. - The full Met Office forecast for Edinburgh is here.
🌅 Sunrise: 7.11am. Sunset: 4.41pm.
🛝 The owners of North Edinburgh Childcare in Pilton have blamed 'falling birthrate, lower demand for childcare, increasing overheads and diminishing external financial support' for its closure. The centre is due to close on Friday. One parent said: "This isn’t just a childcare provider closing. It’s a crisis for working families, children and staff, and we urgently need practical support before Monday." - 'Childcare crisis as North Edinburgh Childcare to close on Friday', Dave Pickering, North Edinburgh News.
- "Parents were informed at the same time as staff on Monday evening, and say they are now scrambling around trying to find alternative childcare arrangements," writes Rachel Fergusson in the Evening News.
- All staff are being made redundant. The council says it is 'offering support for the affected members of staff as well as the families that used this service', reports Cara Blackhall, Edinburgh Live.
View all posts by davepickering
🏗️ Councillors will vote next week on whether to demolish Calderglen Early Learning Centre in Sighthill, after a ceiling collapse in January. - Local Democracy Reporter, Nicholas Malizia, in the Evening News.
🤬 A car driver who left a cyclist with a serious brain injury following a violent road rage attack in the Cowgate has avoided a jail sentence. - Alexander Lawrie reports from Edinburgh Sheriff Court, published by Edinburgh Live, BBC Scotland News & STV News.
🚔 Police are investigating a 'car and cyclist collision' on Monday morning at the Longstone Road roundabout. - Cara Blackhall, Edinburgh Live.
🎺 A van containing music instruments belonging to the Oi Musica group was stolen overnight on Monday while parked on Westbank Street in Portobello, next to Tumbles. - The group say they're 'absolutely gutted' and shared more details here.
🏗️ Plans for a 580-bed building featuring student housing, a hotel and extended-stay accommodation have been submitted for the former Fountain Brewery site in Fountainbridge. - Project Scotland has more details and a map of its location.
🚧 Scottish Water bosses have hit out at 'misinformation circulating online' claiming that their ongoing engineering works at Waterloo Place caused a crack in Regent Bridge. - Craig Williams, The Herald.
🍻 The Signature Pubs group is seeking council permission to allow children as young as 12-years-old to enter their venues while unaccompanied by adults. - Local Democracy Reporter, Nicholas Malizia, in Midlothian View.
🍕 Civerinos at the Lost Shore Surf Resort near Ratho is closing this weekend, with a 50% off all pizzas day on Sunday. The pizzeria said: "What was only meant to be a six month pop up turned into two incredible years. We’re so proud of what we’ve built here and of everyone in the community who’s been part of it with us."
🎨 Volunteers are needed to help paint the new celebration space at the Bellfield community events hub in Portobello. - More details here.
📍 Many of you will have been to uninspiring consultation events. A few maps on walls, biscuits on a paper plate, men in suits awkwardly standing around and a sense of going through the motions. Well here is a brilliant example of getting people involved. Last weekend Leithers shared their stories, hopes, ideas for the future and frustrations with the area. It was the UK Town of Culture 2028 consultation at the Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal. - Lots of good ideas shared by the organisers here.
"“There was so much warmth and pride in the room, but also really thoughtful conversations about Leith’s heritage, how the town is changing and what its future should look like. We’ve now got a huge amount to take away and work through, and that will directly help us shape the plans for 2028 and Leith’s 900th anniversary." - Susie Gray and Jenny Mungall, co-ordinators of Leith’s UK Town of Culture bid.
Elizabeth Burchell
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard
🤝 Reid Memorial: Strong community support in Blackford and beyond - '230 people attended our public meeting to support the Reid Memorial community buyout. We shared plans for a Community Benefit Society and Right to Buy request. Please complete our online survey to help show community need. Thank you for your support!' - More details here, shared by The Reid for the Community.
🎄 Calling all Edinburgh & surrounds based Christmas enthusiasts! - 'The Scotland's Home of the Year gang are back for more festive frolics while they travel the country in search of the 5 best winter wonderlands in Scotland. If you are planning on going all-out this Christmas then we would love to hear from you! (Deadline: 06 Nov)' - More details here, shared by IWC Media.
🍷 Being Wineful Masterclass: Seven Wines from Greece
Tomorrow, Thu 29 October - 'Discover 7 wines from Keira's recent visit to Greece, where she had the rare opportunity to interview two winemakers. This masterclass will include wines from 3 producers: Ktima Apostolidi, Muses Estate and Gikas Winery. Join us on 29/10 @7pm.'
7pm to 9pm | Le Petit Raisin · New Town | £44 - More details here, shared by Keira Hodge, Being Wineful.
🥍 Edinburgh Capital Women's Lacrosse - New members of all abilities welcome! [Every Thursday]
Tomorrow, Thu 29 October - 'Join our friendly, inclusive women's lacrosse club! Open to all abilities aged 18+. We train Thursdays, 7-8:30pm in Stockbridge and new members are always welcome. Get in touch via Instagram or email edinburghcapitallax@gmail.com with any questions!'
7pm to 9.30pm | Broughton High School · Craigleith | FREE - More details here, shared by Lara, Edinburgh Capital Lacrosse Club.
🍂 Autumn Foraging & Play: Nature School for Grownups! 🍂
Fri 30 October - 'Come forage, play and reconnect with nature at our next Nature School for Grownups session! Expect autumn discoveries, hands-on activities and good company. 🍁 Rescheduled to Friday 30 October due to last week's yellow weather warning.'
2pm to 4pm | Bridgend Farmhouse Cafe · Cameron Toll | £15-£7 for EH16/EH17 - More details here, shared by Nash, Nature School for Grown Ups.
🎃 Bridgend Farmhouse Halloween Party
Fri 30 October - 'Lantern making, story telling, facepainting,-come to Bridgend Farmhouse, just along from Cameron toll for a frightfully good halloween!'
5pm to 7pm | Bridgend Inspiring Growth · Cameron Toll - More details here, shared by Bridgend Farmhouse.
📚 Book launch for Emile Chabal's "Age of Hobsbawm: The Life of A Revolutionary Historian"
Fri 30 October - 'Join us for an evening with Professor Emile Chabal, as he reflects on the life and intellect of one of the most influential historians of the modern world: Eric Hobsbawm. Professor Chabal will be in conversation with Rory Scothorne.'
7pm to 8.30pm | Topping & Company Booksellers of Edinburgh · Canonmills & Broughton | £5, £10, £26.95 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🥯 BunFest
Sat 31 October - 'Join us at Tasty Buns for the return on BunFest! Six weird, wonderful, brand new flavours of Buns on this Day only! Think classic Cinnamon Buns, but WILD! It's usually a sell out, so get in early to nab the flavour you want!'
9am to 5pm | Tasty Buns · Tollcross | FREE - More details here, shared by Tasty Buns Bakery.
👗 Sparkle Sisters - Thrift Shop Pop up sale for women
Sat 31 October - 'We are an Edinburgh based charity supporting women who are homeless and/or survivors of abuse and we would love you to pop into our sale of preloved clothes...every donation helps! Come and have a cup of coffee and browse for a bargain!'
10am to 1pm | Hope Church Leith · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Catriona Lamont, Sparkle Sisters Edinburgh.
🏃♂️ Halloween Trail Half Marathon
Sat 31 October - 'SOLD OUT online but you can enter on the day by coming to register at Longcraig Scout Hall between 9-10am (£30 cash or card) and the spooky run starts at 10.30am. Through Dalmeny and Cammo estates. Medals and buffet for all finishers! For S Qfry RNLI'
10.30am to 1.30pm | Longcraig Scout Water Activity Centre · South Queensferry | £30 - More details here, shared by Blast Running.
😊 Laugh Moor [Every Saturday]
Sat 31 October - 'As part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, this 2 part workshop will teach you how to find the funny in your everyday. Led by stand up comedian and improviser Agnes Carter and Clinical Psychologist Edel McGlanaghy.'
11am to 1pm | Slow Progress Records & Coffee · Old Town | Donation - More details here, shared by Edel Mc Glanaghy.
🌕 Japanese Calligraphy & Mindfulness workshop - Tsukimi theme
Sat 31 October - 'Join us for a Japanese calligraphy workshop collaborated with Tiffany, our special mindfulness instructor. You will get to learn Tsukimi - Japan's moon viewing experience in autumn with calligraphy and enjoy homemade mochi and Japanese tea.'
2pm to 4pm | Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End · Haymarket & Dalry | £20 - More details here, shared by Wayfarer Shodo Edinburgh.
🎬 Leith Kino presents Run and Kill (1993)
Sun 01 November - 'Beginning as a dark comedy before mutating into a nightmarish cat-and-mouse thriller, RUN AND KILL is a constantly shifting, tonally unpredictable, and often unforgettable work of Hong-Kong exploitation cinema.'
7.30pm to 9.30pm | Leith Depot · Leith | £0-6 - More details here, shared by Morvern Cunningham, Leith Kino.
🕯️ Queen By Candlelight
Wed 04 November - 'Following sold-out performances at New York's iconic Carnegie Hall and the legendary London Palladium, experience an unforgettable evening of Queen's greatest anthems, performed live by candlelight at the beautiful Edinburgh Playhouse.'
7.30pm to 10.30pm | Edinburgh Playhouse · Canonmills & Broughton - More details here, shared by Kinda Dusty Ltd..
📚 New College Book Festival 6-7 Nov [Until Sat]
Fri 06 November - 'A celebration of thinkers asking the big questions in their work. Author events include Alycia Pirmohamed on migration, Eleanor Drage on AI ethics, Luke Kennard on The Book of Jonah, an evening with Karine Polwart, creative writing workshops, & more'
11am to 8.30pm | New College · Old Town | £8-£20 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎶 Shore Leave - Chris Greive & Graeme Stephen live at Brown's of Leith
Tue 24 November - 'Following a sell out first show Shore Leave returns to Brown's of Leith with Chris Greive on trombone & Graeme Stephen on guitar. Performance will include a collaboration with Tim Taylor, "Moby Dick or: How Ahab Came to Love the Great White Whale".'
6.30pm to 9.30pm | Brown's of Leith · Leith | £18 / £9 concessions - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
❄️ WHALE Arts Winter Fayre
Sat 28 November - 'Come along to the WHALE Arts Winter Fayre! Get creative with wreath making and winter crafting, live music, activities for under 5's, games, festive treats and hot drinks from our café, a craft sale and more! No need to book, everyone is welcome!'
12pm to 4pm | WHALE Arts Agency · Wester Hailes | FREE - More details here, shared by WHALE Arts.
You can always see all 280+ upcoming local events on TownSpot calendars and maps. Thanks to everyone who shares their things!
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🚪 Inside Hanover Street flat was an office for 40 years.
- 💥 Comic Con Scotland organisers address overcrowding problems.
- ⛸️ Outdoor ice rink axed after 30 years.
- 🎓 Departing uni boss refuses to disclose second salary.
- 🏃♀️ Hundreds join new parkrun event at Lost Shore.
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