The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 3 December 2025

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. The weekly Culture Minute returns later today for paying subscribers. Meantime here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.

🪧 There were dramatic scenes at the City Chambers yesterday when residents of Gorgie's Westfield Court protested at the housing committee meeting demanding that councillors vote against the flats' proposed demolition. - Living Rent shared this video from the protest.
⮑ The meeting was suspended. Local Democracy Reporter Joe Sullivan reports from the meeting in Edinburgh Live, with a summary on the BBC Scotland News website too.

🏠 A £3m budget meant for tackling homelessness remains unspent, with the council's housing leader admitting it was failing its legal responsibilities to homeless people at ‘the most basic of levels’. - Local Democracy Reporter Joe Sullivan, Edinburgh Live.

🏗️ Work on a new 350-bedroom hotel at Haymarket Square has resumed more than a year after construction stalled. - Exclusive by Donald Turvill, The Herald.

🚨 Maybury Road was closed for most of the day after a rush-hour crash involving two lorries and a bus yesterday morning. The road, which links Barnton roundabout and Maybury roundabout, was shut between 8.15am yesterday and 2am this morning. - Calum Loudon, STV News.

🛍️ Rails of clothing that was blocking the pavement on Princes Street has been seized by the council, after multiple reports over years. - The council shared some photos of the stuff they seized on Twitter.

🪴 Plans have emerged to turn Colinton Mains Bowling Club into a neighbourhood garden. The Oxgangs Road plans were lodged by the Edible Estates community interest company. - First spotted on Harry Williams' Edinburgh Planning Updates. The full plans are on the council planning portal here.

🏠 The average local house price has gone up by 5.1% year-on-year to £299,050 during September - November 2025 according to ESPC.

🍽️ Chef Stuart Ralston has announced plans to revamp his Lyla restaurant on Royal Terrace, which was formerly the '21212' eatery. - Sarah Campbell, The Herald.

📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

⮑ Please get in touch using this form. < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter. (I'm aware this section is getting very long! It always does at this time of year. But with the newsletter readership growing steadily, so are the notices, which is a nice problem to have as it gives a better reflection of just how many good things are happening. I'm currently working on new ways to improve this section for everyone but please bear with it meantime. Thanks again to everyone who contributes! If you've gone to an event because of the noticeboard, please hop in to the comments section to tell everyone about it. It's helpful for organisers to know you 'saw it in the Minute' too.)

📌 "Today at 5.45pm. Come along to Southside Community Council’s annual Christmas Lights Ceremony in St Patrick Square followed by light refreshments and music at Southside Community Centre. With contributions from Preston Street Primary School and EUMS choir and players." - Thanks to Southside Community Council for sharing this.

📌 “In my final monthly video of the year, I take you on a 2+ minute wildlife journey of what a typical ’24 Hours on the Water of Leith’ has looked like in 2025. Thanks to Michael & all Edinburgh Minute subscribers, for your support & encouragement, over the year & have a happy festive period.” - Thanks so much to Tom Kelly from www.GoWildInEdinburgh.co.uk for sharing this and the riverside videos this year. A true highlight that I know many thousands of you enjoy.

📌 “Join Doc Screen this Wednesday for the Scottish premiere of The Wolves Always Come at Night by Gabrielle Brady. Immersive docu-western set in Mongolia, following the journey of a family forced to move from their rural herding community to the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar.” - Thanks to the Scottish Documentary Institute team for sharing this.

📌 “Marchmont late night Xmas shopping event Thursday 4th Dec 5-7pm. Support your local businesses and get 10% off your total spend on Thursday. Free mulled wine & nibbles for late night shoppers!” - Thanks to Andrew Haughton from The Nomads Tent for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 4 December, 4-8pm. Join us for our annual Christmas Market & Party. With drinks, nibbles and live music from the wonderful Edinburgh based singer-songwriter Chris Reeve! Also with us, vinyl from Last Night From Glasgow, wines and liquors from Vinarius, and original artwork from Kyle Blain.” - Thanks to Loud & Clear Edinburgh for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 4 December, 6pm - 8pm + Friday 5 December 2025, 3pm - 6pm: Sea Squirrel Open Studio & pop up xmas shop in Leith features the work of marine artist Mo Edward. Paintings & sketches on boats & on beaches from Portsoy to Patagonia, plus motorbike xmas cards & weird Edinburgh colouring books.” - Thanks to Mo for sharing this.

📌 “THE NUTCRACKER in concert with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra on Thursday 4 December, 7.30pm at Usher Hall. Join us and get in the festive spirit. Under 18s go FREE.” - Thanks to Derek Gilchrist, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 5th December - Join the International Ghost Society for our post-apocalyptic Christmas party in a real nuclear bunker. Enjoy music, festive rations, junkyard decoration-making, and colourful characters from the end of the world, plus an atmospheric torchlit tour into the depths!” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 6 December 2025 10.00am -12.30pm: Christmas Fair at Carrick Knowe School! All welcome, come along and enjoy a raffle, lots of lovely local stalls, meet Santa and much more! Tickets £2 per adult, £1 per child (under 3 free), all proceeds going directly to the school.” - Thanks to a member of Carrick Knowe Parent Council for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday: You are warmly invited to join the Edinburgh Chamber Orchestra for a programme of classical music and poetry, reflecting on the many moods of Christmas. Refreshments included, after the concert. Tickets available online, via our website (see link) or at the door (subject to availability).” - Thanks to Kirsty Davis, EChO secretary, for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 6 December 2025- A holiday zinemaking workshop for beginners and crafty people alike! Come make a DIY, affordable and unique gift for loved ones this holiday season at Slow Progress Records & Coffee, Old Town from 2-4pm. Materials and instruction included in ticket price.” - Thanks to Brooke Collins, Artist (@MOVREEEN) for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 6 December at French Institute: CINETOPIA SALON #2 , an evening of film, music, drinks and nibbles. Enjoy 1924 silent sci-fi 'Paris Qui Dort', with live musical accompaniment from harpist and sonic artist Aurora Engine. Come early for our drinks bar and complimentary canapes!” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 “Edinburgh’s poetic, psychedelic ensemble Acolyte launch their new single Warm Days in December at People’s Leisure Club on Sat 6 Dec. The night features poet Iona Lee with atmospheric bass, lush synths and experimental percussion, plus support from Ravelston’s genre-bending post-hop live set.” - Thanks to Gloria Black (of Acolyte) for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 6 December - Let's lift our mood through art-making! In this workshop, we’ll explore emotions through artmaking and learn CBT-tools that can help lift low moods. You don’t need prior art experience – we’d love to see you there!” - Thanks to Creative Arts Therapy Centre (0n Easter Road) for sharing this.

📌 “Queer as Punk's Xmas party: It's a Synth! is Saturday 6 December, 7pm-10pm at the Wee Red Bar, with live music from local acts Thundermoon, Gravelle, Demi and the Urge. Ticket holders also get free entry to new queer club night SOUR, in the same venue 10pm - 2am.” - Thanks to Suky Goodfellow, Queer as Punk for sharing this.

📌 "Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th December, 11am to 5pm. Mud Station Makers Winter Market. Come along and find your perfectly unique Christmas gifts - an array of gorgeous ceramics, made locally by our talented Mud Station studio members and students! Mud Station Pottery, 19-21 East Norton Place." - Thanks to the Mud Station Makers for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 7th December: Good Time Yoga presents Yoga for Runners at Up & Running Edinburgh. Come and join us for yoga and a test run round the West End - finishing up with great coffee and tasty treats with good folk. Absolute beginners absolutely welcome!” - Thanks to Sim from Good Time Running Club/Up & Running for sharing this.

📌 “Join us on Sunday 7th December at 10am for Birchwood Art Studio's annual student exhibition and Christmas market. Explore the amazing work created this semester and browse locally made, beautifully painted gifts. Shop pieces from our tutors and the Botanigals. ✨❄️” - Thanks to organiser Raphie for sharing this.

📌 “Join the Historical Crafts Society for a casual crafting session on Sunday 7th December at CATS 43-45 Easter Road. We will have hot drinks, a medieval playlist and a community of enthusiastic crafters to chat with.” - Thanks to Melissa Cruz for sharing this.

📌 "Catch the Scottish premiere of new documentary Seeking Mavis Beacon this Sunday at the Kino at Leith Depot from 7.30pm. What happened to the titular Haitian-born Mavis Beacon, face of word processing software of the 80s/90s? Fundraising for families in Gaza, screening with a short film, tickets £10." - Thanks to Morvern & Natasha & Jan for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 7 December 2025 - Colinton Orchestra's Winter Concert at Polwarth Parish Church starting at 7.30pm. We can guarantee a welcome respite from all things 'Christmas' with a varied program of music chosen by the orchestra. Complimentary refreshments are provided during the interval.” - Thanks to Colinton Orchestra for sharing this.

📌 “8th-11th December, Pop-Up Children's Bookshop at Curioso, 27 Albert Place (Leith Walk), EH7 5HN. Spyglass Books will open at a permanent location in 2026, but in the meantime we are running a pop-up to introduce ourselves to the city and its community. We look forward to welcoming everyone!” - Thanks to Anna of Spyglass Books for sharing this.

📌 “Monday 8th & Tuesday 9th December - Join Cyrenians to create your own Festive Wreath with evergreen foliage, and some smaller decorations to take home at the Royal Edinburgh Community Garden. Meet likeminded people, have fun and help us tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness!” - Thanks to Cyrenians for sharing this.

📌 “Tuesday 9th December 6pm - Powderhall Bronze foundry Tour 🔥 Join us for a tour of our fine art foundry in Granton, learning how we use the ancient lost wax casting process to create bronze sculptures. Gleam insight into our current foundry projects and past well-known public artworks along the way.” - Thanks to Lucy Caster from Powderhall Bronze for sharing this.

📌 “Tuesday 9 December, Detour Espresso, Argyle Place 530 pm -7pm: Scotland's 4 Words of Hope. With Scotland's elections 6 months off, come and help shape an emerging project to promote integrity, compassion, justice and wisdom in Scotland's public life. Best to book a place via EventBrite.” - Thanks to Frank Strang of the International Futures Forum for sharing this.

📌 “End the year creatively with Concrete Nature's vintage collage workshop on Wednesday 10th December at 6PM at Field Studio! All levels welcome, all materials provided including holiday card-making supplies.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 "Edinburgh Community Food Christmas Market. From 9am till 2pm Thursday 11th December, Organic Fruit & Veg, Raffles, Free hot drinks, much more. Volunteer support from the Scottish Rugby Team, come along and join in the festive fun, every penny spent creates an opportunity and joy in our community." - Thanks to Karen Miller Operations Manager ECF for sharing this. (More event details on Facebook)

📌 “Friday 12 December – A Scottish–Ukrainian Christmas charity evening, Written in Light, will take place at Greyfriars, with caroling, a play, traditional music, and homemade Ukrainian food. It’s a community-run event supporting humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Everyone’s welcome to join.” - Thanks to a volunteer from Spiders for Ukraine for sharing this.

📌 "Our community workshops need clean, low-stretch denim for repair and reuse. You can drop donations at 13A Newkirkgate in Leith. Get in touch at hello@edinburghremakery.org.uk or 07708477136." - Thanks to the Edinburgh Remakery team for sharing this.

📌 “Join us for a Coorie in Ceilidh at the The Biscuit Factory on 11th December, 7–9pm, for an evening of music, dancing, and a raffle with profits going directly towards supporting young people affected by homelessness. Grab your ticket and be part of a brilliant night making a real difference!” - Thanks the Rock Trust for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 13th December 🎄 Children's Christmas Club 🎄 at Greenbank Church 2 to 5pm. An afternoon of crafts, music, games and the Christmas story. All primary age children welcome - registration in advance.” - Thanks to Rachel McWilliam for sharing this.

📌 "Saturday 13th December, Festive Biscuit Decorating Workshop at Leith Makers, Leith Walk, (EH6 8NP), Join us for a fun and relaxing two-hour workshop where you will learn to decorate 7 festive biscuits using royal-icing. Take home your delicious biscuits and a new, fun skill!" - Thanks to the event organisers for sharing this.

📌 "Saturday 13th December, 20:00 - Jeff Khan is a clown obsessed with Christmas. He brings his comedy show 'Christmas Day, Four AM' to Edinburgh's Monkey Barrel Comedy. It's hilarious, bizarre, spooky and fun." - Thanks to Jeff Khan for sharing this.

📌 “Residents of Fairmilehead are being invited to complete an online survey, ahead of a Local Place Plan being compiled by the area's community council. Details on TheFairmile.Substack.com.” - Thanks to Mike Wilson, Fairmilehead Community Council councillor, for sharing this.

Launching today: survey to help create a Local Place Plan

RESIDENTS in Fairmilehead are being invited to share their hopes and dreams for the district, as part of an initiative by the local community council to design a Local Place Plan.

TheFairmileEditor

📌 “Edinburgh-based neuroinclusion consultancy, Welcome Brain, are running a research project to make networking more inclusive and we want to hear from you! If you ever attend networking events, please take 5 minutes to complete our survey and help make networking more inclusive for everyone!” - Thanks to Andy Williamson, Founder of Welcome Brain Consulting, for sharing this.

📌 “Trace, a solo exhibition from Carla Smith, continues at the Hoxton until mid-January. You can stop in for free to see the work and also pop through to the bar to find the secret cinema room which is showing the film 'Sugo' for the duration of the exhibition!” - Thanks to Carla for sharing this.

📌 “Looking for the best pubs this Christmas? Edinburgh Pub Reviews is back with its annual list of the top five cosy pubs for winter 2025.” - Thanks to Edinburgh Pub Reviews for sharing this.

📌 “Help Edinburgh's Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust (FCCT) set sail towards a cleaner, greener future! The FCCT has launched a £20,000 Crowdfunder to modernise its community fleet by going fully electric. Closes on 11 December.” - Thanks to Rachel Sedman, Development Manager at FCCT, for sharing this.

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

👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:

1. 🚦 Polwarth roundabout to be replaced by new T-junction.
2. 🎤 Lorde and Zara Larsson announced for Summer Sessions.
3. 🎭 '12 of the best events in Edinburgh before Christmas'.
4. 📌 Drink Wine & Speak Spanish comes to Stockbridge.
5. 📌 'Stockbridge all-day Holiday Stroll with local shops on Thursday.'

⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 780.
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