The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 30 September 2026

👋 Good morning Edinburgh. It's a busy one this morning. And later today there's an exclusive 25% off comedy tickets offer in this week's Culture Minute, landing in paying subscribers' inboxes this afternoon. Once again, the discounts make the subscription worth it. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.

🌦️ Today's weather forecast: A damp start should clear up by 11am, making way for a sunny afternoon and evening with a top temperature of 20C around 2pm. Gusty though with the wind speed peaking at 32mph. Rain is currently forecast to return around 10pm. Sunny tomorrow morning. - The full Met Office forecast for Edinburgh is here.

🌅 Sunrise: 7.14am. Sunset: 6.50pm.

📰 After being shut down earlier this month, Edinburgh-based arts newspaper The Skinny has been rescued. Its publisher Radge Media CIC announced yesterday it had struck a deal with Scottish arts charity Outer Spaces. Rosamund West, editor-in-chief of Radge Media CIC, said: "The last month has been incredibly challenging, but the outpouring of support from contributors and collaborators reaffirmed the importance of a space for local, independent, cultural journalism. We’re excited to become part of the Outer Spaces family, and to have this opportunity to continue our work within an organisation whose values align so closely with our own."- More details here.

The Skinny is back!

Scottish arts charity Outer Spaces is partnering with our publisher Radge Media CIC to continue our two decades of independent cultural journalism.

The SkinnyFeature by The Skinny

🎨 Around 150 artists, small businesses and third-sector organisations are looking for a new home this morning. Caledonian Trust, owner of the St Margaret’s House building on London Road, has served notice on the tenants, telling them to vacate by 24 January. The former office block is currently home to the Scot-ART charity, formerly known as Edinburgh Palette. Concerns were raised by tenants in February last year when the building went back on the market (Minute edition 565). While the sale process is yet not complete, the site has been marketed for a mixed-use scheme of around 360 student flats and 100+ residential units.

• Among those affected is artist and designer Bartłomiej Urbański, owner of Doba Studio. He said: "I'm absolutely screwed. There's my recycling studio, therapy sessions, an animal sanctuary, judo classes, dance classes, print making, you name it. And it's all going to disappear. I need to find a storage space to put all the things in. It's such a shame. The building is going to be closed. It's shite. I need help finding another space."

[Feel free to use the comments section of this post if you can help any of the artists or businesses to relocate.]

• Caledonian Trust claimed its January target date gives the building's residents 'plenty of time to plan ahead'. - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco has more details in The Herald.

Artists told to vacate creative hub as owner in talks over St Margaret’s House sale

Building owner Caledonian Trust is in discussions with a ‘preferred party’ about purchasing the site, which has led to tenant Scot-ART…

The HeraldJosh Pizzuto-Pomaco

St Margaret’s House - Artist studios and workspaces, Edinburgh

St Margaret’s House, Edinburgh houses community arts spaces, rehearsal and meeting spaces, printmaking studio, ceramics studio & kilns, recording studio, martial arts dojo, library and more.

Scot-ART

🎮 It's now confirmed that Edinburgh-based computer games production firm Build a Rocket Boy has gone in to administration. Around 300 people have been made redundant. - Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter.

🤝 Plans for a Business Improvement District for the Old Town have enough support from local businesses to progress to the next stage, the campaign’s steering group tells Rachel Fergusson of the Evening News.

• Learn more about the Edinburgh Old Town BID here.

🗳️ Two current Labour councillors, Katrina Faccenda (Leith) and Conor Savage (Colinton/Fairmilehead), have been blocked by the local party from standing for re-election at next year's council elections. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.

• Councillor Faccenda plans to appeal the decision, reports Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco in The Herald.

🏒 Tributes have been paid to Murrayfield Ice Rink manager and former-player Richard Stirling, who died on Saturday aged 76. - Lucy McCulloch, Evening News.

🥃 Whisky production has paused at distilleries across Scotland due to a slump in demand around the world. Among them waiting out the difficult period is Holyrood Distillery. "No one has a crystal ball, so nobody knows what is going to happen 10 years from now", co-founder Rob Carpenter tells Patrick Greenfield in The Guardian.

On the rocks? Scotch distilleries pause production as unsold ‘whisky loch’ grows

Demand for Scotland’s most famous export has slumped, with industry facing job cuts and closures

The GuardianPatrick Greenfield

👗 'I took my 90-year-old mum to see Edinburgh's best exhibition' - Reviewing Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop at Dovecot Studios, Gaby Soutar in The Scotsman.

🦇 Bat-friendly red street lights have been installed in Pilrig Park in a bid to to improve safety for pedestrians while protecting light-sensitive wildlife. - Jack Davies has the details in the Evening News.

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💡 Innovation at Home and Abroad
Tomorrow, Thu 01 October - 'From navigating business culture in Japan to unpacking the changes AI is bringing to the lab, join us at this week's Thursday Gathering as we tackle some big topics!'
5pm to 8pm | Edinburgh Futures Institute · Old Town | FREE - More details here, shared by Venture Café Edinburgh.

🎶 Bach St Matthew Passion
Tomorrow, Thu 01 October - 'To mark 300 years since its first performance, the SCO, SCO Chorus and the choristers from St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral present Bach's St Matthew Passion, a profound retelling of the Passion story. Under 18s go FREE.'
7pm to 10pm | The Usher Hall · Tollcross | From £6 - More details here, shared by Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

🗺️ Learn to Navigate with Mountain Buddies: Boost your map & compass skills in the Pentland Hills 🧭
Sat 03 October - 'Final course of the season Sat 3 Oct! Fancy getting more confident with a map & compass? Join @mtnbuddies for a friendly day in the Pentlands covering map reading, compass skills and basic navigation. No experience needed. Book via the website!💡⛰️🧭'
8.30am to 3.30pm | Threipmuir Reservoir · Currie & Balerno | £55 (£100 for two) - More details here, shared by Will, Mountain Buddies.

🧘‍♀️ Moving with Ease - Connecting to our bodies and our selves
Sat 03 October - 'A half day workshop exploring somatic movement - for all ages, abilities & experience - gently releasing & lengthening tight muscles, bringing our bodies into balance & alignment. 'If you can sense it and feel it, you can change it.' Thomas Hanna'
10am to 1pm | Shoreline Studio · Portobello | £35.00 - More details here, shared by Gaby Porter, movingwithease.co.uk.

🎹 You Can Play by Ear (Piano Workshop for Adults)
Sat 03 October - 'Anybody can play by ear! Learn the tools you need to break free of sheet music and create your own simple piano arrangements of your favourite tunes!'
1pm to 3pm | 86 Causewayside · Southside | £40 - More details here, shared by Nicholas, nicholasfranck.com.

🧵 Edinburgh Sewing Social
Sat 03 October - 'Join us to sew, or knit, crochet, etc, in a friendly setting. It's a chance to work on our projects, share ideas, and chat. No formal tuition, but there's often someone who can help out. Future dates: Oct: Sat 17th & 31st Nov: Sun 15th & 29th'
2.30pm to 5pm | Blackhall St. Columba's Church · Silverknowes & Blackhall | £7.50-£10 - More details here, shared by Kathy Evans.

🎨 Paint & Sip
Sat 03 October - 'Paint & Sip at St. Oswald's Centre We've teamed up with Birchwood Art Studio to bring you a guided painting afternoon right here in Bruntsfield. No experience needed - Birchwood's tutors will guide everyone through the painting step by step.'
3pm to 5.30pm | St. Oswald's Centre · Bruntsfield | £16.93 - £20 - More details here, shared by Steve Platt, St Oswald’s Centre.

🌱 Free Wellbeing Day at The Crannie Community Hub!
Sun 04 October - 'Take some time for yourself with our Wellbeing Day this Sunday! Featuring a mindfulness session, a self-confidence workshop, cosy crafts, and more - come along to join any of the activities and leave feeling rejuvenated.'
1pm to 4pm | The Crannie Community Hub · Old Town | FREE - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust.

🎤 Streisand Sunday
Sun 04 October - 'Join us at 4pm or 7:30pm for a celebration of the music of Barbara Streisand! Celebrating her career with outstanding choir and solo performances from stage, screen and chart success with comedy emcee to talk you through the world of Babs.'
4pm to 6.30pm | Dirty Martini · New Town | £17.50 - More details here, shared by Scott Anderson, Blackout Productions.

🎬 My Brother's Wedding (1983) hosted by Leith Kino
Sun 04 October - 'Leith Kino's October season begins this Sunday with the Scottish premiere of My Brother's Wedding (1983). This tragicomedy is an overlooked contribution to Black cinema of the 80s, centred on contemporary working class life in L.A.'
7.15pm to 9.15pm | Leith Depot · Leith | £6, some free tix - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.

My Brother’s Wedding (1983)

. Charles Burnett’s follow up to his debut, Killer of Sheep, explores Black working class life in 80’s LA. Pierce Mundy lives at home with his parents, working at their dry cleaning business, and caring for his folks. His brother on the other hand is a lawyer, set to marry into an upper middle-class Black family. Pierce’s friend Soldier is once again released from prison, and with even lower prospects than Pierce because of his reputation. The two move about town with no grand plans, to the disappointment of Pierce’s family. Pierce is increasingly conflicted between the expectations of his parents and his own tenacity. Having never earned a wider release due to distributors’ fear of low sales, My Brother’s Wedding (1983) is finally here to stay. A newly restored cut with frame-by-frame image repairs, color correction and digital mastering has promised new life to Burnett’s funny and moving film. This film will be presented with descriptive subtitles. All tickets £6. We have also allocated a number of free tickets for those not in a position to pay. If you would like to help support our free ticket initiative, you can pay it forward here. Leith Kino! A weekly community cinema night based at Leith Depot. Join us for weekly screenings, celebrating films that are international, experimental, arthouse, trash, cult, a little bit strange, and maybe otherwise hard to see on the big screen. There will be free (vegan) popcorn. Drinks and refreshments are available to purchase at the Depot bar, alongside our monthly posters, each designed by a different Leith-based artist. Leith Kino Access Information English subtitles will be onscreen for every screening, including descriptive subtitles where possible. The screening room is on ground level and is wheelchair accessible from the Leith Depot bar with flexible seating to accommodate specific requirements.There are accessible toilets in both the screening room and the bar. If you have any questions about access or if you need to reserve a specific seat, please email us at leithkino@gmail.com Leith Depot is well-served by public transport. It’s a short walk from the Foot of the Walk tram stop, and there is a bus stop outside the venue for services: 7, 14, 16, 25, and 49

Ticketlab

🍂 The Weaving Project [Fortnightly Mon-Fri]
Mon 05 October - 'Weaving exhibition inspired by Scotland's native landscape & Nordic techniques. Rugs & runners woven using naturally dyed wools, Heather Shield blankets, silk scarves and linen table mats. A spinning demonstration and chance to try it out.'
10am to 5.30pm | The Church of Scotland · New Town | FREE - More details here, shared by Kristina Taylor, The Weaving Project.

🧘‍♀️ Beginners Pilates Course [Every Monday]
Mon 05 October - 'Build a resilient, connected body in this Pilates course. Fusing classical Pilates with strength, this mindful yet challenging course focuses on full-body alignment, breath, and core control. All movement levels, ages, and genders welcome.'
11.15am to 12.15pm | Ashtanga Yoga Edinburgh & Hillside Collective · Canonmills & Broughton - More details here, shared by Emma McCready.

6-Week Pilates Course: Monday 11:15 | Beginners Friendly | £65

£65

🧵 Regenerative Fibre and Materials Futures - Flax from field to fabric and beyond
Mon 05 October - 'Do come along and hear Collette Paterson, Senior Lecturer and Textiles Programme Director at Edinburgh University, talking flax, fibres and fabrics. There's tea, coffee and biscuits from 6.30pm. No need to book.'
7pm to 8.30pm | Augustine United Church · Old Town | £10, £5 - More details here, shared by Costume Society Scotland.

🛠️ Rosette Carving with Teresa Hunyadi
Tue 06 October - 'Discover the satisfying precision of decorative chip carving in this relaxed evening workshop. Working with a chip carving knife and soft Linden wood, you'll learn how to create beautiful geometric patterns with surprising depth and texture.'
6pm to 8.30pm | Edinburgh Tool Library - Leith Workshop · Leith | £70.00 - More details here, shared by Lorri Smyth, The Edinburgh Tool Library.

🧑‍🚀 Charity Kids Space Book Launch in aid of MS Society Scotland
Tue 06 October - 'Join 12-year-old Edinburgh local Michael Doran (& his parents) as he launches his third space book during World Space Week, raising funds for MS Society Scotland after seeing his mum live with MS. Special guest Dr Alastair Bruce. Free. RSVP required.'
6pm to 7.30pm | Edinburgh Academy School Le Roux Room · Stockbridge | FREE - More details here, shared by Michael Doran.

🎨 Play : Repeat [Until 24 Oct]
Wed 07 October - 'This exhibition brings together two Edinburgh, Amanda Airey & Ian Farmer, based artists whose interest lay in past influences, mark making and repetition.'
11am to 5pm | Upright Gallery · Bruntsfield | FREE - More details here, shared by Ian Farmer, Upright Gallery.

🎶 Print House Gems - relaxed performance
Wed 07 October - 'Join Dunedin Consort for music by Handel, Vivaldi, Corelli and more. This relaxed performance is ideal for people with additional support needs or caring responsibilities, it's the same Dunedin experience with some additions to support accessibility.'
3pm to 4pm | Stockbridge Parish Church · Stockbridge | £25; £13, £6 (conc) - More details here, shared by Dunedin Consort.

🍲 Edinburgh Can B Soup
Wed 07 October - 'Come for a bowl of soup, live music & a chance to hear about brilliant local projects doing something positive for Edinburgh. The attendees vote & the winning idea takes home the ticket money to help make it happen. Come hungry, leave inspired!'
6.30pm to 8.30pm | The Melting Pot · Old Town | £5-£15 - More details here, shared by Alice Paterson.

🎥 Documentary film Screening
Wed 07 October - 'DOCo presents a work-in-progress screening of The King of Scotland by Liam Baker, 7 Oct, 7PM at The Outhouse, Edinburgh. Meet Danny, the "King of Scotland", in a tale of freedom, adventure, prison, film poetry & live performance.'
7pm to 9.30pm | The Outhouse · Canonmills & Broughton | FREE - More details here, shared by DOCo.

🎹 Make It Yourself Festival at Pianodrome [Until Sun]
Wed 14 October - 'Make It Yourself is Pianodrome's brand new festival - a five day celebration of DIY culture, creativity and local community, running during October half term from 14th - 18th October at Pianodrome Bruntsfield Community Hub.'
10am to 6pm | Pianodrome Bruntsfield Community Hub · Bruntsfield - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.

🌱 Duncan Place Planter Project - come and garden with us! [Fortnightly Wed]
Wed 14 October - 'Meeting regularly on Wednesday mornings at Duncan Place, our planter gardening group is community-led and free to attend. Members share gardening skills, knowledge and tips while planting & growing edible plants. No kneeling required! Cuppa included.'
10.30am to 12.30pm | Duncan Place Community Hub · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Ot, Duncan Place Community Hub.

🖋️ Caitlin O'Ryan: At What Point
Wed 14 October - 'Join Caitlin O'Ryan for an intimate evening of spoken word from her debut collection, At What Point. Raw, funny and deeply honest, the show explores love, rage, heartbreak and hope, weaving audience stories into a powerful shared experience.'
7.30pm to 9pm | Assembly Roxy · Old Town | £17.25 - More details here, shared by Mother Mayhem Management.

Caitlin O’Ryan’s At What Point

<p style=“margin-top: 0px”> At what point do we figure it out // does it get easier // will we find the answers // will I feel okay? </p> <p> <br> Join Caitlin O’Ryan for an evening of spoken word poetry featuring work from her debut collection, At What Point.<br>Known for her raw, relatable and deeply honest writing, Caitlin’s poetry moves between tenderness and fury, humour and heartbreak, exploring what it means to be human, to love, and to navigate a world that often asks us to carry too much.<br>Fuelled by the times we are living in, these poems leap from the page and vibrate off of the stage with a sense of urgency. Journey through the ladies’ loos, terrible dates, existential dread and the quiet power of platonic love, before arriving at a place of acceptance, resilience and hope.<br>Audience members’ own anonymous contributions are woven with care throughout the show, highlighting the spectrum of our shared experience.<br>Whether you’re a long-time poetry lover or discovering spoken word for the first time, At What Point is an intimate, thought-provoking and uplifting performance that feeds the soul, gives voice to our unspoken fury, and reminds us that we are never as alone as we think. </p>

Assembly Roxy

🌍 EICC Live - People's Emergency Briefing
Thu 29 October - 'Join EICC Live, in collaboration with the Greenpeace Edinburgh for a screening of The People's Emergency Briefing #PEBuk followed by a facilitated discussion led by Greenpeace representatives.'
5.30pm to 7.30pm | Edinburgh International Conference Centre · Tollcross | FREE - More details here, shared by Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

EICC Live - People’s Emergency Briefing

What’s happening with climate and nature, and what does it mean for life in the UK?

Eventbrite

Remember you can always see all 270+ upcoming local events on TownSpot calendars and maps. Thanks to everyone who shares their things!

👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:

1. 🏰 Historic Environment Scotland director resigns.
2. 🧖🏻‍♀️ New saunas planned for South Queensferry marina.
3. 🏨 Councillors to vote today on hotel plan at former Scottish Widows HQ.
4. 🏉 Tributes to former Edinburgh Rugby player Ally Donaldson.
5. 🎭 'Edinburgh festivals summit to be staged after 'golden goose' plea'.

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