The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 14 - 16 August 2026
Princes St reopening target now 'end of August', councillors 'mortified' as festival funding 'in turmoil', new Causewayside record shop & Morningside chippy + your non-festival weekend guide including 'Characters of Edinburgh'
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. Some mega deals for mega shows are in today's Festival Minute newsletter, landing in paying subscribers' inboxes at midday. If you're not already signed up, it's £5 for the month and you are going to save a lot more than a fiver. What are the show deals? Well there are some rare half-price tickets for well-known faces and what I can only describe as the 'hottest' ticket in town. You'll figure that out easily, I'm sure. Here's your weekend Edinburgh Minute...
🌦️ Weekend weather: Occasional light showers should make way before 9am for sunny intervals throughout the day. A temperature high of 22C. Similar on Saturday and Sunday but with the temperature peaking at 19C and a low of 11C on Sunday morning. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🏗️ The council hopes Princes Street can reopen to trams and buses 'by the end of August', depending on 'favourable weather conditions'. In a progress update issued yesterday, the council said 'several tonnes' of 'debris and dangerous materials' had been removed from the former Debenhams store, which went up in flames on 9 July. It said engineers still faced 'complex and challenging work' ahead, with around 40% of the new supporting steel beams now in place. - More details in this press release and some new photos here. Speaking after a summit on the progress, council leader Jane Meagher said:
"What came across strongly last night was the effect this is having on our residents who are struggling to get to work, meet commitments or make appointments. I want to put on record again my thanks for your patience and understanding and to reiterate my determination to bring this disruption to an end as soon as it is safe to do so."
🎭 Festival leaders were left 'frustrated' yesterday when a council meeting about using tourist tax income for cultural funding was postponed at the last minute. Taking time out from the busiest point in their year, Fringe boss Tony Lankester and Edinburgh International Book Festival director Jenny Niven were ready to make their case at the City Chambers yesterday morning. But council culture convener Margaret Graham apologised after the topic was bumped forward by two months. - Jane Bradley, The Scotsman.
⮑ Rather than wait until then, there's a chance the decision could be made at 'a special culture committee later this month', reports Brian Ferguson in The Herald. Council Director of Place Gareth Barwell admitted the delay was due to a lack of 'understanding of what the financial implications will be'.
Brian Ferguson
- 'Mortifying' - SNP culture spokesperson Finlay McFarlane said: "We had the festival leaders there but they had to leave because the report had been removed. Absolute shambles. Slightly mortifying for everybody involved. You can literally hear the festivals happening outside the City Chambers as we met."
"There is no more important topic for the council’s ‘culture committee’ to be discussing than what is happening on their doorstep until the end of August. The loss of the Edinburgh TV Festival should have been treated as the biggest of red flags." - This morning's Scotsman editorial leader comment.
🛝 One topic the council did discuss yesterday was a public petition for an upgrade to Inverleith Park. The petition was accepted and a report into new facilities will be produced. Convener Margaret Graham told the meeting: "It's vitally important. Children cannot wait. If you're five years old you cannot wait for a masterplan. It's imperative this petition is given credence and we move on with it."
🚔 Police are trying to find the person who drove stolen a van into a wall in Granton at 3am yesterday. - Isla Storie, Edinburgh Live.
🚉 Trams have been involved in 32 collisions in the past two years, and 44 since 2021, according to newly released data. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.
🛍️ Some more new independent business openings:
- A new chippy opened in Morningside yesterday. Alasea is at 352 Morningside Road, next to to Alaburrito.
- A new cafe has opened at 127 Easter Road: The Lea Rig Café & Bakery offers breakfasts, lunches, bakes and coffee by Mutual.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
🎶 New independent record store open in Causewayside - 'Heliocentric Records, selling new and used vinyl, CD's and cassettes. Covering a wide range of genres including jazz, soul, and international.' - More details here, shared by Steven Duval, Heliocentric Records LTD.
🍜 Edinburgh couple launch Scran app to make cooking easier for neurodivergent people - 'Grant Macgregor and Jonny Kirkaldy co-designed Scran with 200 home cooks over the past year. The app simplifies recipes into smaller tasks you can tick off, with prep upfront and ingredient amounts in each step, reducing the mental load of cooking.' - More details here, shared by Jonny Kirkaldy.
😊 LifeCare launches free fun activities for under-5s bringing the old and young together - 'Join storyteller Claire Mulholland for stories, singing, music and games at the LifeCare Hub & Café in Stockbridge. Every Monday, 11am–12pm, 17 Aug to 14 Sept. Reserve places - sarahduckmanton@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk. Thanks to EVOC funding.' - More details here, shared by Claire, LifeCare.
🎤 More men encouraged to come Sing in the City! - 'The Sing and the City choirs are wonderful social spaces, who are always looking for more men to join, it is not just a women’s space and the mood lifting benefits should be experienced by all! Contact Hello@singinthecity.com to take a free trial.' - More details here, shared by an Alto 2 in Musselburgh.
🎉 Newhaven Running Group’s 1st Birthday - 'It’s Newhaven Running Group’s 1st birthday on Monday 17th August. Come join us for our regular 5km NRG run at 7pm, followed by a celebratory social at the Old Chain Pier. Everyone welcome! (Deadline: 17 Aug)' - More details here, shared by Paddy Watson, Newhaven Running Group.
🎨 West End Fair [Until 30 Aug]
Today, Fri 14 August - 'Visit our Arts & Craft village, set over 5 different levels, showcasing over 120+ designers, makers and artists selling only their own quality handmade products.'
11am to 6pm | St John's Episcopal Church · West End | FREE - More details here, shared by Tiana Wilson-Buys, 3D2D Events.
🎷 Mike Daly & the Rhythm Kings at Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive.
Today, Fri 14 August - 'This Friday, 14 August, the amazing cornetist Mike Daly will play at the Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club with his Rhythm Kings. Expect an evening packed with danceable Jazz tunes from a sextet of outstanding musicians. Perfect for listening or dancing.'
8pm to 11pm | Heriot's Rugby Club · Inverleith | £13.00 & £16.00 - More details here, shared by Nicholas Harrison, Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club.
🚴♀️ Family led ride from Porty Prom to the Meadows and Bruntsfield bike library
Tomorrow, Sat 15 August - 'Join us for a family friendly led bike ride from Porty cargo bike library, to Bruntsfield cargo bike library with a stop off at Meadows Play Park. Learn a local cycle route, gain cycle confidence, meet local people, have a picnic. All free!'
11am to 3pm | Porty Active Travel Hub · Portobello | free - More details here, shared by Porty Community Energy.
🎨 Phoebe Anna Traquair murals [Until Tue]
Sun 16 August - 'Come and see the beautiful murals by Phoebe Anna Traquair at Mansfield Traquair Centre. Venue 262. Entry is free and donations are always welcome to help maintain this cultural gem. Just turn up.'
10.30am to 12.30pm | Mansfield Traquair · Canonmills & Broughton | Donations welcome - More details here, shared by Friend of Mansfield Traquair Centre.
🌿 Wild Woman Lammas Gathering
Sun 16 August - 'JOIN US FOR OUR WILD WOMAN LAMMAS GATHERING Forest Bathing • Journaling • Women's Circle • Nature Rituals • Grounding Practices • Tea Rituals & Meditation. Gather in nature to celebrate what's blossoming, and reconnect with the Earth.'
10.30am to 12.30pm | Duddingston Kirk · Holyrood Park | 16.96 - More details here, shared by Creative Roots in Nature, creative roots in nature.
Speaking at this event Rebecca May Johnson Ben Mervis Chitra Ramaswamy
🍽️ Word Salad
Sun 16 August - 'A roundtable chat on Food Writing hosted by Peter Simpson, food editor of The Skinny, with Times restaurant critic Chitra Ramaswamy, founder of Fare magazine Ben Mervis, and Rebecca May Johnson, editor at Vittles and author of Small Fires.'
3.45pm to 4.45pm | Edinburgh International Book Festival · Old Town | £15.50 (£10.50) - More details here, shared by Peter, The Skinny.
🏖️ Portobello beach race
Sun 30 August - 'Friendly 4 mile race along Portobello beach at low tide. Chasing a PB or trying first your first race, everyone is welcome. Kids Fun Run at 10:30am ❤️ Supporting Towerbank Primary School and Fresh Start. 🏅 Finisher keyring 🎁 Prizes 🍰Cakes'
9.30am to 11am | Powerleague Edinburgh Portobello · Portobello | £10 - More details here, shared by Portobello Running Club.
🌿 Forest Bathing on Corstorphine Hill
Sun 30 August - 'Escape into Corstorphine Hill for a soothing forest bathing session. Release stress, reconnect with nature, and enjoy this final session of the summer season.'
10am to 12pm | Corstorphine Hill · Corstorphine - More details here, shared by Maria Mackenzie, Forest Bathing Edinburgh.
Remember you can always see all 235 upcoming local events on TownSpot calendars and maps. Thanks to everyone who shares their things!
🛝 Plenty of family-friendly things to do this weekend and beyond in Gayle's Guide, including: family events at the Book Festival (including the legendary 'Meet the Gruffalo' events, songwriting for dads and kids and more...
Gayle’s Guide