The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 14 - 16 November 2025
'Half-baked' Princes Street plan shelved, hitman admits Hogmanay murder, uni staff plan strike, Forth Awards winners, Stockbridge Creative Colonies open studios + Christmas markets open
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. It's a busy Friday edition, featuring all the local news I can find/verify, along with your community notices and the weekend guide. Thanks again to everyone who sends things in, shares the newsletter or supports it. This newsletter wouldn't exist without you. Here's your weekend Edinburgh Minute...
🌦️ Weekend weather: It's another wet and windy Friday. Saturday is looking dry but cloudy, while Sunday should be the sunniest day of the weekend. Temperature high of 8C on Friday and a low of 1C on Sunday night into Monday morning. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🚦 A major council plan for a revamp of the city centre has been paused. The Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy (online here) was supposed to 'conserve and revitalise this world-famous street, protecting it for generations to come'. But yesterday councillors said it was 'half-baked' after concerns it 'lacked ambition'. - The Spurtle has the background and a report on yesterday's planning meeting.
🚔 A 'paid assassin' has been told he'll be jailed for life after admitting the murder of gang rival Marc Webley, 38, at Granton's Anchor Inn on Hogmanay in 2023. Grant Hunter, 34, was caught on CCTV shooting Webley in the back. - BBC Scotland published this report and Police Scotland published more details here.
🎓 Some University of Edinburgh staff will once again go on strike next week, fighting £140 million of cuts with the loss of an estimated 1800 jobs. Some staff are 'desperately worried about their livelihoods', reports Catriona Stewart in The Scotsman.
🏥 An unannounced inspection of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Morningside 'raised several concerns with senior managers'. - Andrew Picken, BBC Scotland News.
⮑ Some staff were 'found 'focussing' on their mobile phones rather than patients', reports Katrine Bussey in the Daily Record.
🅿️ The council will introduce six new paid parking areas next year, at Willowbrae North, Easter Road, Bonnington, Lochend, Restalrig North, and Roseburn. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.
🎇 Police have made 14 arrests to date in connection with fireworks-related offences over this year's Halloween and Bonfire Night period. - They published this update yesterday.
⛺️ Some people experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh say they are living in fear on the city streets as charities warn more lives will be lost this winter. - Amie Flett, STV News.
🏗️ Two new holiday-let apartments could be built on the site of a derelict mews house on Montgomery Street Lane. The developer says they plan to 'retain and salvage as much of the original structure as possible'. Lee Dalgetty, Edinburgh Live.
🏆 The annual Forth Awards were given out yesterday at the Usher Hall, with ten awards handed out to hometown heroes including: Best Teacher, Best Restaurant, Best Workplace and the Forth Local Hero Award. - The full list of winners is here.
🎨 This evening the Creative Edinburgh Awards event is at Central Hall in Tollcross from 6pm. - Last tickets are available here and the list of finalists is here.
⮑ The Edinburgh Minute is a proud sponsor of the awards.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📌 "Friday 14th November (6:30pm) - Join us to celebrate Fair Saturday’s 2025 programme at their Opening Party at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Featuring live storytelling from Niall Moorjani and excerpts of Deiseil: Dancing in Time by step dancer Alison Carlyle and fiddle player Amy Geddes." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 "14 Nov - Fashion and Fizz returns for a stylish evening in aid of Smart Works Scotland, raising funds to help unemployed women with free coaching and clothing. Guests will enjoy fizz on arrival, shopping curated sale rails, a luxury raffle, and hear from speakers in the fashion industry." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 15th November 10.00-2.00 Join us at the Treasure Trove Chrismas Craft Fair at St John's Lothian Road. Full of festive stalls offering handmade gifts from our talented makers. We, as a charity, support them by showcasing their skills and lovely hand-made goods - unmissable!" - Thanks to The Treasure Trove for sharing this.
📌 "15 & 16 November - The annual 3D2D Art and Craft Xmas Fair returns to Newbattle Abbey (Newbattle Road, Dalkeith, EH22 3LL). All handmade items, sold by the artists themselves. See you there!" - Thanks to 3D2D Events for sharing this.
📌 "Tuesday 18 November at 7pm, in the Leith Community Education Centre in the New Kirkgate. Leith Local History Society presents a talk on Leith shipbuilding by local author and shipbuilder, Ron Neish. £2 for non-members." - Thanks to Leith Historical Society for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 15th November: 4-10 pm Together in Solidarity St. James Church, EH6 7EL Raising funds for Thamra and providing mutual aid for families & individuals in Gaza. Includes music, food, art, workshops, stories, talks & more! Book a ticket in advance, or donate on the door for entry." - Thanks to Together in Solidarity for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday: Everyone welcome to join St Ninian's Episcopal Church's Eco-group's next Climate Cafe and discuss what we can do to help prevent climate chaos worsening. Cuppa and home baking too! St Ninian's Episcopal Church Hall, 40 Comely Bank EH4 1AG" - Thanks to St Ninian's Episcopal Church for sharing this.
📌 "15/11/25 St Stephen Street news! ætla is teaming up with Auld Hag to create the Golden Roll (a gold leaf topped morning roll) celebrating ætla's 5th birthday and Auld Hag joining the street. We're also hosting a sample sale with The Ouze, and the first 20 visitors get a free roll!" - Thanks to ætla for sharing this.
📌 "Friday: The New Wave Times is hosting a Charity Pub Quiz tonight in support of Crew. The Quiz is upstairs in the Waverley Bar on St Mary' street between 8-10." - Thanks to Tony Quilietti, Editor @TheNewWaveTimes for sharing this.
📌 "Sat 15th Nov - Sat 20th Dec - Join us at St Cecilia's Hall: Concert Room & Music Museum for our FREE Winter Family Trail. Can you find the 8 snow people hiding around our museum and answer their music-related questions? Special winter-themed stickers are on offer for those who finish the trail!" - Thanks to Hannah for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 16 November - Sing, play, craft, pray! Families with children of pre-school and primary age are invited to join the German Church in Edinburgh for their next Messy Church for kids, 3pm - 4:30pm at 1 Chalmers Crescent. Free to attend, no booking required, refreshments included." - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 "On Sat 15 November, the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust will host a special book sale at 77 Brunswick St. A huge range of books and catalogues (with 20% off!), cards, prints and some vintage rarities will be available. Join us to look at some of Barns-Graham's art, have a cup of tea while you browse!" - Thanks to Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust for sharing this.
📌 "This Black Friday, Edinburgh Leisure is making it easier than ever to kickstart your fitness journey in time for the festive season with an unbeatable offer: a £1 joining fee across all memberships, available for a limited time only from 14th - 30th November." - Thanks to Edinburgh Leisure for sharing this.
📌 "The Pentlands Book Festival continues into its second week with some events sold out but tickets available for most. All events are free. New volunteer committee members sought." - Thanks to Russell Salton, PBF committee member, for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 15 November - Gaelic community day open to all. Come along for Gaelic classes and Gaelic culture, café, music, conversation, books, singing, games, fun and community. 10.00 - 16.00 @ Darroch, 7 Gillespie Street, Edinburgh EH3 9NH." - Thanks to Ionad Gàidhlig Dhùn Èideann for sharing this.
📌 "Silent Reading Club "BYOBook" - read your book with other people who are reading their own book, enjoy a cuppa or a glass of wine, share your reading experience. Sunday 16th November, 2 to 5pm, at The Tailor in Abbeyhill, 13 East Norton Pl, EH7 5DR." - Thanks to Lorenzo Luzzani at The Tailor for sharing this.
📌 "Forever Edinburgh's Resident Days return for Carers Rights Day (21 Nov) and St Andrew's Day (30 Nov), offering Edinburgh residents exclusive free and discounted access to top attractions, tours and experiences. Discover more at this link." - Thanks to Forever Edinburgh for sharing this.
📌 "Tuesday: Leith Neighbourhood Meet Up in Victoria Bar - a chance to meet your neighbours and listen to the local brewery Moonwakes owner and founder Finlay Heslop telling us their founding story." - Thanks to Anna Christopherson -owner Victoria Bar for sharing this.
📌 "21/11/25 inaugural launch of "Zeroto50" exhibition by collective of artists showcasing photography/ art/ film/poetry at Whitespace gallery." - Thanks to Swati Best for sharing this.
📌 "Carol for a great cause! Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity's 'Sparkle & Shine' Christmas concert is on Thursday 4 December, 6pm-8.30pm at The Dean Church. Be dazzled by Dalkeith and Monktonhall Brass Band and ESMS Junior School Choir - all while helping seriously ill children in hospital." - Thanks to Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity for sharing this.
🛝 Plenty of family-friendly things to do this weekend and beyond in Gayle's Guide, including: Christmas lights switch-ons, a healthy kids workshop, Storytelling in Solidarity and more...
Gayle’s Guide
📆 What else is on this weekend in town? The next bit is for paying subscribers only…
...including details on how to get 20% off at the Princes Street Gardens festive attractions.