The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 16 - 18 January 2026
Uni staff speak out over cuts, Scotland's first walk-in GP clinic, Tour de France Scotland route revealed, Leith Winter Blues Weekend festival + a unique way to beat 'Blue Monday' nonsense
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. The Community Noticeboard has been absolutely buzzing this week with more than 100 entries. There are so many wonderful people doing brilliant things to make where we live a better place. Most of these things weren't on my radar at all and don't appear in any other newsletters or events listings. That's what makes the Minute so special: you. Thanks to everyone who uses the newsletter. You demonstrate how the city is genuinely thriving, with no paid advertising needed. Of course, there's some bad news too with wider problems needing resolved and the newsletter doesn't shy away from those issues either, in as neutral and professional journalistic way as possible. But I just wanted to take a minute (boom boom) to thank everyone reading and participating. Curating this every day for 800+ editions has changed my perception of the city for the better. Here's your weekend Edinburgh Minute.
🌤️ Weekend weather: It's calming down. Cloud with sunny intervals every day this weekend and a low chance of rain. A high of 7C and a low of 3C. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🚴♂️ A feint yellow beam of light above Edinburgh Castle last night marked the announcement of next year's men's Tour de France route, which is due to start at the castle on Friday 2 July 2027. Millions are expected to watch on TV, writes Giancarlo Rinaldi of BBC Scotland News.
- ⮑ Having left Edinburgh, the Grand Départ riders will head south to Innerleithen, Galashiels, Melrose, Selkirk, Hawick and Newcastleton, finishing in Carlisle. - Kirsty Peebles has more route details in The Borderer.
Kirsty Peebles
- ⮑ The specifics of the route within Edinburgh's streets has not been confirmed but the general overview so far is here. (If anyone does have details to share they can contact the Minute anonymously here).
🎓 Following yesterday's report that more than 300 University of Edinburgh staff are leaving their roles, others have raised concerns about conditions for those who remain in their jobs. Melissa Terras, Professor of Digital Cultural Heritage at Edinburgh College of Art said: "Morale is through the floor. The whole thing has been endlessly dragged out. No plan, no trust, and only messaging that ChatGPT could do better." - More in this thread.
Missing from the coverage of redundancies at Edinburgh: this was done in such a haphazard, uncoordinated way, there are now core teams who have gone from 5 people to 1 with no change in workload or pressure and huge loss in knowledge of institutional process. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2576321...
— Melissa Terras (@melissaterras.bsky.social) 2026-01-15T07:36:57.636Z
💰 The National Galleries of Scotland's Art Works project in Granton has secured almost £56m from the Scottish Government. - Brian Ferguson, The Herald.
👩⚕️ Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre was announced yesterday as the site of Scotland's first walk-in GP clinic. - Patients at the centre gave their reactions to BBC Scotland News.
🏗️ Councillors gave the green light to a £21 million contract for Kier Construction to retrofit and upgrade the 1960s Craigmillar Court and Peffermill Court tower block flats. - Liam Eunson, Midlothian View.
🏢 'Causewayside residents fume 'not again' as plans for new student flats emerge' - Isla Storie, Edinburgh Live.
🏗️ The Ministry of Defence wants to demolish a garage in Broughton to build a new cadet training hall. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.
☕️ Following last year's Edinburgh Minute reports on a campaign by Matcha Sando in Brunstfield Place against the Black Sheep Coffee chain, local independent business owners are interviewed in Edinburgh Live, saying: ''Our Edinburgh neighbourhood has been taken over by big chains - we must act now''.
📮 Some Edinburgh residents are reporting seeing postboxes wrapped in black plastic, with a notice announcing new 'automated system' boxes are 'coming soon'. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.
🍽️ Edinburgh chef Stuart Ralston says he has 'struck gold again' with his latest venture Vinette on Broughton Street added to the Michelin Guide three months after opening. - Sarah Campbell, The Herald.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📌 "Monday 19th January, 9am to 9pm - Come and listen to Blue Monday by New Order while watching someone listen to Blue Monday by New Order every Monday, This Blue Monday. Join us at Embassy to get through Monday 19th January together." - Thanks to Embassy Gallery (7 Ferry Road) for sharing this.
Friday:
📌 "Friday 16th January, 6-8pm. Join Silverbean Jewellery for a silver Stacking Ring Making workshop at The Gift Tree in Corstorphine on Station Road. You’ll learn traditional jewellery-making techniques in a friendly, hands-on session where you’ll leave with beautiful rings." - Thanks to Clare Steen, Owner of Silverbean Jewellery, for sharing this.
📌 “Friday: Style Confidence workshop in Edinburgh focused on self-love, confidence and authentic personal style. You’ll explore proportions and shapes, colours, personal style and wardrobe-edit tips through guided exercises and a creative moodboard activity.” - Thanks to Yellow Souls Founder Elena for sharing this.
📌 "Friday 16th January: Dinner dance! Beat the January blues with a meal at the Village Hotel eh4 2NY. £15 per person for a 2 course meal, DJ disco and raffle ticket! We are a social group for 60+ Please contact Berri 07510097080 CAPITAL CONNECTIONS." - Thanks to Berri, Founder of capital connections solo club, for sharing this.
📌 "Only 2 more weekends to visit Edinburgh Photographic Society and see four wonderful exhibitions of photography. We showcase work by international and local photographers across every genre, from documentary and portraiture to landscape, street, and creative digital art. Come and see it!" - Thanks to Isobel Lindsay, Exhibition Chairman, for sharing this.
Saturday:
📌 "SATURDAY 17 January 10.00 — Calton Hill Conservation Trust's 13th LITTER PICKUP. Starting from CALTON HILL TOP CAR PARK at 10.00. Litter pickers provided — but please bring GLOVES. Coffee available. RSVP to Gerry at info@caltonhilltrust.org or just turn up." - Thanks to the Trust for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 17 January, 1pm - Come to Middle Meadows Walk and stand in solidarity with the people of Iran against tyranny and violence, united in our call for freedom and self-determination. All political views are welcome; but please refrain from waving foreign flags. Join us!" - Thanks to Women Life Freedom Edinburgh sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 17th January, 10.15am - Poetry for Breakfast with Christine De Luca at The Scottish Gallery. Join us as Christine reads selected poems that resonate with the exhibition, The Northern Isles, exploring the island languages, rhythms and histories that shape the artistic imagination. £10, please RSVP." - Thanks to The Scottish Gallery for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 17th January, 5.30pm - Mark Quinn of Greenhouse Records returns to the Bruntsfield Pianodrome to host a vinyl listening sessions titled 'Protest Songs - Music for the revolution.'” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 17th January, 12 - 2pm, Please join us at The Torrance Gallery, for the opening of our new exhibition; a retrospective of Edinburgh artist Alan Cameron's beautiful original pastels." - Thanks to Fiona at The Torrance Gallery for sharing this.
📌 “Porty Art Classes for Teenagers is beginning an exciting new term this Saturday 17th January, 11am-12.30am, in the small hall at Bellfield Community Hub, Portobello. To reserve a spot or to find out more, email - portyartclasses@gmail.com. We look forward to welcoming you there!” - Thanks to Kate Leiper, Art Teacher, for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday at 27 George Street: Thinking about buying or selling in 2026? 🏠 Join ESPC at their Property Market Update, designed to give clear, practical insight into what’s happening in the market and what it could mean for your next move. Our panel of trusted experts will discuss current trends and outlooks for the year ahead.” - Thanks to Megan from ESPC for sharing this.
📌 “The New Town Ensemble is performing on Saturday 17th January at 7pm in Stockbridge Parish Church. Shostakovich's ever popular 2nd piano concerto is flanked by two less well known 20th century masterpieces, Hindemith's Mathis der Mahler and Vaughan Williams' 8th symphony. Tickets on the door £15/£5.” - Thanks to Monica Wilkinson, violinist in NTE, for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 17 - Sunday 25 January. The Burns Project: the life and works of Rabbie Burns are explored in this acclaimed immersive theatre experience performed by James Clements, directed by Cora Bissett, with live music from Lisa Rigby - at The Georgian House for a week ahead of Burns Night 2026.” - Thanks to Fergus Craig for sharing this.
📌 “The Embodied Voice - a series of workshops exploring what it means to give our bodies a voice, or to return our voices to the body. First workshop, 'the voice in the body', held at CATS, 43-45 Easter Road, Saturday 17/01/25. Contact Noah at lesfabricantes@gmail.com for more information.” - Thanks to Noah for sharing this.
📌 “Fancy learning something new this year? Why not try your hand at jewellery making? Drill Hall based artists, Leith Jewellery Studios have an exciting programme of Saturday workshops coming up this January and February.” - Thanks to Out of the Blue for sharing this.
Sunday:
📌 "New classes: Every Sunday in Leith. Yoga 5pm Qigong 6.15. Friendly and welcoming. Join us!" - Thanks to Kim Bergsagel Yoga for sharing this. (Join via the WhatsApp group QR code in the poster below).
📌 “Sunday 18 January - Sweep away the January doldrums with some intentional visioning, goal-setting, and gentle reflective practices! Get moving and help move your mind. Join Solas Yoga and coach Caitlin McDonald at OMH Therapies for a joyful start to 2026.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 18th January - Discover something new at The Wellness Barn "Taster Day" with 3 sessions for only £15. Meet our practitioners, sample a range of wellbeing experiences in one relaxed day. No upselling, come with curiosity and we will provide a cuppa and a sprinkle of connection.” - Thanks to Man Yuen Luk, The Wellness Barn Edinburgh, for sharing this.
📌 “Read and Mend returns this Sunday 18th January at Granton:Hub, 7:30pm. Keeping company in the darker months, we work on our craft projects and take turns reading aloud to each other. All welcome, free to attend. Email wildflowers@grantonhub.org for more info or to tell us you're coming!” - Thanks to Jenny and Katharina for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 18 January - Come to St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral at 5pm for a performance of Olivier Messiaen's epic organ cycle La Nativité du Seigneur, played by Assistant Director of Music Imogen Morgan. The performance will be accompanied by a series of paintings by Revd. Ally Barrett." - Thanks to Timothy Coleman, St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 18th January - A Portobello workshop exploring your deep core and its role in easing back, hip, neck and knee pain. Learn unique exercises that connect feet, pelvic floor, breath and posture, leaving you with practical tools and a clearer understanding of how your body works.” - Thanks to Mora McGovern from With Mora for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 18/01/2026 - New Year, New Resolution to read more? We're here to help! Join the B. Y. O. Book Silent Reading Club at The Tailor Edinburgh. Bring your own book and enjoy laughter and fun! For info @sarettaandbooks." - Thanks to Sara for sharing this.
