The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 29 - 31 May 2026
Search for two girls missing off Portobello beach, St Stephen's Church in Stockbridge for sale at £3m, Pedal on Parliament on Saturday + Leith Food Festival this weekend
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. A reminder that the Minute is on pause next week and returns a week on Monday, 8 June. I miss it too! I just need to recharge. Thanks for understanding, and no thanks to those who sent nasty emails complaining about the Minute taking a break. Lovely to wake up at 5am to read those... Like everyone, sometimes I need a break! The good outweigh the bad, always, so thanks to everyone who sticks with this newsletter and supports it. It's yours to use and please remember you can find all the daily local listings on TownSpot even when the newsletter is on pause next week. Anyway, back on Monday 8 June. Big thanks to everyone who sent in things for today's edition! Here's your weekend Edinburgh Minute...
🌦️ Weekend weather: Slightly cooler today, peaking at 19C. A chance of rain tomorrow, 50% at 5pm rising to a 70% chance by 7pm. More sunshine and potential showers on Sunday. - The full local Met Office forecast is here.
🛟 Coastguard helicopters and lifeboats were searching for two girls reportedly in difficulty in the water off Portobello beach yesterday around 5pm. The Coastguard response was stood down at around 8.55pm. - Keiran Fleming, STV News.
🚉 A feasibility study on the future of Edinburgh's South Suburban rail line will begin 'as soon as possible' after the Scottish Government confirmed it would fund the investigation. - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
⛪️ The A-listed St Stephen's Church in Stockbridge has been put up for sale for £3m. - Jane Bradley, Evening News.
🖼️ A multi-million pound revamp of the National Gallery is being planned. Exclusive by Brian Ferguson in The Herald.
- ⮑ Another exclusive from Brian: The 66-year-old Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston is set to be renamed 'at some point' within the next three years to make it clearer that it's not in the Highlands. - Read more here.
- What would you name it? Feel free to comment at the bottom of the online version of this email. (Don't reply to this email, I won't receive it.)
Brian Ferguson
🏡 There are early-stage plans replace Braid Hills Nursing Centre with a larger modern care home. - City Scope has the details.
🚔 Police are investigating reports that a man linked to organised crime was the target when a pick-up truck was driven into a house a near Portobello Golf Course on Tuesday. - Keiran Fleming, STV News.
🔥 Inquiries are ongoing into the cause of another fire on Arthur's Seat earlier this week. Fire brigade union leaders pointed out that the blaze was brought under control by the team from Marionville fire station, which is at risk of closure. - BBC Scotland News + photos here by Tom Duffin.
Tom Duffin
💰 More analysis of the Edinburgh by Numbers data, released earlier this month, showing that US tourists are the city's highest spenders: handing over £550m in 2024. But they were outdone in the night-time spending data by Irish visitors, who spent £159 on average. - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
⚽️ English Premier League football teams Newcastle United and Everton have announced a pre-season friendly at Murrayfield Stadium on Wednesday 12 August. - Ticket details in this report by Liam Eunson, Midlothian View.
🎭 Local performing arts groups will take to the new stage of the King’s Theatre for its first curtain-raiser on 23 July following the venue's four-year £40m+ revamp. - Brain Ferguson, The Herald.
- ⮑ Booking for A Great Night Out will open on Thursday next week, reports Liam Eunson of Midlothian View.
💌 An exhibition of embroidered postcards of Edinburgh by local textile artist Laura Lees opens today at Bard on the Shore in Leith. Titled 'Wish You Were Here', it depicts celebrated Edinburgh scenes, buildings and emblems in thread. On show from today until Saturday 18 July. Bard is open Fridays and Saturdays (11-5pm) and by appointment outside these times at 1 Customs Wharf, EH6 6AL. - More details here.
- ⮑ "I'd always sent lots of postcards. But the buildings that were featured in postcards weren't the architecture I loved. So I stared doing all these lovely modernist buildings." - Laura Lees talks about her process in this video.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
Remember all event notices can be viewed chronologically and on a map at https://www.townspot.co/uk/edinburgh
📰 C&B News returns! - 'The June edition of C&B News is now available to view/download online, with print copies available locally from Saturday 30 May. Championing our communities along the upper Water of Leith valley: News, Views, What's On listings, Local History, Sport.' - More details here, shared by C&B News.
🎷 Dogs & Jazz
Today, Fri 29 May - '12-5 drop in Free dog grooming advice to keep your 4 legged friends looking their best plus free doggy treats. Plus some live jazz music. Hosted by Loulous dog grooming & Dogdaze grooming. Woof woof.'
12pm to 5pm | Leith Walk Police Box pop ups, EH7 4LT | FREE - More details here, shared by Monty, Leith walk polisbox popups.
🎷 The Sound of Seventeen Big Band at Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive
Today, Fri 29 May - 'The Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club will go super big on this Friday, 29 May: We're presenting The Sound of Seventeen Big Band, a 17-piece ensemble led by Nick Gould! Expect music from the Big Band era.'
8pm to 11pm | Heriot's Rugby Club, EH3 5QN | £12.00 & £15.00 - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club.
💍 Wedding Coffee Morning
Tomorrow, Sat 30 May - 'Discover the unique Edinburgh wedding venue set in a former Victorian Bathhouse and home to the UK's longest-running tapestry studio. Explore the building, meet the team, and see how our verstatile spaces can be tailored exactly to your style.'
10am to 1pm | Dovecot Studios, EH1 1LT | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
👐 Morningside Makers Market
Tomorrow, Sat 30 May - 'Discover handmade items from LEGO notebooks to avocado soap, and learn about the Opendoor, a day centre supporting older people with complex needs and serving the community for over 40 years. Free entry!'
10am to 4pm | The Open Door., EH10 5HY | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
👀 Looking ahead to next week (find full listings here)
📊 What happened in the 2026 Scottish elections?
Mon 01 June - 'Join the Scottish Election Study team as we crunch the numbers on what happened at the Holyrood election using our brand new survey data. How did the SNP win again? Why did smaller parties surge? And what about independence? Q&A follows presentation.'
2pm to 4.30pm | Edinburgh Futures Institute, EH3 9EF | FREE - More details here, shared by Fraser McMillan, University of Edinburgh.
🚋 Tram Trains for Edinburgh - Annual General Meeting.
Mon 01 June - 'Prospective members are welcome at the AGM of Tram Trains for Edinburgh. After the routine business there will be an update on the positive, campaign developments and for everyone to share ideas & suggestions on how best to move forward.'
7pm to 8.50pm | Room G21, EH8 8AQ | FREE - More details here, shared by Tram Trains for Edinburgh.
🎨 Art & Fiction with Claire Lynch & Caroline Walker
Mon 01 June - 'Claire Lynch's debut 'A Family Matter' won the 2025 Nero Book of the Year Award and she's coming to the bookshop for a conversation with artist Caroline Walker, whose painting 'Daphne' features as the cover art. Join us for a creative discussion!'
7pm to 8pm | The Portobello Bookshop, EH15 1DA - More details here, shared by The Portobello Bookshop.
🎭 Musical Theatre Fitness™ [Weekly]
Tue 02 June - 'For grown-ups of all ages and stages. Join us for an all levels workout that fuses functional training and dance fitness to the soundtrack of Broadway, West End, and movie musical hits. Wee ones under 12 months are welcome in pram, bouncer or sling.'
11.30am to 12.30pm | The Wee Hub, EH6 6JJ | FREE - More details here, shared by Krista Bridges.
🧦 Learn To Knit Socks [Daily]
Tue 02 June - 'Ready to up your knitting skills & learn to knit socks? We still have a few places left on our 4 week course at Kathy's Knits - Tuesdays 2, 9, 16 and 23 June, 6-8pm. We'll knit a pair of adult socks top-down, traditional heel. And it'll be fun!'
6pm to 8pm | Kathy's Knits, EH1 3SA - More details here, shared by Jane McConnell.
🎬 The 48 Hour Film Project [Daily]
Tue 02 June - '77 teams took part in the biggest ever filmmaking competition in the history of Scotland! Come see the films at the Cameo, meet the filmmakers and vote for your favourites.'
8.30pm to 10.30pm | Cameo Picturehouse, EH3 9LZ | £9.35 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🥦 Weekly Fruit & Veg Market Place [Weekly]
Wed 03 June - 'The Edinburgh Community Food warehouse is open twice a week to everyone. Buy affordable fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and preserves. You even get offered a free hot drink. This market is a hidden gem.'
9am to 1pm | Edinburgh Community Food, EH6 5ND - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
Author: Louise Cairns
🛝 It's the 100th edition of Gayle's Guide: Edinburgh's best free weekly newsletter of family-friendly things to do. This weekend: Edinburgh International Children's Festival, a family sea shanty workshop at Pianodrome, Pedal on Parliament and more...
Gayle’s Guide
REMINDER: The Minute is ON PAUSE NEXT WEEK and returns on Monday 8 June.
