The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 3 - 5 July 2026
Uni students' graduation ceremony protests, tourist tax funds new police unit, new bike lanes for St Andrew Square + free coffees at new cafe today
👋 Good morning good people of Edinburgh. It's the weekend and there's plenty to catch up on. Here's your weekend Edinburgh Minute...
🌦️ Weekend weather: Overcast this morning, staying dry before a chance of rain in the evening. Light rain with some breaks in the cloud on both Saturday and Sunday. A high of 19C today and a low of 18C on Sunday. Warming up next week. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🎓 For the third year running, local student graduation ceremony protests focused on university cuts and controversial investments. - Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, The Herald.
- Students walked out while chanting and holding banners. - Video here from EUJPS and UCU Edinburgh.
Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
👮♂️ Money raised through a new tourist tax is funding a new City Centre Policing Unit, which was officially launched yesterday. The new team, comprising of an Inspector, three sergeants and 45 constables, began duties yesterday. They'll be funded by the council's 5% hotel room visitor levy for three years, match-funded by Police Scotland. - More details from the council here + Matthew Fulton's report for STV News.
⮑ The annual staffing cost is expected to be £2.78m, with £1m coming from the visitor levy, reports BBC Scotland News.
"We will now see the levy’s first investments making a visible difference on the ground, and there’s much, much more to come in the years to come. From investing more in our public spaces, parks, and greenspaces to restoring cultural heritage like the Royal High School and Leith Theatre, our visitor levy projects stand to benefit everyone." - Council culture leader Margaret Graham.
🚔 Reports about stashes of electric motorbikes could help police catch the groups of masked bikers repeatedly tearing up grass in the Meadows. - Jacob Farr, Edinburgh Live.
🚲 New protected two-way cycle lanes are due to be added to St Andrew Square as part of a £2.75m revamp. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, in Midlothian View.
Edinburgh residents are being urged to have a say in the future of Community Payback Orders, previously known as 'community service', in a new consultation. - Have your say here.
⮑ Last year nearly 50,000 hours of unpaid work (6,000 working days) were completed in Edinburgh. Projects included clean-ups of the Gyle Park Pavilion, Ferry Road and Leith Theatre. - More details from the council here.
💰 The owners of Cozy Cafe on Ferry Road have published CCTV images of a man they say stole their tip jar. - They spoke to Jacob Farr of Edinburgh Live.
👑 Princess Anne has opened a new Victim Support Scotland hub in Powderhall, with live video links to courtrooms. - Ryan Nixon, Deadline News.
👀 More new openings in the city:
🍸 The Keelson opened on the Shore this week. It's a bar serving cocktails, beer, wine and food, by the folks behind the Nauticus bar and the Dogstar restaurant. - They're online here.
🍽️ Described by Pippa Perriam as 'Edinburgh’s hottest restaurant', Little Capo on Howe Street in the New Town now has a new all-day cafe-bar downstairs: Capetto. It also does cocktails. - Check it out here. They're giving away free coffees this morning to celebrate their opening.
🏡 Also on Howe Street, a new homeware and clothing shop called Cabbage opened this week. It stocks a mixture of vintage and new items and is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5.30pm. - More details on its website and on Instagram.
🌮 Tacos Lah is a new Mexican-Malaysian fusion eatery within the Bonnie & Wild marketplace in the St James Centre. As well as the tacos, it's becoming known for its potato smilies with a twist. Tacos Lah is headed up by chef, restaurateur, food writer and TV presenter Julie Lin, who takes the chef Q&A in The Herald here.
Sarah Campbell
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📰 New Bumper Summer Issue of C&B News - 'Now available to view/download online, print copies of our July/August edition will be available locally from Friday 3 July. Championing our communities along the upper Water of Leith valley: Currie, Balerno, Juniper Green, Baberton Mains, Colinton.' - More details here, shared by C&B News.
🖼 Textile Art Exhibition Opening
Today, Fri 03 July - 'Exhibition opening for local artist - B. Lunderooni! Pop along, have a coffee and enjoy the gorgeous textile art!'
7pm to 9pm | August_21 Coffee House · Southside | FREE - More details here, shared by Alex Ough Dealy, August_21 Coffee House.
📚 Dave Eggers is coming to Portobello
Today, Fri 03 July - 'Twenty years in the making, 'Contrapposto' is a novel about art, life and the complicated beauty of both - from the author of 'The Circle' and 'A Hologram for the King'. Join Eggers in conversation with Doug Johnstone here in the bookshop!'
7pm to 8pm | The Portobello Bookshop · Portobello - More details here, shared by The Portobello Bookshop.
🎶 Paper Sparrows Album Launch Party
Today, Fri 03 July - 'Join Paper Sparrows to celebrate the launch of their new album This Place You Call Your Home, with support from the magnificent Niamh Corkey.'
7.30pm to 11pm | Assembly Roxy · Old Town | £13.75 - More details here, shared by Assembly Roxy.
🎺 King Louis and the Primas at Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive
Today, Fri 03 July - 'KING LOUIS AND THE PRIMAS play at the Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club, this Friday evening, 3rd July. This high-energy ensemble brings us the infectious rhythms, powerhouse brass, and timeless showmanship of the legendary Louis Prima.'
8pm to 11pm | Heriot's Rugby Club · Inverleith | £12.00 & £15.00 - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club.
☕ Coffee Morning in aid of the Venezuela Earthquake Appeal
Tomorrow, Sat 04 July - 'Come along and have a coffee this Saturday morning 4th July 10.45-12 noon in aid of the DEC Venezuela earthquake appeal. There will be home baking and teas/coffees for sale!'
10.45am to 12pm | Starbank Park · Trinity & Newhaven | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎨 LifeCare's free school holiday activities [Every Tuesday]
Tue 07 July - 'Come along to LifeCare's FREE school holiday activities 11-12 every Tuesday in July. For ages 3-10. All the details are on the website. Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund for their continued support.'
11am to 12pm | LifeCare Edinburgh · Stockbridge | FREE - More details here, shared by Claire, LifeCare.
🍷 Ladies Wine Design Social Summer Gathering
Wed 15 July - 'Join us for summer networking! Whether you're a UX designer, product designer, researcher, illustrator, artist or somewhere in between, come meet like-minded people. All levels are welcome'
7pm to 10pm | Graft · Old Town | Pay what you can - More details here, shared by Elsa Sier.
☕ Latte Art Competition "Get Stacked"
Thu 16 July - 'We a looking for cafes who would like to compete in a latte art throwdown! Starter Culture is partnering with Mossgiel Dairy, Machina and Lomond to connect Edinburgh's coffee scene for an evening! Reach out to @startercultureedinburgh to be involved!'
6pm to 9pm | Starter Culture Edinburgh - Cafe Bar · Marchmont & Meadows | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
⭐ Your Inner Palette: Creative Half-Day Pottery Retreat
Sun 19 July - 'A 5-hour immersive retreat designed to help you reconnect with your creativity, explore your identity through colours, and express it through a personalised pottery piece you'll take home (all pottery materials and lunch from Novapizza included)'
11am to 4pm | Yellow Souls Studio · Leith - More details here, shared by Bottega Ceramica.
0
🛝 It's a bumper fortnight edition of Gayle's Guide of family friendly things to do in Edinburgh, including events at libraries, cinemas, galleries and more. Much of it free too.
Gayle’s Guide