The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 24 - 26 July 2026
Hunt for pickpocket gang near St James Quarter, tourist tax begins today, King’s Theatre re-opening dress rehearsals + why Figgate Burn went Ghostbusters green
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. Another busy Friday edition: all the local news I can find, 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: Cloudy and a light breeze with sunny intervals today until around 8pm when a night of rain is expected. Saturday and Sunday are both looking like a mixed bag of overcast, drizzle and sunshine. A high of 20C at lunchtime today and a low of 12C overnight on Sunday in to Monday. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🚨 Police are hunting for a pickpocketing gang operating near the St James Quarter. Detectives say a 12-year-old girl had a bag and a phone stolen from her on Wednesday around 6pm, before a 30-year-old man had his phone being stolen from his pocket around 11pm. - More details from Police Scotland.
“Edinburgh is very busy at this time of year and pickpocketing is an issue we take extremely seriously. We would ask anyone who may have information on any of these incidents, to please contact police. I would also ask the public to remain vigilant whilst they are visiting and to keep their personal belongings safe and not to have money visible. Purses, wallets, handbags and rucksacks can all be targets, along with mobile phones." - Inspector Stephen Quinn.
💰 Council leader Jane Meagher joined a street sweeping team on the Royal Mile to mark the first day of the city's new tourist tax. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
- The 5% charge on all paid overnight accommodation is projected to raise up to £50m a year. More details on how the money will be spent are in a council press release here. Jane Meagher said:
"The levy has opened the door to exciting new projects right across the city - helping to make Edinburgh a cleaner, greener and more welcoming place. We’ll soon be able to invest more into our many parks and greenspaces, and bring much-loved cultural venues such as the Royal High School and Leith Theatre back into use for the first time in decades – and much more."
🏫 Planed have been lodged for a new Granton Waterfront Primary School, hoped to open in August 2029. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News.
Kevin Quinn
☕️ A 10x increase in business rates and 'the extremely noticeable effect the ongoing tram issues' have been cited as one of many reasons Leith Walk bookshop Argonaut has put its cafe drinks prices up. - The shop published this statement on Instagram.
🗑️ Bin hubs are 'driving people to leave' Marchmont, according to a resident. The council insists the hubs are 'working well'. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
🎓 Some businesses in Bruntsfield have raised concerns about a decline in custom if Edinburgh Napier University’s Merchiston campus is sold off. - Angus Coleman, Edinburgh Live.
🚔 A man name Lee Greenan appeared in court yesterday charged with the murder of his ex-partner Vikki Soloman at a house in East Craigs on Monday. - Calum Loudon, STV News.
🇺🇸 Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis visited Edinburgh this week 'to discuss the potential for economic growth and partnership between Scotland and Florida'. - More details here.
🎭 The new multi-million pound Edinburgh Festival Fringe HQ is due to open to artists and performers next month. But some elements aren't expected to be finished until next year, with the charity saying those remain 'funding-dependent'. - Brian Ferguson in The Herald.
🧵 The Craigmillar Tapestry, stitched by more than 500 locals, is going on public display at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. - Rose Moncur, The Herald.
🔥 Investigations continue into the cause of a fire at the former Debenhams store on Princes Street. Meanwhile local historian Andy Arthur has compiled a fascinating history of the building and the site, saying: "The opportunity presents itself to take a thematic trawl through the news archives for a retrospective look at other serious fires that have happened along the street. These it turns out are nothing new it and very much are not just a “Glasgow thing“. Flames have a bit of a habit of breaking out when buildings are vacant or being redeveloped and have claimed more than one department store on the street in its time." - Get the kettle on and dive in to the details with Andy on Threadinburgh.
Andy Arthur - Threadinburgh
🌊 There was confusion in Portobello yesterday when the Figgate Burn ran bright green. Thanks to a Minute subscriber for sharing the photo below. I asked around and discovered it's a widely used dye testing process, which uses luminous tracer dye (often green) to check drainage system connections. The dye is not harmful to the environment or local ecology, a Scottish Environment Protection Agency spokesperson told the Minute:
“From photographs provided to SEPA, the bright green colour is consistent with non-toxic tracing dye. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for reporting the incident and encourage anyone concerned about a potential pollution incident to contact SEPA immediately by calling 0800 80 70 60 or by submitting an online form."
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📚 Book Festival Summer Reading Challenge - 'This summer, we're introducing a free Summer Reading Bingo challenge to help encourage children to read for pleasure in the National Year of Reading. Sheets for three different age groups can be downloaded from our website. Happy reading!' - More details here, shared by Edinburgh International Book Festival.
🎭 Get Your Curated Fringe Recommendations Here - 'With just two weeks to go until the Fringe kicks off, Fringe Fantaic Kerry Teakle has done the hard work for you. From this year's 3,649 shows, she's hand-picked 250 worth seeing - all searchable and filterable, with your own day-by-day planner.' - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🌼 The Garden in my Head - Art exhibition [Until 30 Aug]
Today, Fri 24 July - 'THE GARDEN IN MY HEAD is a collection of 79 artworks in different styles created by Neeske Alexander and Lezanne Scott tied together by a common thread - the garden. Most artworks cost as much as a bunch of flowers 🌺'
12pm to 11pm | The Orchard Bar & Restaurant · Canonmills & Broughton | FREE - More details here, shared by Neeske Alexander.
📚 Author Rozie Kelly in conversation about her Woman's Prize Shortlisted novel: Kingfisher
Today, Fri 24 July - 'Shortlisted for the Woman's Prize in 2026, Kingfisher by Rosie Kelly has been a favourite of many a bookseller in 2026. We're delighted that she will be joining us on Friday to celebrate this magnificent debut, chaired by ever-brilliant Dan Richards'
7pm to 8pm | Topping & Company Booksellers of Edinburgh · Canonmills & Broughton | £5 - £10.99 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎷 Anna Vanosi Quintet at Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive
Today, Fri 24 July - 'We're excited to welcome back the Anna Vanosi Quintet this Friday, July 24th, for another great night of live music and dancing. Whether you're a regular or visiting Edinburgh for the Jazz & Blues Festival, come along and join us!"'
8pm to 11pm | Heriot's Rugby Club · Inverleith | £12.00 & £15.00 - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club.
🛍️ Bethany Shop's Retro and Vintage Fayre
Tomorrow, Sat 25 July - 'Bethany's Leith Walk shop is going all in on retro and vintage, running a week-long sale on masses of Edinburgh's finest second-hand clothes, accessories and homewares! Expect free ice cream from Tricycle Treats at Saturday's launch.'
10am to 5pm | Bethany Christian Trust · Canonmills & Broughton | FREE - More details here, shared by Bethany Christian Trust.
🎂 Leith Theatre Birthday Open Day
Tomorrow, Sat 25 July - 'Leith Theatre are opening the doors for a 94th birthday celebration! Come and explore one of Leith's most iconic buildings & wander through the space as it stands today. Expect birthday cheer, good chat, a bit of nostalgia & maybe even cake.'
12.30pm to 4pm | Leith Theatre · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Leith Theatre.
💿 ride n bounce daytime dj set // Half-Cut Coffee Sessions
Tomorrow, Sat 25 July - 'SATURDAY! Half-Cut Coffee Sessions is back with a special daytime set. Monica and Millie will be serving their signature RnB/Hip-Hop style and alongside our usual, we'll be serving our very Glittery and Very pink Raspberry Lemonade Cooler ✨🩷'
2pm to 7pm | Half-Cut Coffee · Old Town | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🚶 Walking the Leith Boundary
Tomorrow, Sat 25 July - 'A relaxed community walk; local history, art & nature inc Roseburn, North and South Leith cemeteries, celebrating the lives of Leith's women. A full 2-hour walk on pavements/by Water of Leith. All welcome. Meet at lounge33 (373 Leith Walk) from 1pm'
2pm to 4pm | Boundary Bar · Canonmills & Broughton | Donation - More details here, shared by Tamsin Grainger.
🎶 Gurry Wurry - Live In Store at Umbrella Vinyl
Tomorrow, Sat 25 July - 'Gurry Wurry is doing an in-store gig at Umbrella Vinyl on Sat 25th July to celebrate the launch of his 1st album on vinyl "Glue" ! Free entry & refreshments will be served. Performance from 4pm. Pressed at Sea Bass & given 4 stars by The Scotsman!'
4pm to 5.15pm | Umbrella Vinyl · Tollcross | FREE - More details here, shared by Laura, Umbrella Vinyl.
🧶 Knitting Machine - Textile Techniques Course [Every Sunday]
Sun 26 July - 'This course is designed to take you through the different textile functions on a knitting machine. You can then use these textile samples to design and make a large project, potentially a vest, but I'm open to other ideas!'
10am to 2pm | Paradigm Shift Open Studio Ltd · Leith | 250 - More details here, shared by Paradigm Shift Open Studio Ltd.
🎨 Who Made That? Market
Sun 26 July - 'Who Made That? Market is a completely AI free zone with makers and creatives showing off what they do best - creating beautiful things with their own minds!'
10am to 4pm | Leith Arches · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Amy Liston, alistondesigns.
🎻 Edinburgh Scandi Session: music session where we play trad and contemporary folk tunes Scandinavia.
Sun 26 July - 'This is our once a month get together to play music from Scandinavian countries. We'll meet in the upstairs room of the Outhouse. We've a mix of fiddles, nyckelharpa, cittern, mandolin and whatever anyone brings along to play. Pub rule - over 18s.'
2pm to 5pm | The Outhouse · Canonmills & Broughton | FREE - More details here, shared by Philip Lyon.
🍇 Rare Grapes Wine Tasting
Sun 26 July - 'On Sunday, 26 July, taste six wines made from grape varieties that nearly vanished from the wine world-an evening of rare bottles, forgotten histories, delicious seasonal snacks and fascinating stories.'
5pm to 6.30pm | Port of Leith Distillery · Leith | £42 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🗓️ Volunteering in Your Retirement Information Session
Tue 28 July - 'Are you retired or approaching retirement in Edinburgh and interested in volunteering? If so, come along to our information session to find out how to find volunteer opportunities in Edinburgh.'
11am to 12pm | Volunteer Edinburgh · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Volunteer Edinburgh.
Remember you can always see all 204 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: Foxfest at Conifox Adventure Park, paddlesport taster sessions on the canal for adults and kids over eight, and more...