The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 31 Oct - 2 Nov 2025
Fireworks crackdown, Christmas Market expansion blocked, new school plan + Samhuinn fire festival on Friday & Diwali festival fireworks on Sunday
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. It's a busy one! In today’s 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. I can't do it without you. Here's your weekend Edinburgh Minute...
🌦️ Weekend weather: A mixed weekend. Wet on Friday afternoon, sunny intervals on Saturday and drier on Sunday. Temperature high of 14C on Friday and a low of 6C on Saturday night into Sunday morning. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🎡 Construction on the Big Wheel in Princes Street Gardens began this week. But work on part of the Edinburgh’s Christmas market is delayed after it emerged council planners want to deny planning permission due to concerns it could have 'an adverse impact on the gardens'. Councillors will vote on Wednesday. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News.
⮑ Looking at the documents for next Wednesday's planning meeting, it's an expansion on the lower lawn of Princes Street Gardens (which includes the selfie zone at the large lit-up 'EDINBURGH' sign) that council officials are mostly concerned about. Planners say: "It is not just the increase in ground cover but also the physical presence of the structures that has an impact. It is considered that the introduction of structures within this area will have an adverse impact on the value and significance of the Historic Gardens and Designed Landscape, and this harm is not outweighed by the economic benefits derived from the proposals."
🚔 A tonne of fireworks worth around £42,000 has been seized by police. A tip-off led Edinburgh detectives to Rosyth where they found the explosives in a van and arrested a 24-year-old man. Police believe the fireworks were destined for Edinburgh to be used as 'dangerous weapons'. Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said: “This is a significant recovery of fireworks ahead of the Bonfire Night period, as our intelligence suggests these were set to be distributed to individuals across Edinburgh the purpose of causing violence and disorder." - Police published this press release.
⮑ A new video showing the impact of criminal use of fireworks has been released by police. Local officers and Lothian Buses staff speak about being hit by bricks and petrol bombs, leading to 'serious and horrific injuries'.
🏫 Plans for a new school and nursery in South Queensferry have been lodged by the council. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News.
🏠 Edinburgh’s housing leader Lezley Marion Cameron was removed from her post yesterday for reportedly supporting a reduction in the council’s affordable housing target. - Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan, in Midlothian View.
- ⮑ Construction work has begun on the Social Bite and Cyrenians charities' new housing project at Granton Waterfront for people who have experienced homelessness. - Dave Pickering, North Edinburgh News.
🥐 Councillors have ordered officers to look in to why South Queensferry bakery Dune was denied a lease on a new property just days before it was due to move in. The bakery said a u-turn on a previous agreement left it facing a £70,000 bill. - An emergency motion was agreed by 46/55 councillors yesterday, who will meet again on 18 November to discuss overturning the decision. Conservative councillors failed in a bid to block the plan. Councillors said hundreds of locals got in touch after the business was 'left in the lurch.'
- The couple who ran Leith Walk's popular Hobz bakery have spoken about their next business plans. - Jacob Smith, The Courier.
💰 The council has been fined £22,000 for failing to pay volunteer staff at an outdoor centre, according to an HMRC investigation. - Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan, in Midlothian View.
Edinburgh World Heritage has secured funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for Legacies in Stone. The project will support volunteers from two Edinburgh-based graveyard 'Friends of' groups and community groups caring for historic graveyards across Scotland to celebrate their graveyard heritage. - The EWH team shared more here.
🍽️ 'I've reviewed 43 of Edinburgh's best new restaurants in 2025, these are my favourites' - Gaby Soutar, The Scotsman.
⚓️ A crowdfunding campaign has been launched by the Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust, who are looking to raise £20,000 to switch their diesel boats to electric. - Full details here.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📌 “Leith Kino has announced its Sunday screenings at Leith Depot till the end of the year! More info on our Substack, with the first screening of November being Pee-wee's Big Adventure, screening Sunday 2nd 5.30pm 🚲” - Thanks to Leith Kino member Morvern for sharing this.
Leith Kino
📌 “Join fermentation expert Robin Sherriff at the Edinburgh New Town Cookery School for an afternoon of flavour, science and storytelling. Discover the microbes and methods behind koji and miso, taste experimental ferments, and celebrate the launch of The Science of Fermentation.” - Thanks to Robin Sherriff for sharing this.
📌 “Fife-based artist Morag Muir's first solo exhibition will open in Morningside Gallery this weekend.Through An East Coast Window includes 34 new paintings which explore the rhythms of daily life, inspired by the views from her studio overlooking the Tay Estuary and city of Dundee.” - Thanks to Carrie for sharing this.
📌 “Sat 1st Nov: Vegan pies fundraiser for Tribe Animal Sanctuary Scotland. 11-4 or sellout. By suggested minimum donation. Leith Walk policebox pop ups.” - Thanks to Monty for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 1 November, 12- 2pm, Community Halloween Party at Gracemount Mansion Gardens, top of Gracemount House Drive EH16 6FD. Peek inside the haunted Mansion, free hot food, family activities - playbus, parkour, orienteering, circus, tarot and crafts All welcome no need to book.” - Thanks to Jane Hartley for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 1st November – Join Firefly International at St Cecilia’s Hall for an inspiring concert celebrating 30 years of supporting children affected by war. Featuring 5★ Scottish talent including Beth Malcolm and the Edinburgh Schools Rock Ensemble – get your tickets now!” - Thanks to Amy Stirling of Firefly International for sharing this.
📌 “Tuesday 4th November: Unite Hospitality (a branch of Unite the Union) are hosting a speakers night and social event welcoming hotel workers from two major strikes that happened in the UK this year, and a chance to discuss the industry as a whole. At Outhouse on Broughton Street Lane.” - Thanks to Georgina, Branch Secretary, for sharing this.
📌 “BANZAI Bikes is a free-to-use e-cargo bike library for S&SW (central) Edinburgh? You can borrow an electric cargo bike for free, either to transport goods or people (either one adult or two children!). Based in Bruntsfield and available 7 days a week, you can borrow after an easy sign up process.” - Thanks to Cllr Claire Miller for sharing this.
📌 “Are you parenting with an ex-partner? Share your experiences and help others by taking part in an online study at the University of Edinburgh! We're looking for parents with a child aged 4-8 years who have settled their child arrangement without the family courts. Follow link for more info!” - Thanks to Dr Sarah Foley - Parenting After Divorce or Separation Study Lead, University of Edinburgh, for sharing this.
📌 “The Edinburgh Photographic Society invites all photographers to enter our competition which closes soon. There are lots of prizes and the winners will be exhibited over Xmas 2025. Enter by midnight on 9th November!” - Thanks to the EPS for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 2nd November - Beetlejuice: Special Freeze Frame Halloween screening of this cult American gothic dark fantasy comedy horror. Join us for a film-inspired 3-course meal from the Drill Hall Cafe before the film.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 2nd November 2pm: Join local artist Papercut Punk at Portobello Town Hall and make some papercut LED tea light holders to brighten up these darker nights. No drawing skills needed as there will be lots of examples and encouragement. Suitable for complete beginners. 18+” - Thanks to Ruthie P aka Papercut Punk for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 2nd, 9th & 16th November 2025, 7-9pm - Join the F*** It Writers’ Collective for three consecutive Sundays this November at the Craws Nest Collective, Currie. These sessions are all about finishing the year by getting words on the page and projects completed. Come write & connect, all welcome.” - Thanks to The F*** It Writers’ Collective for sharing this.
📌 “Synaesthesia — an interactive photography exhibition by Ben Lesko. This collection features colour and black-and-white portraits, landscapes, and abstract photographs, each paired with a carefully selected piece of music. The exhibition will be hosted by Leith Makers from 5–9 November.” - Thanks to Ben Lesko for sharing this.
🛝 It's a Halloween special in Gayle's Guide to family-friendly things to do this weekend.
Gayle’s Guide
🎃 There are 50 local Halloween events in the new Keep Edinburgh Thriving events newsletter by Alan Nash.
📆 What else is on this weekend in town? The next bit is for paying subscribers only…
🔥 Literally the hottest tickets in town: Tickets for Friday night's Samhuinn Fire Festival are sold out. But the organisers, Beltane Fire Society, have a waiting list here.