The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 6 - 8 February 2026
Congestion charge debate returns, parents lobby parliament for school phone ban, spotlight on the rise of local run clubs + a giant animatronic octopus in town
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. After a busy week of news (including the Keep Edinburgh Thriving investigation, the data centre debate and the bus & tram ticket price hike), it's a relatively quiet Friday. But it's another busy weekend events guide with plenty of ideas and inspiration even in this weather. Here's your Edinburgh Minute.
🌦️ Weekend weather: Sorry to say it's looking wet for most of the weekend. The temperature high will be 9C on Sunday and the lowest will be 3C this morning. The better news is that we're getting closer to 5pm sunsets and the clocks go forward on 29 March (in 50 days). Spring is coming and the signs are there if you look for them 🌱 - The full Met Office forecast is here.
📵 A group of Edinburgh parents met Scotland's Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth at Holyrood yesterday to press for an immediate ban on phones in schools. - There's coverage from: Catriona Stewart in The Scotsman & Ruth Suter in the Daily Record.
💰 More than £1.8 million of overtime pay has gone to 50 council employees over the past two years. - Stephen Rafferty, The Edinburgh Reporter.
🚗 Plans for a new road congestion charge are being discussed 20 years after being rejected. 'Doing nothing is not an option', says council transport leader Stephen Jenkinson, who is awaiting the outcome of Transport Scotland’s regulatory review before officially tabling the proposal. - Laura Piper, STV News.
- ⮑ Some locals have their say in this STV News video.
🎭 Speaking of congestion, a new technology project is being developed in a bid to ease transport and accommodation challenges during the festivals. The new data dashboard will feature real-time insights on transport capacity, accommodation availability and workforce capacity. - Rose Moncur, The Herald.
🚁 You might have heard the helicopter over Holyrood Park during Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Police said they managed to trace a missing man. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.
📚 Concerns have been raised with the council after reports of 'rising violence and aggressive incidents against library staff' across Edinburgh. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.
🇵🇸 Councillors axed a planned debate about Palestine Action amid fears councillors could be arrested for discussing it. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
🚗 Some Balerno residents are worried about 'dangerous' driving during school drop-off and pick-up times. - Chloe Goodall, Edinburgh Live.
🍻 The Kilderkin pub on the Canongate is getting a £170,000 refurbishment and a new name: The Parliament Arms. - Alexander Smail, Daily Record.
🏉 Scotland kick off their men's Six Nations rugby campaign against Italy in Rome at 2.10pm on Sunday. Here's a list of '20 of the best Edinburgh bars for watching rugby' according to Rosaline Erskine in The Scotsman + there's also a student-focussed guide to local rugby-watching venues by Kitty Messer in The Edinburgh Tab.
Rosalind Erskine
📚 Six S4 pupils from James Gillespie’s High School have reached the STEM Racing UK final. 'Cirrus Racing' will represent Scotland by competing against 100+ teams in March. STEM Racing is a worldwide competition for young people aged 9–19 to design, build, test, and race miniature cars. - More details via Dave Pickering in the North Edinburgh News.
⮑ A Minute subscriber sent this in: "With 50% of their fundraising secured, they're encouraging interested businesses to get in touch - sponsorship@cirrusracing.uk. Thanks!"
🏆 Nominations for this year’s Inspiring Volunteer Awards are now open. - Nominate yours on the Volunteer Edinburgh website.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📌 "Book in advance: 22–27 March 2026 – Edinvert comes to Lost Shore in Ratho: a week-long handstand retreat for all levels, from first kick-ups to advanced shapes. Daily workshops with expert coaches, plus sauna, café and wave pool downtime. Scotland’s first handstand retreat, with residential and day-pass options." - Thanks to Jude Wood, Organiser of Edinvert, for sharing this.
Friday:
📌 “Friday 6th February - Luma Pilates First Fridays gathering. Enjoy a Reformer or Barre class followed by sharing some nibbles and a glass with our wonderful community. Bookings through our website.” - Thanks to Lucia & Max - Luma Pilates Ltd for sharing this.
📌 “Friday 6th Feb: live jazz with the Tenement Jazz Band at the Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club. The band focuses on jazz in the New Orleans style, which is great for dancing Jive, Collegiate Shag, Balboa, Lindy, Laminu & slow Balboa. Location: Heriot's Rugby Club, EH3 5QN. Price: £12 Members / £15 Guests.” - Thanks to Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club for sharing this.
📌 “Friday 6 February, 10,30am onwards at The Open Door in Morningside: Join us for a free taster session in our day services for older adults. Enjoy refreshments, take part in a fun activity, and chat about what The Open Door does and how we can support you and your family.” - Thanks to Simon Warr , Operational Manager at The Open Door, for sharing this.
Saturday:
📌 “Sat 7 & Sun 8 Feb (10am–4pm, last entry 3pm): Hopetoun House joins the Scottish Snowdrop Festival with a rare winter opening. House & Grounds or Grounds-only tickets, snowdrop trails, kids’ crafts, dog-friendly Stables Kitchen and Ranger-led walks - prebooking required.” - Thanks to the team at Hopetoun House for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 7th February - Portobello Local Market, 9.30-1.30 in Brighton Park. Our much loved monthly market is back with lots of brilliant food, drink and craft stalls. Come along and support this long standing local event." - Thanks to Ruth from Pedal Portobello for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday - Morningside Gallery will launch a new exhibition featuring work from some of the brightest graduate talent from Scotland’s leading art schools. Includes paintings, sculpture & jewellery from 10 recent graduates, several will also feature in the RSA’s New Contemporaries exhibition." - Thanks to Carrie for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday: Edinburgh Trash Club is here! It's like a run club... but with no running. Our first pick will be at Marine Esplanade down at Seafield 11am-12.30pm, followed by an optional pub gathering. Bring your own gloves - we provide the rest! (What 3 words location: client.rang.strut).” - Thanks to Edinburgh Trash Club for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 7 February. One hour of music by Some Strange Harmony in Abbeyhill's Red Kite Cafe. From Scandinavian folk/metal tunes to a re-imagined Auld Lang Syne to turbulent original poetry over passages of Vivaldi, this duo will bring you on a journey of the mind, heart, and spirit.” - Thanks to Some Strange Harmony for sharing this.
Sunday:
📌 "Sunday 8 February at People's Leisure Club - Rhythm and Revolution is hosting Angus Mtizwa, Scotland based Zimbabwean singer and composer + Mark Quinn with interesting vinyl selections." - Thanks to Mo Sapie from Rhythm and Revolution for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 8 February: Take part in a hands-on willow weaving workshop in Morningside, Edinburgh. We will be creating a variety of open and fully woven willow hearts as wall, door or table decorations. Learn a new skill and take home your hearts to gift to others or a gift for yourself, perfectly timed for Valentines day!” - Thanks to Koren Willow, weaver and eco-coffin creator from Away with Willow, for sharing this.
📌 “Holyrood Distillery is delighted to announce the relaunch of ‘EH Evenings’ for 2026, in partnership with Edinburgh Food Project! Taking place every Sunday at 4.30pm, we're offering spaces for EH residents on our classic Tour and Tasting for just £5 - which will be donated in full to EFP.” - Thanks to Holyrood Distillery for sharing this.
📌 "Bookshop Crawl: Intro – meet me at 3pm at Citadel Books in Abbeyhill to say hello and support Alan and Janani before they close at the end of March. Drinks at The Tailor afterwards to talk about books and mourn!" - Thanks to organiser Sara for sharing this.
📌 "Sun 8th Feb, 9am: We’re launching Sunny Disposition Run Club - an easy-going community run starting at Disposition in Roseburn/Murrayfield. No pressure, no pace goals, just a relaxed run & a great coffee after!" - Thanks to Izzie from Disposition & SDRC for sharing this. (It's a 3k route around Roseburn).
📌 "10am Monday 9th February - Want to know more about how climate change will impact you and your organisation? Join Verture’s 90-minute online workshop to learn about climate impacts for Scotland, and approaches to adaptation and resilience. Minute readers can use code FREEMINUTE for a free place." - Thanks to Mary Collacott from Verture for sharing this.
🐙 A giant animatronic illuminated octopus will be sweeping through town this weekend at a series of pop-up performances for the Manipulate Festival, which celebrates visual theatre, puppetry and animated film. - More details here.
- Here's where you can find Ocho the Octopus during walkabout performances:
- Friday 2.45pm - 3.15pm at Wester Hailes Parade
- Saturday: 11am - 11:30am and 12pm - 12:30pm at the National Museum of Scotland's Grand Gallery. - More details here.
- Saturday: 2pm – 2:30pm, Parliament Square, Royal Mile.
- ⮑ Find more family-friendly things to do this weekend and beyond in the new edition of Gayle's Guide.
Gayle’s Guide
📆 What else is on this weekend in town? The next bit is for paying subscribers only…
Featuring: markets, a special focus on local social run clubs, gigs, tickets for newly announced shows, markets (including a Lunar New Year market), theatre listings and more...
