The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 7 - 9 August 2026
Tram rescue fund descends in to 'petty party politics', tourist hunts on Instagram for her teenage attackers, festivals begin, see The Burryman in Queensferry, Stockbridge restaurant says goodbye + swim hero Archie Goodburn to meet Prime Minister
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. Starting at midday today, the first of this year's daily (yes, daily) Edinburgh Festival Minute series lands in paying subscribers' inboxes. Last year one subscriber called it: “An absurd amount of value for the entire month at less than the price of a Fringe pint.” Sign up for a fiver here. Meantime, lots of non-Festival things are happening, here in your weekend Edinburgh Minute...
🌦️ Weekend weather: Today's our best chance of seeing sunshine until Monday, with sunny intervals throughout the day. Saturday and Sunday look cloudy with an 80% chance of rain. A high tomorrow of 21C and a low of 11C overnight from Sunday in to Monday morning. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🔥 The politicisation of the response to last month's Princes Street fire continues. City transport leader Stephen Jenkinson says the Scottish Government had been 'embarrassed into action', after yesterday's news of a £5m rescue fund, adding: "The financial package is very welcome, but I don't think it's right we have had to wait four weeks." - Ian Swanson, The Scotsman / Evening News.
- 'Council’s SNP group leader criticises council leader for her “petty party politics”' - Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter.
🚔 The new city centre policing unit that is funded by tourist tax income has made 49 arrests in its first month of operation. - More details in this report by Holly Lennon, STV News.
🎭 More than £550,000 of tourist tax income is expected to help fund festivals and other arts organisations, reports Brian Ferguson in The Herald.
🚨 A tourist who was assaulted by a group of teenagers in Princes Street Gardens last Friday says Edinburgh is 'too dangerous and I probably won’t come back.' - Rachel Fergusson, Evening News.
- Yumin Chen shared a video of her ordeal on Instagram and futher updates on trying to identify her attackers who have also been recorded attacking other people in the city centre.
Rachel Fergusson
🍝 After nearly 10 years in business, the owners of Stockbridge Italian restaurant Radicibus plan to close on 29 August. Owners Giovanni and Mara said it was a 'difficult decision'. - They shared more on Instagram.
🏊♂️ Edinburgh-based swimmer and brain cancer patient Archie Goodburn has secured a meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham after an emotional live TV plea for more support into brain cancer research. - Ryan Nixon, Deadline News.
🖼️ Before the first of a series of August strikes starting tomorrow, National Galleries of Scotland staff have announced they will refuse to wear NGS uniforms on non-strike days. A picket line and rally are planned outside the National Gallery at the Mound on Saturday morning, according to the Public and Commercial Services Union. The strikes will cause gallery closures, the NGS said.
- The galleries' summer showpiece exhibition, Catherine Opie: To Be Seen, is still due to open as intended on Saturday from 10am - 5pm at the Royal Scottish Academy.
🏨 A £95m construction job has begun on turning a former office building at 60 Morrison Street into a 256-bedroom, nine-storey hotel. - Jennifer O'Keeffe, Insider Media.
🎭 The Fringe and the Edinburgh International Festival begin today. As does the new Edinburgh Festival Minute bonus newsletter series, landing in paying subscribers' inboxes at midday every day this month. Last year it proved indispensable for everyone from hardcore Fringe-goers to reluctant locals looking for inspiration for a day out. It's going to be packed with deals you can't get anywhere else. You won't receive that unless you're a paying subscriber (upgrade here). It's £5 a month (the month's ticket deals make it pay for itself) and you can unsubscribe right away if you just want it for August, I won't be offended. Meanwhile here's a quick round-up of today's festivals coverage:
- A replacement for the departing TV Festival (which is moving to Manchester) is being planned by Edinburgh festival bosses. - Jane Bradley, The Scotsman.
- Hollywood star Stockard Channing, who played Rizzo in the hit movie 'Grease', was among the many performers flyering for their show on the Royal Mile yesterday. - She spoke to BBC Scotland's Kayleigh Harvey & Pauline McLean.
Kayleigh Harvey and Pauline McLean
- More than 6,000 people have signed a petition calling for Amanda Knox’s comedy show at the Fringe to be axed. - Jane Bradley, The Scotsman + the petition is on change.org.
- 'Amanda Knox says criticism of Edinburgh Fringe show is 'deeply uninformed'' - Keiran Fleming, STV News.
- 'Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter Suri makes acting debut at Fringe' - Charlotte Dorans, Digital Spy.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
🏗️ Crafting a community - 'Hello my name is Chlomo Hutcheson and I have a business called Grain and Groove a trio of young woodworkers,We’ve just launched a crowdfunding campaign to build our new woodworking studio in Edinburgh, and the response has been incredible.' - More details here, shared by Chlomo, Grain and Groove.
🏃♂️ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Terry Fox Run Edinburgh - 'The Edinburgh Terry Fox Run is recruiting volunteers for their fun run/walk on 27 September: course marshals, station attendants, & photographers/videographers. No experience needed. They are also looking for a first aider with training & experience. (Deadline: 01 Sep)' - More details here, shared by Madison Bruce.
🐞 FREE Kids Event - Explore Wildlife at the Royal Botanic Gardens with Wild Fungarium - 'Come and explore the Royal Botanic Gardens with the Wild Fungarium team as we take a closer look at the nature around us. This is a fun morning for kids ages 3-6 and their parents to spot, listen and learn about wildlife. 11am, 12th and 13th August.' - More details here, shared by Wild Fungarium.
Wild Fungarium
🎭 Edinburgh Acting School - Want To Make Your Own Fringe Show? - 'Feeling inspired by The Fringe? Edinburgh Acting School's PRESENTS course is here to support you in the development of your own work! (Deadline: 01 Sep)' - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Acting School.
⚖️ Could your community use some legal knowledge? - 'The University of Edinburgh’s Street Law programme is looking for new community partners. This is a great opportunity to get easy-to-understand information on any law that is important to your community. To learn more, email local@ed.ac.uk (Deadline: 21 Aug)' - Shared by The University of Edinburgh.
🎬 Calling All Young Film Programmers (16-25) - 'Passionate about film, music, storytelling & youth culture? Cinetopia is running Transmission: Youth Across Generations film programme in Sept/Oct and are looking for young people (16-25) to join us and gain skills in film exhibition and curation! (Deadline: 20 Aug)' - More details here, shared by Cinetopia.
📈 Bookster hiring: Sales & Client Growth Specialist - 'We build property management & booking software for the holiday rental industry. We are looking for an ambitious, multi-faceted growth professional who thrives at B2B sales. Based in Edinburgh with hybrid options available.' - More details here, shared by Bookster.
🎨 Collective Hysteria
Today, Fri 07 August - 'Hot Snakes Studios presents "Collective Hysteria", a group exhibition featuring personal works by five independent artists, bringing together diverse artistic styles, including surrealist, documentary, figurative, expressionist, and graphic forms.'
6pm to 10pm | Custom House Leith · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎷 Airlie Scott and the Hot Jazz Vagabonds at Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive
Today, Fri 07 August - 'This Friday, 7 August, we've got Airlie Scott and the Hot Jazz Vagabonds playing for us. This highly acclaimed ensemble specialises in 1930s Gypsy Jazz, smoky European chanson, early Blues and post-war Swing. Join us for a fabulous night.'
8pm to 11pm | Heriot's Rugby Club · Inverleith | £13.00 & £16.00 - More details here, shared by Edinburgh Jazz 'n Jive Club.
🥕 Balerno Farmers' Market
Tomorrow, Sat 08 August - 'A monthly selection of local and independent producers, groups and street food. Plus the nearby volunteer-run Mill Cafe is open too!'
9am to 1pm | Balerno Main Street · Currie & Balerno | FREE - More details here, shared by C&B News.
🎶 Habitat x Hotmule
Tomorrow, Sat 08 August - 'French record label, Hot Mule, join Habitat as they take over the top floor of the Port of Leith Distillery for a special night of music.'
9pm to 3am | Port of Leith Distillery · Leith | £10 - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
Next week:
📸 Between The Lines - Photography Exhibition by Graham Williams
Mon 10 August - 'A selection of work from 'Between The Lines' - a project by photographer Graham Williams, can be viewed at The Island Tattoo Studio at Custom Lane (usually a private studio) on two special open days in August - Monday 10th and Monday 24th. 10am-6pm.'
10am to 6pm | The Island · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Graham Williams.
🎶 ACCORD women's choir looking for new members [Every Thursday]
Thu 13 August - 'Small, friendly choir looking for new members. Lighthearted repertoire. An experienced musical director makes it lots of fun. Edinburgh has so many choirs you have to get the right fit for you. Come and try us out. See Media link for details.'
7.30pm to 9.30pm | St Columba's Upper Hall · Southside - More details here, shared by Alison McDonald, ACCORD choir.
🌱 Leith community gardens - summer event
Sat 15 August - 'Join us to celebrate Leith community gardens as part of the Thriving Greenspaces - Linking Leith's parks initiative! Since Autumn 2025 we have planted up 3 community gardens in Leith. We'd love for you to join for a weekend of gardening activities!'
10am to 9.30am | North Junction Street Park · Leith | FREE - More details here, shared by Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.
🗳️ The fight for the vote: suffragettes and nursing (Hybrid)
Thu 20 August - 'Join our speakers to explore nurses who were suffragettes, arrested and imprisoned. Online and in person. Free refreshments & parking on site.'
5.30pm to 8pm | RCN Scotland · The Grange | FREE - More details here, shared by Royal College of Nursing Scotland.
💡 Good Ideas: Camp
Fri 21 August - 'This workshop will explore how design thinking can help you refine your ideas, identify your customers & beneficiaries, understand the problem you are trying to solve and how this can help you as you turn your good ideas into a social business.'
9.30am to 5.30pm | The Melting Pot · Old Town | 75 - More details here, shared by The Melting Pot.
🎉 PURESEOUL Store Opening
Fri 21 August - 'Opening day for PURESEOUL k-Beauty Store'
11am to 8pm | Pureseoul · New Town - More details here, shared by Poppy Smith.
👀 Remember you can always see all 220+ 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 butterfly and bumblebee walks on Craiglockhart Hill...
Gayle’s Guide
👑 The annual Ferry Fair in South Queensferry is underway, with the famous Boundary Race on Friday evening and a chance to see The Burryman (fully route timings here). - Full details on the Ferry Fair website and Facebook.