The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 7 - 9 Nov 2025
'Relief' in Niddrie but police on stand-by, Rockstar protests, wedding venue closing, new spot for The Pastry Section + Flotilla of Lights along the canal
👋 Good morning Edinburgh. Another busy Friday edition: all the local news I can find (there's actually not much), 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: A relatively mild weekend for this time of year. Dry with occasional sun on Friday and Saturday. Then a chance of rain on Sunday afternoon. Temperature high of 15C on Friday and a low of 7C on Sunday night into Monday morning. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🔥 Police say their work tackling potential disorder will continue this weekend after saying 'no incidents of serious disorder' were reported locally over Bonfire Night. - Police Scotland published this statement.
⮑ Scotland-wide, calls to the emergency services were down 37%.
⮑ 'It was like a normal Bonfire Night' - 'relieved residents of Niddrie' spoke to Angie Brown, BBC Scotland News.
⮑ Today's Evening News front page leads with yesterday's Edinburgh Minute lead image, along with quotes from police saying there was 'real evidence' Dispersal Zones worked. "It was in stark contrast to previous years which saw senseless violence across parts of the capital", writes Neil Johnstone.
👰♀️ After six years, the Old Dr Bells Baths wedding venue on Great Junction Street in Leith has announced it will close at the end of December. - 'Brides were left 'devastated', writes Chloe Goodall in Edinburgh Live.
🎮 A crowd of people including former staff protested outside the Holyrood office of Rockstar North yesterday morning. The Grand Theft Auto gaming firm denies claims that more than 30 staffers were sacked in an alleged union-busting move. - Keiran Fleming, STV News.
“Nerds like me have sunk far too much of our lives into the brilliant games that they produce, but it’s the workers here who produce it. Rockstar have an opportunity now to hold up their hands to say that they got this catastrophically wrong and reinstate those workers." - Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer shared this video from the protest.
⮑ A Rockstar spokesperson told Jason Schreier of Bloomberg: "Last week, we took action against a small number of individuals who were found to be distributing and discussing confidential information in a public forum, a violation of our company policies."
⮑ Demonstration organiser Fred Carter said: "They've been fired, we believe, because they're union members - which is a protected activity in the UK." - Liv McMahon & Chris Vallance, BBC News.
🚨 A taxi driver stopped a van as it rolled down the hill of Clermiston Road. The moment was captured on camera. - Jacob Farr & Chloe Goodall, Edinburgh Live.
🏆 There were no Edinburgh winners at Scotland's annual councillor awards this week. - Dave Pickering, North Edinburgh News.
🚉 A bridge over South Gyle train station is to be rebuilt as part of a project to electrify trains between Haymarket and Dalmeny. - Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.
🎭 Hollywood star Gayle Rankin, who starred in the Broadway production of Cabaret with Eddie Redmayne last year, was yesterday announced as the star of the National Theatre of Scotland's new production of Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, coming to the Lyceum next year. - She spoke to Brian Ferguson of The Herald.
⚽️ Heart of Midlothian Football Club announced it made a £400,000 loss in the last financial year. In short, revenue went up by £4m to £24.4m but wages rose 16% to £19.1. - Joel Sked has all the details in Hearts Standard.
🥐 The Pastry Section which first opened in Stockbridge in 2017, have taken over a purple police box on Drumsheugh Gardens. - Gaby Soutar, The Scotsman.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📌 "Bard is celebrating its 3rd anniversary with Bardware, a group show of new work by 23 Scottish makers and artists. Bardware celebrates the power of tactility in the things we touch, as a counter to the time we spend swiping touchscreens. Craft is a touchy subject." - Thanks to the Bard team at 1 Customs Wharf, Leith, for sharing this.
📌 Friday in Stockbridge: "Tennent's has teamed up with viral pop-up The Auld Hag to create the world's first ever Square Wurst, a German twist on a Scottish classic. Tennent's fans can try the limited-edition Tennent's Pilsner and Square Wurst from Friday 7th November at the Auld Hag, limited to 100 rolls." - Thanks to the shop for sharing this.
📌 Friday at World of Football: "In memory of Duncan Wright, EYCO & Avison Young are raising money for Ronald McDonald House (Edinburgh). There's 12 sides battling it out at World of Football today for the trophy. We've also got an amazing raffle which anyone can enter - just click the link here for further info." - Thanks to Peter Fraser of EYCO for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 8 November: 9am - 1pm. Monthly Balerno Farmers' Market returns to Main Street, Balerno, offering early Christmas shopping opportunities with almost two-dozen participating stalls. Now in its 21st year, organised by Balerno Village Trust." - Thanks to C&B News for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 8th November, 10 - 1pm. Come along to our free creative session: Balancing Acts: Crafting Family and Work Connections. Use craft and drawing to explore solutions and give you a voice to advocate for family-friendly workplaces. Come drop in ECCI, High School Yards, EH1 1LZ!" - Thanks to Sarah Foley, University of Edinburgh, for sharing this.
📌 "Pet Portraits Workshop: Spend this Saturday 8th, 10am–4pm, capturing your favourite furry friend in different mediums with artist Hayley Whittingham. Bring a clear, high-contrast A4 image of your pet and enjoy creating a portrait with pastels, charcoal, and acrylics. All levels welcome, materials and refreshments provided." - Thanks to Birchwood Art Studio, Ashley Terrace, for sharing this.
📌 "We are thrilled to be hosting the very first makers market at George Watson's College - with an incredible collection of local makers! With gorgeous art, accessories, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, and much more on offer! Is the perfect opportunity to #ShopSmall this weekend!" - Thanks to Support The Makers for sharing this.
📌 "The big Winter Exhibition at The Torrance Gallery launches on Saturday 8th November, 12 - 2pm. Meet some of the artists taking part and enjoy this fine collection of paintings!" - Thanks to The Torrance Gallery for sharing this.
📌 "The French Film Festival UK returns to the Institut français d'Écosse from 8 to 16 November — featuring an exciting mix of classic and contemporary French films. Expect UK premieres, exclusive Q&As and restored classics with live music!" - Thanks to Institut français d'Écosse for sharing this.
📌 "Saturday 8th November: A Guitar and Mandolin Orchestra gathered from around Scotland. 40 musicians will perform a wide variety of popular and classical pieces at Blackhall St Columba's Church. Free admission inc refreshments and donations appreciated." - Thanks to Donald Cameron, Director of Music at St Columba's, for sharing this.
Sunday:
📌 "Sunday 9 November: The Mansfield Traquair Centre is open from 1pm until 4pm close. Find out the history behind Phoebe Anna Traquair's breathtaking murals by taking a free tour with our friendly guides. Free entry, donations welcome." - Thanks to a friend of Mansfield Traquair Centre for sharing this.
📌 "Join Dr Elspeth Jajdelska for READ WRITE HEAR—an interactive event that brings together literature, history, and live reading practice. Choose from different reading 'stations', take part in discussion, and leave with a book to keep." - Thanks to Elspeth Jajdelska, University of Strathclyde. for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 9 November 2-4pm PALESTINIAN TENT at PORTOBELLO on the beach in front of the pool. Sponsor an olive tree, make peace wreaths, enjoy the beach fire, have some mint tea and Palestinian sweet treats. All welcome!" - Thanks to Sue Bard, Porty Pals Palestine and Progressive Jews for Justice in Israel Palestine, for sharing this.
📌 "Sunday 9 November - Three time Scottish Album of the Year shortlistees, Cloth, will be performing tracks from their new album, Pink Silence, at Cabaret Voltaire, following a sold out performance at King Tuts in Glasgow the previous evening." - Thanks to Cloth for sharing this.
📌 "Join us for a wild night at Leith Kino this Sunday as we screen Gakuryu Ishii's 'The Crazy Family' (1984), a completely unhinged gem of 1980s cinema brought to you by one of Japan's seminal punk filmmakers! Also screening GRIM (1985) and ZONE (1995) by Takashi Ito before the feature presentation £6." - Thanks to Leith Kino member Morvern for sharing this.
📌 "TFEH presents a triple bill of experimental music & weird science by experimental musicians & weird scientists with ALEATORY MUSIC SYSTEMS , ALISON BEATTIE & VOLE INVASION at Fruitmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 1DF on Sunday 9th November 2025. You can get tickets now!" - Thanks to Ali Robertson, organiser at Tfeh, for sharing this.
📌 "Monday 10 November. At Fruitmarket Pips! an informal talk for parents and their babies under one, learn about Adam Barker-Mill's exhibition PhotoSynthesis 2 in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, with space to talk and think about art and meet like-minded parents and carers. Fuss and feeding expected." - Thanks to Fruitmarket for sharing this.
📌 "Monday 10 November, 5:30–7:30PM – Join Edinburgh Remakery at EICC for Hidden Treasure: Unlocking the Value in Old Tech, exploring how old tech devices can tackle e-waste and digital poverty. Hear from our CEO Elaine Brown and enjoy a live tech teardown revealing the value inside your laptop! 💚" - Thanks to Edinburgh Remakery for sharing this.
📌 "The Festive season is back – and so is the Montpeliers Christmas Cocktail Club! Enjoy delicious cocktails from £6 at your favourite Edinburgh spots – Tigerlily, Rabble, Indigo Yard, Montpeliers, and Coco – when you buy a £5 wristband! Valid all day, every day from 10th November to 31st December." - Thanks to the Montpeliers team for sharing this.
📌 "Feeling Christmassy yet? Why not book your space to sell your crafts and wares, or reserve a spot for your wee one to visit Santa at LifeCare's Christmas Fair on Sat 6th Dec! Oh, and there are still a few spaces left for Christmas Lunches (featuring cult-bakery Lannan trifles!) — only £18pp and BYO!" - Thanks to Claire at LifeCare Edinburgh for sharing this.
📌 "It's not just you; everything seems really uncertain. An Edinburgh-based journalist is tackling that feeling with the launch of her weekly newsletter: Not-Ship. Subscribe to join a community using data and visuals to understand the messy world we're all living in." - Thanks to Amanda Shendruk, creator of Not-Ship for sharing this. Amanda was one of the Minute's first ever subscribers nearly three years ago and has been reporting for some of the world's top publishers for 15+ years.
Amanda Shendruk
🛝 Plenty of family-friendly things to do this weekend and beyond in Gayle's Guide, including: the Flotilla of Lights, free kids' violin lessons, a brand new arty parent/baby group and more...
Gayle’s Guide
📆 What else is on this weekend in town? The next bit is for paying subscribers only…
🎄 The St James Quarter's Christmas lights switch-on event is on Saturday from 4pm, with live music from the Tinderbox Orchestra. - More details here.