The Edinburgh Minute ⏰: Weekend edition 3 - 5 May 2024
Waverley Bridge reopening, new home for Hidden Door fest, student flats 'shortfall', Louis Theroux seeks Taylor Swift superfans, Brick Fest Lego show + signing off for a week
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. After more than a year of 5am starts to prep the 7am daily posts (and more than 1,000,000 words written), I’ve listened to everyone’s advice and will take next week off to recharge. The Minute will return to your inbox on Monday 13 May. Thank you for supporting this newsletter. Sorry if you miss it while I’m offline for a week! Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, followed by the weekend guide for paying subscribers.
🚎 The redevelopment of the Jenners building means Waverley Bridge will temporarily reopen to buses in June. New plans to rearrange bus stops at South St David Street will see a new bus gate introduced on Waverley Bridge for Lothian and McGill’s airport buses. - Transport leader Scott Arthur shared the details in this blog post, adding: “The design for the new layout is still being progressed but once ready, will be circulated”.
🎭 Hidden Door festival organisers got good news yesterday when it was confirmed councillors agreed to lease them a Lauriston Place building for the next 10 years. -Festival director Hazel Johnson said:
“This is a hugely exciting and important step for Hidden Door – a hub from which to plan our activity and festivals will enable us work more closely with Edinburgh’s creative communities, all year round. As a volunteer-led charity, this is a huge milestone – and the timing couldn’t be better, as we both celebrate 10 years of Hidden Door festivals, and look to the future. We can’t wait to get in and get cracking!”
⮑ Hidden Door’s main annual pop-up event is planned for later this year at an unannounced location, while its 10th Birthday Party at Basement 3 of the St James Quarter is next weekend on 10 and 11 May.
🏢 Edinburgh does not have enough student accommodation to meet demand, according to new research by property firm Savills. Despite many new student flats being built, the city still has a 17,000 student bed shortfall, it’s claimed. Savills research director Jacqui Daly said: “Edinburgh has a high student to bed ratio indicating a considerable lack of supply. University cities that fail to provide adequate accommodation may not attract as many students moving forward.” - Scott Wright, The Herald.
⮑ Meanwhile North Edinburgh Parents Action Group launched an exhibition and publication highlighting ‘the horrific housing conditions local people are being forced to live in’. - Dave Pickering, North Edinburgh News.
“Edinburgh is one of the richest cities in the country and it is time that all levels of government – Edinburgh Council, the Scottish Government and the UK government – come together and prioritise spending on improving housing conditions in this city. We are serious about our demands and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to secure a decent place to live. We hope that we do not have to resort to a class action which is the route that over 50 tenants from various local authorities have taken in order to secure a warm, safe home. However, nothing is off the table. Enough is enough!” - North Edinburgh Parents Action Group.
🏰 The time ball on top of the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill was removed by crane yesterday as part of plans for a new automated system. - George Mair, The Scotsman.
🚮 Scottish Parliament bosses have warned journalists for dumping rubbish around the building. - Hamish Morrison, The National.
🚄 LNER’s plans to launch of four-hour Edinburgh/London service to compete with airlines has been put back until next year due to ‘too many outstanding issues’ on the East Coast Main Line. - Ben Clatworthy, The Times (£).
🌷 The Botanics will host the UK premiere of world-renowned flower show Fleurs de Villes' Artiste. - Jenness Mitchell, Sky News.
🌸 A blossom tree in the Meadows has fallen. The council is investigating and locals are discussing it in this Twitter thread by Rob Stewart.
🎤 Louis Theroux could soon be in town to interview Taylor Swift ‘superfans’ ahead of the singer’s Murrayfield concerts. Members of the University of Edinburgh Taylor Swift Society wrote: “Louis Theroux’s production company Mindhouse are developing a new series with Amelia Dimoldenberg from ‘Chicken Shop Date’. They are in the process of researching and casting Taylor Swift superfans who will be attending the Edinburgh Shows. Please get in touch with us if you’re interested.”
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📌 “New May 2024 issue of volunteer-led FREE community magazine C&B News, serving communities in south-west Edinburgh, is now available digitally and in print from this Friday in selected retail outlets across Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton Mains, and Colinton. (See website for list.) Contents include news from local groups and organisations, updates from our regular columnists, and the story behind some really cute orphaned lambs!” - Thanks as always to Paul Fisher Cockburn, Editor, C&B News, for sharing this month’s edition.
📌 “Sunday Assembly Edinburgh, the city's 'secular congregation', meets on the first Sunday of every month to celebrate life, hear inspiring talks, sing together, reflect and have tea & cake. This month our theme is 'Learning From Mistakes' and our guest speaker is Russell Napier, Keeper of the Library Of Mistakes in the West End. Join us at 11.30am Sunday 5 May, Lifecare Edinburgh, Cheyne St, Stockbridge EH4 1JB - family and dog friendly.” - Thanks to Mark McKergow, Chair, Sunday Assembly Edinburgh, for sharing this.
📌 “Kenny’s Music, an independent chain of musical instrument stores serving the UK from their Scottish base, is opening a crowdfunding investment round. The goal is to raise capital to support expansion plans which include new ranges, a major focus on the preloved category and ultimately an Edinburgh hub / events space to serve a city which deserves more for its musicians and music lovers. The raise will launch on Friday 3rd May on the Crowdcube platform with investors receiving equity in the business and exclusive perks.” - Thank you to Joe Frankel for sharing this.
📌 “Naming trees workshop - Spring edition - Sat 11th May 10-1pm” - Leith Community Croft. Tickets via Eventbrite.
🛝 Here’s this week’s Gayle’s Guide of family-friendly things to do in Edinburgh, including a free mask-making morning at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and space stuff at the Dynamic Earth planetarium.
📆 More things to do this weekend:
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