The Edinburgh Minute ⏰: Weekend edition 20-22 Oct 2023
Castle and parks closed as storm hits trains, local food hygiene ratings map + the 1p gym membership joining fee
🍂 Good morning Edinburgh. It’s daily edition number 200! Thank you for subscribing. More details on how this newsletter will continue here. Here’s your weekend Edinburgh Minute.
🚈 Severe weather conditions in the north-east of Scotland mean disruption for train services out of Edinburgh. LNER has cancelled services north of Edinburgh on Friday. Saturday’s trains ‘may also be affected’ by Storm Babet. - Get live updates from LNER here.
⮑ ScotRail also has shut parts of the railway across northern parts of the country. There is concern about possible flooding and landslips. Trains from Edinburgh to Fife, Perth, Stirling and the Highlands are affected until at least midday on Saturday. - See all live ScotRail updates here.
⮑ Trains between North Berwick and Edinburgh were disrupted on Friday after a power transmission line collapsed on the track near East Linton. - Craig Bathgate, East Lothian Courier.
⮑ Princes Street Gardens has been shut by the council, while Edinburgh Castle is also closed today, with tours cancelled.
⮑ Leith Walk’s pop-up policebox stall is also closing to let the storm pass.
🥡 A new interactive map shows 268 food outlets in Edinburgh with low hygiene ratings.
⮑ The Evening News highlights the city’s 20 Chinese restaurants which failed their latest food hygiene inspection. It also lists the local Indian eateries from the map here.
🚲 The local Bikes For Refugees charity has reported thieves have stolen bikes, tools, computers and cash from its community hub.
🏃♀️ The annual Edinburgh 10K run events are on Sunday. Buses will be affected by road closures between 8am and 1pm. Details are on this section of the Lothian Buses website.
🗣 "Hi Michael. Thanks for doing this. I think it’s a great buy at 15p per day 😊.” - Mark. Read more from other paying subscribers here.
💰 The Yard in Broughton has been awarded ‘up to £2m’ of Scottish Government funding. - Caitlyn Dewar, STV News.
🌮 Fifteen years since opening The Bon Vivant on Thistle Street, Stuart McCluskey is planning his next eatery on the same street. - He’s shared some details on Instagram.
🛹 The Leith Links Activity Hub consultation closes on Sunday. - See the plans and have your say here. Thanks to reader Cara for sharing the link.
🗞 Staff at The Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News titles are preparing move offices for the fifth time in a decade. The papers’ owner National World is due to rent out a Regus office on Princes Street from January. “The building is regarded as a modern monstrosity that replaced the much-missed Life Association building, but its location will be welcomed by staff who believe newspapers should be in the heart of their patch.” - Terry Murden, Daily Business.
📙 Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh has joined forces with Leith charity The Junction to support its appeal, saying local young people need support ‘now more than ever.’ - Katie Williams, Edinburgh Live.
⮑ Irvine was a guest on the return of The Big Scottish Book Club this week. - Watch it on iPlayer here.
🥊 Owners of Holyrood Boxing Gym have announced it will close next month after 18 years in business. - Jacob Farr, Edinburgh Live.
🪙 Edinburgh Leisure’s ‘in for a penny’ 1p swim, gym, fitness classes, and climb memberships scheme starts today. The reduced joining fee deal runs from 20 October to 5 November. - Thanks to reader Kerry Teakle for sharing the details.
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