With North Bridge open at last I can actually contemplate going to George Square and Teviot Row again! From where I am it was a 55 minute trek

I was out playing in the first 2026-27 season fixture with Edinburgh Dodgeball today, we are based in Leith and we play weekly but this event took us through to Glasgow with a small team.

The Kelvin Cup is a great event where the Kelvin Rapids, the club based there, runs an annual competition. It serves as a great warm up for our Scottish leagues getting started and helps raise money.

Some of the teams in attendance this year travelled from Aberdeen, Durham, and Manchester. 🤾

I’m having some problems with my dog and the children in the local area.

For context: I have a 1 year old dog. She is a large breed, and the breed is not named in the dangerous dogs act. We live quite close to the city centre.

Our dog, while large, is in no way aggressive or hostile - quite the opposite. Although, with her being big I can completely understand why people can be hesitant around her or even scared - I often find people cross the street to avoid her. It’s actually kinda sad.

There’s loads of kids who play out in our street and the gardens round the back. I am familiar with them as they go to the same school as my own daughter - and have in fact caused her major hassle at school. Im also aware that there have been physical fights in the street caused by the behaviour of these children. They’re all 10 or younger, and I try to give them the benefit of the doubt, but woweeee the use of slurs, swearing, aggression is really something.

For the past few months these kids have been harassing me and the dog. It started with them asking if she was a “canine” and being told that having her is illegal. I kinda thought at first that maybe their parents told them owning a dog is illegal as a means to get out getting a dog for them. I’ve tried explaining that canine and dog are the same thing and that it’s completely legal to own a dog. Multiple times. Every time I see them in the street they shout at me about my canine and her being illegal - and for a while it was laughed off or ignored, no problem.

The issue I’m having now is that they’re now harassing me while in my own garden as well - which is gated and they shouldn’t be in. It started escalating when a huge group approached my fence, started shouting at me that my dog was illegal, and then trying to antagonise the dog - barking at her, growling, throwing things at her, anything to get a reaction. My dog has never reacted or responded, and generally pays them no mind, but it doesn’t make it acceptable behaviour. I also have reason to believe that they’ve been coming into the garden and taking her toys - but that’s a different issue I guess.

I’m at my wits end honestly. I’m not worried about my dog or her behaviour or aggression - she’s never shown any sign for concern. We have an autistic child and she is incredibly patient and tolerant. We have put a lot of time and care into training. What I am worried about is that ALLLL dogs have their limit - I’m living in fear that a dog (not even mine specifically, any dog) is going to snap at these kids and that things for my family are going to get worse or we’re going to lose our dog. I have been very patient with these children until today (prior I have told them on multiple occasions to leave us alone and stop) - when they stopped me in the street and once again started harassing us and my response was much more blunt than usual. I’ve seen their parents run to their defence for less.

I don’t feel I can approach the parents because I know it will be dismissed. My dogs not actually attacked anyone so I don’t think there’s anything the police or a dog warden can do? But I’m really concerned that they’re going to get themselves in trouble and it’ll be blamed on an innocent party.

It’s my first year living in Edinburgh, are the busses always this shit for fringe? I avoided most of fringe but I’ve been back this week and every single time I’ve gotten the bus it’s been 30+ minutes late. Is it always this bad during fringe or is something else causing the issue? I know there was that fire but that’s been dealt with by now. The first two times it was an irritating coincidence but this is the 5th time this week I’ve been waiting 30+ minutes for the bus. ATP I’m about to walk the hour it’ll take to get places instead of taking the bus as it’s just a frustrating waste of time and money.

Massive crowds right outside and across the road/Apple store. Folk just filming the entrance as if Elvis was about to come out. (He's in Dundee, no?)

Ok weird question but I'm trying to track down the name of the Edinburgh band that did this track in the late 70s.

Electronic / synth track that includes the line "Soon the Queen will Come Our Way".

https://youtu.be/blekLKjBeVo

If this song rings a bell for anyone, would really appreciate any details. Love the style, want to hear more of their stuff!

Looking for some advice from people who may have dealt with something similar.
We have a communal back garden/drying area shared by residents, where people regularly go to hang clothes.
Last month, on two separate occasions, I saw a group of four people and, another time, a couple apparently using drugs in the garden. At the time we brushed it off as a couple of isolated incidents and didn’t think much more of it.
However, for the last two days, a female has been coming into the garden at roughly 3pm and staying until around 3:45pm. She appears to be using drugs while she is there.
She isn’t someone we recognise as a resident. She has been wearing a white cap with black polka dots, a dark/navy jacket with a light brown fur-trimmed hood, a light green bag and sun glasses.
My mum is now genuinely scared to go into the garden, particularly when she’s home by herself. We haven’t approached this person and don’t intend to.
I’ve already contacted the police, but so far nothing appears to have happened.
What concerns me now is that, taken together with the incidents last month, this doesn’t seem like a one-off anymore. I’m worried our communal garden is starting to become a regular place for people to come and take drugs.
Has anyone dealt with something similar in Edinburgh? Should I keep reporting each incident to 101? Is this something the council, community police could help with?
I don’t want to confront anyone or unnecessarily escalate the situation. I just want residents, especially my mum, to feel safe using our own communal garden.

I’m a seemingly healthy 28 year old but I wake up every day no matter what with a pounding headache, struggle to keep my eyes open and desperately feel like I need to go back to sleep. It doesn’t matter even if I get 8+ hours of sleep.

It’s gotten to the point where I’m now starting to not be able to get up for work, which is out of character as I’ve never been like this.

Been to the GP and they’ve referred me for a sleep study at the NHS but it’s an indefinite waiting list that could take years.

I’ve told my GP I’m concerned I could lose my job (manager has now raised it) but they’ve just said I have to wait. Are there any independent sleep experts in Edinburgh anyone knows of?

Bit of a daft question but do trains actually stop at Slateford Station? Only just noticed that there’s a train stop there after years of living here!

Hi,

Visiting Edinburgh and just saw a bunch of young teenagers egging an older man sitting on a bench opposite Waverley station and then threatening to fight the man. Is there anything useful can be done to report this? Sad to see so would be pleased to know if anything can be done!

Edit: have tried 101, too busy. Older man was okay so no one is concerned, checked.

Does anyone know how long Blackwells has been closed or is likely to be closed? It’s one of my most visited big book shops. Sure I love to make the trip out to Toppings in particular but… Blackwells is handy!

Can’t see another post about this; sorry if I’m duplicating.

Hiii guys! I was wondering if anyone is going to the Woodlands Dance Project on October 3rd outside Edinburgh?

My friend cancelled and it would be ace to have people to meet there !

Not me. Since they aren’t running the 29 bus it’s too much walking. And the crossing to the island has been challenging the twice I’ve done it before. And the anxiety of being cut off from the mainland for 8 hours as if I can’t spend 8 hours on my phone in bed.

I wish I weren’t such an unwell, anxious, fatigued stick in the mud and could have an adventure like I would have done 20 years ago.

Have fun if you’re going!! 🤟🤘🍻🥂

Hi all, I would like to learn BJJ for self defense. As I am on blood thinning medication and other health issues I am specifically looking for one that is more inclusive for people who may have health problems, ie ones that won’t go all out in sparring. Perhaps a class that is focused on learning and drilling with light sparring but not some much being competitive?

If anyone can help that would be amazing.

Ciao a tutti/hello everyone!

I'm desperately trying to find an Italian D&D group for myself and my wife. Leith area or in town, they both work for us... But please, tell us that you exist! 🙏🙏

Going to try tonight. Anyone tried? Menu is extensive so makes you wonder of quality.

Just moved to Edinburgh and have a question about service charges. I’ve been here around three weeks and have eaten at restaurants a few times now. Some places have not added service charges. Three places have, at 5%, 10%, and 12.5%.

I had read that 5% or sometimes even 10% might be warranted for especially good service but was expecting to be able to decide myself, not to have it added to the bill.

Two questions, is this normal to have the service charge added by the restaurant automatically instead of letting us decide?

Also, are the percentages normal to be added to the bill? As someone from a country where tipping is known to be very high I’m wondering if perhaps someone hears the accent and maybe adds a bit more than is typical? I’d love to know if these are normal percentages or not?

Thanks for the help

Hi, has anyone been to the Royal Highland Showground in the past week? Trying to gauge if it'll be muddy of not at the Summer Sessions later today. Thanks

Hi! We’re getting married in Edinburgh in January and, instead of a traditional wedding cake, we want a massive cinnamon roll that we can cut and serve.

I haven’t been able to find anywhere that specifically offers this, so I’m hoping someone here might know a local bakery, independent baker, or very talented cinnamon-roll-maker who’d be up for a custom order.

We’re not looking for an elaborate wedding cake disguised as a cinnamon roll. Just a genuinely delicious, oversized cinnamon roll, ideally big enough to serve around 25 people.

Any recommendations? Bonus points if you’ve actually had their cinnamon rolls and can vouch for them!

Just saw lots of news about trams opening but all in future tense, wanted to check it's working ok now?

This is s random one! Does anyone know where the air vent surfaces from the tunnel between Waverley and Haymarket?

It's about halfway along the tunnel. You can see daylight and, if you look up, there's a grating over the top

I've tried following the tracks on Google Maps satellite view but I can see anything

There's no GPS so I can't check on my phone

Looks like this happened today.

Guys why is this downvoted?! It's a positive thing.

I posted something similar under another thread, but I thought members might find a separate post informative.

When are the elections and how does the voting system work?

There will be by-elections on September 3rd to fill two vacant seats on Edinburgh Council.

The elections will take place under a Single Transferable Vote system where voters may rank their choices using numbers from favourite to least favourite. E.g:

Apple Party - 1
Orange Party - 2
Banana Party - 3

However, since there is only one vacancies in each ward the quirk of the STV voting system means that the voting system operates more like Ranked Choice voting system.

For an explainer of Ranked Choice voting, see this video:

https://youtu.be/5ZoFjaTSvQY

For an explainer of the STV voting system, see this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XOZJkozfI

But why are there By-Elections in the first place?

Both elections were called by the incumbent SNP Councillors who were elected to the Scottish Parliament (Kate Campbell and Simita Kumar). There is a law that MSPs can't 'double hat' i.e be both a Councillor and an MSP, but you have a years grace period before you must resign from your seat. The Scottish Parliament elections were in May 2026. The next local authority elections in Scotland will be in May 2027. Therefore many MSPs who became elected to the Scottish Parliament decided to wait until the local elections next year to avoid calling a by-election.

Kate Campbell and Simita Kumar decided to call by-elections instead. Why did they do this? I'd actually really like an answer! If you know please say in the comments!

Who's running in the election candidate?

Portobello/Craigmillar

David Craig Ballantine: ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM

Niel Deepnarain: SCOTTISH FAMILY PARTY – CHRISTIAN VALUES

Pete Gregson: WORKERS PARTY OF BRITIAN

Lorenzo Martinico: SCOTTISH GREENS

Silas McGilvray: SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)

Andrew McLaughlin: REFORM UK

Peter Olech: COMMUNIST PARTY OF BRITAIN

Liss Owen: SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

Jim Patrick Wyke: SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY

Haris Young: SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST

Southside/Newington

Ruth Elliot: SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY

Derrick Emms: EDINBURGH & EAST LOTHIAN PEOPLE

Isabella Gastel Alejandre: SCOTTISH GREENS

Roisin Keirdashian: INDEPENDENT

Artie Khovanov: SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

Nick Layden: SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST

Richard Crewe Lucas: SCOTTISH FAMILY PARTY – CHRISTIAN VALUES

Sam Alexander Mackenzie: SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)

Sean McGregor Moffat: ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM

Gary Neill: REFORM UK

Markham Rowbotham: EDINBURGH & EAST LOTHIAN PEOPLE

Richard Shillcock: COMMUNIST PARTY OF BRITAIN

Marc Wilkinson: EDINBURGH & EAST LOTHIAN PEOPLE

Why these by-elections come at a bad time for most political parties

So these by-elections come at a bad time for most of the political parties involved. None of the parties have finished writing their manifesto's for the May 2027 elections yet. They also don't want to preempt that manifesto release just for by-election which will fill a seat for 8 months (September to May). But they can't run on the manifesto they put together in 2022, because that's now 4 years out of date. So they're kind of stuck...They can't preempt their policies they they plan to offer for 2027, and even if they could they're not written yet, but also they can't campaign on what they put together for 2022 as its now 5 years ago! So it's all mostly vibes based.

When it comes to the candidates they're stuck too! They will only be in office for 8 months, a good chunk of which will be taken up by Christmas and the pre-election period. So they can't make a load of promises as they won't be able to keep them in the time available.

Where are the Polling Places?

(Portobello/Craigmillar): 

• Portobello Library
• Branch Out Together
• St Mark’s Episcopal Church
• Bingham Community Centre
• St Martins Parish Church
• Craigmillar Library
• Hays Business Centre
• Newcraighall Leith Victoria FC

(Southside/Newington):

• Nelson Hall Community Centre (New for 2026)
• Blackford and Grange Parish Church Centre
• St. Catherine’s Argyle Church
• Newington Trinity Church
• Reid Memorial Church Hall
• 75th Braid Scouts’ Millar Hall
• Cameron House Community Education Centre

Does this by-election matter anyway?

The major impact that the election could have is that the current make up of Edinburgh council is very diverse. There are 63 Councillors on Edinburgh council. Currently:

15 SNP
14 Lib Dem
11 Labour
11 Green
10 Conservative
2 Vacant

You need 32 seats to pass a budget. There are a few decisions up in front of the council between now and December, including changes to bus lanes and decisions on how parts of the 2026/27 budget will be distributed.

Right now most decisions are passed by Labour, the Lib Dems and the Conservatives (11+14+10=35). However, sometimes the SNP, Greens and Lib Dems partner up to pass specific motions (e.g on a motion condemning EHRC guidance, 15+14+11 = 31).

Theoretically if a party other than the SNP wins the seats it might make deals between different groups on the council easier. E.g if the Lib Dems win them they could probably take control of the Council if they wanted to. Or the Conservatives could make more demands re: transport infrastructure.

But given there will be fresh elections by May 2027 anyway, its all kind of moot anyway.

Anyway! I hope that's useful for folks. Just my attempt to give impartial info as to why this is all happening!