As part of #OpWinterCity2019, Police Scotland’s partners at Waverley Mall, Edinburgh have given police the use of an empty retail space to enhance their city centre visibility. Continue reading Pop-up Cop Shop in Waverley Mall!
Category: city centre
Kick off your December festivities with a Christmas carol!
Nativity Carol Concert
3pm on Sunday, 1 December
Mound Place, Edinburgh (in front of Assembly Hall)
Kick off your December festivities with traditional Christmas carols this Sunday!
Choirs from across Edinburgh gather on Mound Place to perform some of the best-loved traditional Christmas carols, including O Come, All Ye Faithful and Joy to the World.
This year the Edinburgh’s Christmas’ Nativity is supporting the Salvation Army Christmas present appeal – any presents can be left unwrapped at the collection point.
Nativity Scene donated by Sir Tom and Lady Farmer.
All you want for Christmas at Waverley Mall
Waverley Mall is treating its customers to a fabulous array of festive treats, FREE entertainment, competitions and more this Christmas.
They have kicked off the season’s celebrations with the installation of their giant illuminated star on the centre’s roof from 12th November. The star, which proved an incredibly popular attraction with visitors throughout its debut last festive season, provides the perfect photo opportunity for couples, families and friends visiting the city centre.
To add to the festive cheer, Waverley Mall will be giving shoppers the chance to win a £200 gift card to spend in a store of their choice at Waverley Mall, when they break into festive song under the star.
To enter, participants simply need to sing their rendition of their favourite Christmas song under the giant star and film it, before uploading the video to Facebook or Instagram along with #starunderthewaverleystar.
The competition runs until 15th December 2019 with a winner being chosen in time to enjoy their prize for Christmas.
This will be followed by the first of two festive editions of their popular monthly live music event, ‘The Waverley Sessions’ in partnership with The Youth Radio Network, which will see dozens of young and aspiring musicians taking to the stage across the weekend of 30th November and 1st December.
The second event will take place across the weekend of 21st and 22nd December, with customers promised a variety of festive merriment across both weekends.
In a move to spread festive cheer and good will even further, Waverley Mall has offered a variety of local schools, choirs, charities and community groups the opportunity to use space within the centre for carol singing and festive performances to raise funds for a cause of their choice.
Organisations that have jumped at the opportunity include Edinburgh based mental health charity – Health in Mind who will be carol singing in the centre between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on Thursday 5th and Wednesday 11th December and award-winning women’s barbershop and a cappella chorus ‘Forth Valley Chorus’ who will perform at 30 minute intervals from 1pm – 3.30pm on the afternoon of Sunday 8th December to raise funds for cancer care charity ‘Maggies Centre’.
On Friday 13th December, the centre will welcome a group from Broughton High School to raise funds for their musical and on Saturday 14th, Armdale Academy will be raising funds for their school show.
On Sunday 15th December, Dunedin Wind Band will be playing to raise funds for Crisis – the national charity for homeless people. More groups are yet to be added to this fabulous line up.
Visitors to the city centre are encouraged to come down to Waverley Mall and show their support for these fantastic groups as they soak up the festive atmosphere.
As an extra special treat this year, Waverley Mall will be dishing out a variety of free treats throughout the festive season – customers should keep an eye on the centre’s social media channels to find out about the latest freebies and where and when to find them.
Jacquelyn Stewart, General Manager, Waverley Mall says: “We wanted to make Christmas a little bit special this year, full of the anticipation, fun and surprises of the festive season, while raising awareness of those less fortunate and doing a little bit to help.
“As well as offering a little ‘thank you’ to our customers by way of a few free treats.”
Record-breaking first week for Edinburgh’s Christmas
The rising popularity of Edinburgh’s Christmas has been welcomed by the city council’s ‘Capital Coalition’ leaders – despite public disquiet over the over-commercialisation of the city centre.
Footfall figures for the first 9 days (first Saturday to second Sunday) are 522,000 – that’s 13% up on the same period last year.
These figures build on the biggest ever opening weekend for the Capital’s festive markets which saw a third more people enjoy the first Saturday of the event than in 2018. Continue reading Record-breaking first week for Edinburgh’s Christmas
Today: Stand Up for the Gardens!
In response to the lack of planning permission & riding roughshod over rules and regulations, the good & proper people of Edinburgh are requested to support a “Mass Stand-in” at East Princes St Gardens, 1pm today (Sunday 17 November).
Police launch Operation Winter City
Police in Edinburgh have launched their annual campaign to keep the public safe during the festive period.
Operation Winter City, which has been running for several years, provides those who live, work in and visit Edinburgh during Christmas and New Year, with a range of useful information aimed at preventing them from falling victim to crime or coming to the attention of police. Continue reading Police launch Operation Winter City
Local restaurants shortlisted for British Curry Awards
Edinburgh restaurants recognised as they face fresh concerns with continued Brexit delays and uncertainty
Leith curry restaurant, Mint Leaf in Bernard Street, has been shortlisted for the Best Restaurant Scotland award at the trailblazing British Curry Awards in association with Just Eat.
Additionally, Dishoom, located in St Andrew Square (below), has been shortlisted for the Best Newcomer award. Continue reading Local restaurants shortlisted for British Curry Awards
LIGHT NIGHT: Join us for the official opening of Edinburgh’s Christmas
Light Night | Royal Mile, Edinburgh
Sunday, 17 November | 3.30-5pm
Join us for the official opening of the festive season in the Scottish capital! First time ever, the reimagined Light Night takes place on Royal Mile. Continue reading LIGHT NIGHT: Join us for the official opening of Edinburgh’s Christmas
Unity of Faith on Remembrance Sunday
Here are some pictures where I was invited to lay a wreath at the Stone of remembrance at the City Chambers on Remembrance Sunday, led by First Minister, Lord Provost, head of Tri services followed by Faith leaders.
Unity of Hindu, Sikh & Christians on Remembrance day.
1.5 Million Indian soldiers fought in the two World Wars and more than 70,000 laid down their lives – it is their poppy too.
The Lord Provost talked about the special Book of condolence opened for veteran Tom Gilzean who raised £1m for charity.
He added: “By attending a Remembrance service or parade, wearing a poppy or taking a moment of quiet reflection, so many of us have shown our gratitude and appreciation for the enormous sacrifices being made every day on our behalf by so many courageous men and women.”
Puneet Dwivedi, Edinburgh Interfaith Association
Council to close Waverley Bridge to daytime traffic every weekend until New Year
Council public safety officers have approved a series of temporary changes on Waverley Bridge to ensure safety and accessibility at peak times during weekends over the festive period.
Waverley Bridge will be vehicle-free from 11am until 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays from 16/17 November to 4/5 January. The Waverley Bridge five-bay taxi rank will be relocated to Market Street (East bound opposite Motel One) during this time and the Tour and Airlink buses normally stationed on Waverley Bridge will now operate from George Street and St Andrew Square respectively.
These measures have been planned following recommendations from the Council’s Event Planning and Operations Group as well as an independent crowd safety consultant working with the Council and Underbelly to manage the entry and exit points and the busy junction on Waverley Bridge.
Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes (above) said: “The festive season is extremely busy in the city centre with Edinburgh’s Christmas in full swing in East Princes Street Gardens as well as a significant increase in shoppers and other seasonal activities.
“In a thriving and busy festival city such as ours we must make sure we put in place appropriate plans to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the many residents and visitors who pass through our streets every day.
“These six-hour-long daytime Saturday and Sunday closures on Waverley Bridge will ease congestion on the busy pavements and crossings, making it much easier for everyone to move around in a relaxed, welcoming and festive atmosphere.
“This ties in with our broader aims to make Edinburgh a more attractive, people-friendly place, prioritising walking, cycling and public transport.
“It’s crucial that we also maintain transport links for the people who live and work here and we have been working closely with residents and businesses to make sure these measures allow them to continue with their usual daily routines.”
A spokesperson for Underbelly said, “We welcome the decision to close Waverley Bridge during the busiest periods in the city centre.
“During these busy times, on Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 5pm it will allow us to make the primary East End entrance to East Princes Street Gardens on the corner of Market Street and Waverley Bridge, where crowd management controls including queuing systems will be in place to manage entry.”
