Dig out your daftest Christmas jumper and join us down in Granton for The Pitt Christmas Markets!
We’ve got over 40 local makers, artists and traders setting up in the warehouse for the weekend. Come for a rummage through the rails, pick out a print for a pal or stock up on cheese, chutney and olives for the Christmas spread. There’ll be handmade homeware, decorations and sweet treats for the stockings too.
Fancy making one of the presents yourself? Join a wreath-making workshop or bring the wains along to get crafty. They can get their faces painted and pay Santa a visit in his grotto while they’re here
Our street food traders are on lunch duty both days, so grab some hot scran, pull up a chair indoors and catch the choir. We’ll have mulled wine, local beers, fruity mocktails and soft drinks to see you through the afternoon.
The City of Edinburgh Council has opened its new Source to Ocean Action Recovery (SOAR) fund, offering grants of £2,500–£10,000 for coastal and marine-focused projects
From beach cleans and wildlife projects to environmental art, community planting and educational workshops, the fund is for projects that help local people connect with and protect our marine and coastal environments, as well as watercourses.
Two 19th century Griffin sculptures which stood either side of the entrance gate for Muirhouse Mansion in Granton Waterfront have been beautifully restored after spending over 50 years in storage.
The legendary creatures have been placed near to their original home by the City of Edinburgh Council in their new affordable housing development, Silverlea, to celebrate and provide a link back to the site’s rich archaeological heritage.
Careful conservation and restoration of the Griffins by James Innes & Sons involved the removal of 20th century concrete repairs and the crafting of missing feet, wings and beaks which had been broken off in the past.
The project marks the last phase of archaeological work on the site which included the excavation in 2024 by AOC Archaeology of part of the grounds associated with the earlier 17th century Muirhouse Castle.
The Council is in the process of handing the keys for over 100 homes to new residents at Silverlea with another 43 homes expected to be ready for tenants in early 2027.
In January work will be completed upgrading green space between the new homes and the football pavilion.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “There is a huge amount of work going on to celebrate Granton Waterfront’s rich cultural heritage. Placing the sculptures as art in open space near these much-needed new affordable homes, gives residents an opportunity to enjoy their connection to generations of people who lived in the area before them.
“This is one of many important conservation projects we’re carrying out to celebrate the area’s long-standing history. The former Granton Station Building with original platforms is now home to local artists, and the nearby iconic gasworks has become a new city park.
The headquarters for the UK’s first car factory – Madelvic House – as well as Granton Lighthouse and Granton Castle Walled Garden are all also at different stages of being restored and I’m looking forward to seeing them all brought back to life.”
Key facts
Muirhouse Mansion is located to the north of Silverlea on Marine Drive.
The Mansion was built in 1830 as a replacement for Muirhouse Castle (built in 1670) which stood partially on this site.
Muirhouse Castle was demolished in 1954 and Marine Drive was constructed.
The Griffins were then placed in storage for restoration work to be carried out.
The work was carried out on the Council’s behalf by James Innes & Sons in 2025.
When the Council’s affordable Housing Development – Silverlea – was approved one of the archaeological conditions was that the sculptures were conserved and put back on site as part on the public space.
As part of the work building new homes at Silverlea, the Football pavilion in the area was replaced by the Council last summer and the team have been enjoying their new club house and are reaching out to more children and creating new teams.
Blended, a walking art exhibition at Granton:Hub / Madelvic House
October 23rd – 25th 2026
Opening Event:
Community Walk 5pm (Madelvic House and the Riddle of the Sphinx, United Wire, ‘To The Beach’ (sculpture by Vincent Butler made by Powderhall Bronze), Caroline House, Granton Gasworks, Granton Station and back)
Exhibition Opening with refreshments – 6pm at Granton:Hub
Saturday and Sunday opening: 10am – 5pm
The winner of the international Marŝarto Award for Walking Art in 2024,
Tamsin Grainger, will be exhibiting current solo and collaborative mixed-media art work on Friday. All made during or after walking together and with others.
The works include:
textiles – ‘Walking the Granton Burn’ which has been selected for the SAU exhibition at the RSA in 2027, and more
‘Repair’ – a fence made from wire donated by United Wire, the factory opposite the venue, with deckchairs which have new knitted covers
‘A Street Blanket for Homeless Children’ – a collage of knotted and stitched doormat, manhole covers, and Granton graffiti
Plus, short films and works on paper
Pop-up shop with zines and new Granton postcards set
Venue address: 37 Granton Park Avenue, Edinburgh, EH5 1HS
We are delighted to announce the first exhibition of 2026-27! Our Annual show, displaying amazing new work made by our year 1 and 2 CAP HND students at Edinburgh College.
2D6 Celebrates the drawings of a new generation of Comtemporary Artists from the HND Contemporary Art Pratice Course at Edinburgh College.
2D6 is the sixth iteration of the 2D Annual Exhibition of curated drawings by HND Contemporary Art Practice Course participants at Edinburgh College.
‘WE’LL TRANSFORM THIS FORMAL INDUSTRIAL SITE INTO A NEW COASTAL TOWN AND COMMUNITY’ – COUNCIL LEADER JANE MEAGHER
First Minister John Swinney has marked the start of construction on one of Scotland’s largest net zero housing developments as part of the latest chapter of Granton Waterfront regeneration,
The development will provide 847 net zero homes, including 387 affordable homes, 14 commercial units and a new primary school on former industrial land.
It is part of a wider £1.3 billion transformation of Edinburgh’s waterfront that will create 3,500 homes, new leisure facilities and Scotland’s largest coastal park.
The First Minister joined local school pupils at the site, including young people who have benefited from construction courses supported through Scottish Government investment in Granton’s regeneration.
John Swinney said: “This is one of the largest regeneration projects Scotland has seen in decades and a major vote of confidence in Edinburgh’s future.
“For years, people have looked across this waterfront and seen disused industrial land. Today, we are laying the foundations for a new community that will be home to thousands of people.
“Through our investment, hundreds of families will have affordable, energy-efficient homes as we transform Edinburgh’s waterfront into a thriving neighbourhood with new homes, schools and businesses.
“We are putting the people of Granton at the heart of this transformation, with better transport links, new green spaces, apprenticeships, skills training and investment in local organisations.”
Jane Meagher, Leader of City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is a big step forward for Granton and the whole city, as construction begins on the first phase of one of the largest public sector led regeneration projects of its time.
“Through our joint efforts we’ll transform this former industrial site into a new coastal town and community. It’s important that those living in neighbouring communities benefit from the investment we’re making in the area.
“Our Place Accelerator approach will ensure residents see the benefits, including more green spaces to enjoy and opportunities for local young people to gain hands on construction skills and qualifications through work on site.”
Telford College
Audrey Cumberford, Principal of Edinburgh College, which works with Cruden Homes to deliver Granton Waterfront Construction Pathway courses for school and college pupils, said: “Edinburgh College has been at the heart of the Granton community for many years and we’re delighted to be involved in the next stage of its regeneration.
“Not only will this project provide hundreds of new homes in the area, this is already providing hundreds of opportunities for students to get hands-on experience in the construction industry.
“These opportunities could be transformative for our learners – allowing them to gain vital skills and develop a career in the sector.”
Edinburgh College’s Waterfront Nursery has become the first non-local authority early years setting in Scotland to secure a national certification for serving fresh, local and sustainable food.
The nursery, which is operated by the College, gained the Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH) Bronze certification, for serving food that’s good for health, the environment and the local economy. The nursery serves 34,000 meals each year.
Nursery Manager Catherine Buchanan and Chef Lukasz Szyszka received the FFLSH Bronze certificate from Food for Life Scotland’s Business Development Manager – Scotland Sue McVey during a celebration event at the nursery.
The Food for Life Scotland (FFLS) programme, led by Soil Association Scotland and funded by Scottish Government since 2009, provides a framework through which local authorities and public sector sites can ensure they are serving good food.
This is done by meeting a set of standards to achieve the FFLSH certification at Bronze, Silver or Gold level.
Since 2024, Food for Life Scotland’s remit has expanded to support caterers to achieve the certification in the wider public sector. Waterfront Nursery has become the 26th Scottish public sector site to do so. Through the process of gaining the certification, Waterfront Nursery has increased the amount of scratch cooked food on the menu.
As part of the Food for Life Served Here Bronze certification, Waterfront Nursery also ensures that a minimum of 75 percent of dishes are cooked from scratch using unprocessed ingredients. Meals are also free from undesirable trans fats, sweeteners and additives, and use free range eggs, higher welfare meat and ingredients from sustainable and ethical sources.
Waterfront uses produce from a wide range of sustainable providers, including the likes of Bonaly Farms for milk, Blacketyside Fruits for strawberries, and East Lothian Produce for cabbage, potatoes and parsnips.
Catherine Buchanan, the Manager of Waterfront Nursery, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received this recognition from Food for Life Scotland, which highlights our dedication to providing our early learners with the absolute best quality of food possible.
“Ensuring our children are well-fed with fresh, local and sustainable food is just part of our approach, which always has our learners at its very heart. This award is the culmination of months of hard work from so many people at Waterfront, and we’d like to thank every single person involved in getting us to this stage.”
Sarah Gowanlock, Programme Manager, Food for Life Scotland, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Waterfront Nursery to the Food for Life Scotland programme and congratulate them on being the first non-local authority early years setting to achieve the Food for Life Served Here Bronze certification for their meals service.
“The early years are a crucial period for developing healthy diets. We’re delighted that children at the nursery will be eating more scratch cooked and sustainable food every day.
“The Food for Life Scotland team can offer support to public sector caterers across Scotland, to follow in the footsteps of Waterfront Nursery and our other public sector certification holders in Scotland.”
£50,000 available in total
Apply by 12 noon on 30 November 2026
