A 33-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of 35-year-old Barry Gilgun in Edinburgh.
Barry was found with serious injuries following a disturbance outside Cables Wynd House in Leith on Sunday, 5 July, 2026.
He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he died a short time later.
The 33-year-old is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Tuesday, 7 July.
A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
The latest issue of CAMRA’s branch magazine Pints of View is currently being distributed.
Goodbye Dandelion, a humorous, moving new work by award-winning writer and performer Maddie Rice and composer Marcus Rice, has been selected as the recipient of the inaugural Underbelly Futures Fund Award.
Created to support exceptional new work at and beyond the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Underbelly Futures Fund Award recognises productions that demonstrate outstanding artistic merit and strong future touring potential.
As the 2026 recipient, Goodbye Dandelion will receive a package of support designed to help the production thrive both during the festival and in its future development. This includes £5,000 in grant funding and £5,000 in investment to support the current and ongoing life of the show.
The company will also receive a favourable venue agreement, enhanced marketing support, in-kind rehearsal space, financial assistance to facilitate accessible performances and the opportunity to perform at Underbelly Soho’s Fringe Fix Season in September.
Goodbye Dandelion is told by real-life siblings Maddie (on the mic) and Marcus (on the keys), and was created with and directed by Katie Pesskin. The show follows the final years of 87-year-old Darcy through the eyes of an unlikely new friend. Blending storytelling and live piano, the piece explores friendship, mortality, and what it means to truly live.
The work marks Maddie Rice’s return to Underbelly following her acclaimed turn in Fleabag (2017), becoming the only actor other than Phoebe Waller-Bridge to play the role, and her award-winning solo show Pickle Jar (2018), also directed with and directed by Katie Pesskin.
Goodbye Dandelion was first presented in development at Underbelly’s scratch night Belly Scratch in November 2025, where it immediately stood out for the sensitivity and confidence of the work, the compelling onstage dynamic between the siblings, and the use of live music to heighten the storytelling.
The Futures Fund continues Underbelly’s history of championing daring new voices across theatre and live performance.
Marina Dixon, Head of Programming at Underbelly said: “We were all highly impressed with the beautiful and sensitive writing, the way the music is used to heighten the story, the clear on-stage familial dynamic between Marcus and Maddie, and the willingness to take on a controversial and relevant topic.
“We are proud to name Goodbye Dandelion as the recipient of the inaugural Underbelly Future Fund Award and look forward to supporting the show’s continued development and future journey.”
Maddie Rice said: ‘We’re so thrilled to be supported by the Underbelly Futures Fund! Goodbye Dandelion begun life at BellyScratch, and as a writer/ performer I’ve done most of my previous fringe shows at Underbelly- so this feels like a full circle moment.
“It’s my first time at the fringe for 7 years and feels extra special to have this support and to be working with Marcus and Katie. Thank you Underbelly!’
A family-run Edinburgh restaurant group has raised over £20,000 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
Howies, which operates venues across the capital including Howies Victoria Street, Howies Waterloo Place and Scotts Kitchen on Victoria Terrace, raised the impressive sum in just three months during a 12-week corporate partnership with the charity from March 1 to May 31.
Customers were invited to add £1 or more to their bill, with the donations helping CHAS provide vital care and support to children with life-shortening conditions and their families across Scotland.
Founded by David Howie Scott in 1990 and recently celebrating 36 years in business, Howies received overwhelming support from customers, raising £20,040 for the charity.
Suzanne O’Connor, Operations Manager, Howies Restaurants said: “As an independent, family-run business, it was important to us that this was a team decision. We shared information about several Scottish charities and asked everyone in our team to vote. CHAS was the clear choice across the group.
“We were incredibly proud to support CHAS. We know about the incredible work they do and the vital support they provide to families during their toughest times, and we very much hope that the funds we have raised will be of some help as they continue to deliver their incredibly valuable work.”
CHAS Senior Community Fundraiser, Sarah Dannfald said: “We were delighted to have been selected as the charity partner for Howies and are absolutely blown away by the amount raised in such a short space of time!
“The commitment of Howies staff to drive the initiative and actively talk to customers about CHAS has really shone through as well as the incredible generosity shown by so many of their customers adding the donation to their bills.
“This incredible support from Howies comes at such a crucial time for CHAS as we look to transform children’s hospice care in Scotland, through our £20million More Than a Hospice Appeal.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has made this incredible gift possible.”
From October 2026, people in supported housing and temporary accommodation will be able to keep more of what they earn.
We’re modernising Housing Benefit rules and ensuring people are better off when they increase their earnings, hours or move into work.
Find out more: https://ow.ly/IJ9050Zk4Xb
More than 300,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation will no longer face a drop in income when increasing their working hours, under new rules laid in Parliament yesterday.
More than 300,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation will no longer face a drop in income when increasing their working hours, under new rules laid in Parliament yesterday [Monday 6 July].
The system inherited by this Government left vulnerable people in supported housing having to choose between staying out of work, or risk losing their housing support, because the work allowance was higher for Universal Credit than it was for Housing Benefit.
The less generous rules for Housing Benefit created a cliff edge that trapped people on benefits rather than supporting them into work. Some landlords even discouraged residents from taking jobs to protect their own rental income.
As part of the Government’s commitment to move from a welfare state to a working state, the regulations change how Housing Benefit is calculated so it works in the same way as Universal Credit – a change that will incentivise work for 315,000 people when they come into force in October 2026.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, said: “The system we inherited was actively pushing some of the most vulnerable residents away from work rather than towards it.
“These changes fix that – ensuring residents can keep more of what they earn, so that taking a job or increasing hours always pays better than benefits.
“This announcement delivers on a commitment made in our Autumn Budget, and forms part of the government’s wider plan to reform the welfare system – tearing out the barriers that have trapped people in dependency.
“We are replacing that system with one that rewards work and ensures people keep more of what they earn, while protecting those who need it most.”
Monday’s rules come alongside previous steps to help people on disability benefits that want to work, into work, says the government: ‘We have already rebalanced Universal Credit to tackle the perverse incentives that discouraged work and introduced Right to Try legislation, allowing sick or disabled people to try work without the immediate fear of reassessment.
‘These measures come alongside our Connect to Work programme, which delivers tailored, personalised, local support that will help 300,000 people into work, and the deployment of 1000 Pathways to Work advisers to help those written off by the previous Government’.
Additional Information
The Boards of Edinburgh College and Forth Valley College have put forward a proposal to explore the value of deeper collaboration, as they try to find new opportunities and different ways of working to deliver improved outcomes and sustainable futures for both organisations.
The exploratory phase for an Outline Business Case (OBC), which is proposed to take place over the coming months, will specifically look at ‘linked but distinct’ models, such as a Federation Partnership. In this type of model, colleges retain their Board, Principal, curriculum and individual identity, while working together on agreed areas of collaboration.
The shared goal in this work is to find a partnership model that make both colleges stronger while fully retaining the individual identities and local community roots of each institution. During the process staff, students, and stakeholders will be asked for their views on how such a collaboration could work for them.
The principals of both Forth Valley College and Edinburgh College have written to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to seek support for this work. It comes after the Scottish Government identified reform of the wider tertiary system as a key priority.
Principal of Edinburgh College, Audrey Cumberford, said: “There’s no doubt that the coming years will see reform of the wider tertiary sector in Scotland. I’m keen to take a proactive approach to leading and shaping what that means and might look like for our colleges.
“The boards of both our colleges believe that working together more closely could deliver better outcomes and greater regional impact, while retaining strong local accountability and identity.
“While this is at an early stage, I’m excited to discover the outcome of this exploratory work and to demonstrate how this could deliver for our staff, students, local communities and the businesses we support.”
Principal of Forth Valley College, Kenny MacInnes, said: “We recognise the need for change and are committed to taking a proactive approach to addressing the challenges ahead.
“We believe that exploring closer partnership working can create new and exciting opportunities and deliver greater impact, while continuing to operate independently and reflecting the needs and priorities of our learners and local communities.
“We have a strong and well-established track record of collaboration with Edinburgh College, built on shared growth sectors, complementary strengths and connections across our regional economies. We will also value the input of staff, students and stakeholders as we explore this potential new partnership, ensuring their voices help shape both the process and its outcomes.
“While this work is at an early stage, we are fully committed to exploring its potential and leading meaningful transformation that delivers for our staff, students, communities and employers, while supporting long-term sustainability.”
Should the SFC support the request for exploratory work and an OBC, a report would be brought back to both boards in the coming months before any decisions are made on next steps.
Join the SABS and Hibernian Community Foundation monthly Pitch to Plate – Multicultural Meal, bringing together local residents, New Scots, people from all backgrounds, those experiencing difficult circumstances and members of our wider community for an evening of good food, friendship and connection.
Tuesday 7th July 2026
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Hibernian Community Foundation, Famous Five Stand, Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh, EH7 5QG
Enjoy homemade curries, rice, salad, and naan bread
Fresh fruit kindly sponsored by the Association of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Scotland
Free Entry | All Welcome | No Booking Required
Everyone is warmly welcome to share a meal, meet new people, and celebrate the rich diversity of our community. Whether you are coming along for the food, the company, or simply to connect with others, we would be delighted to see you there.
We would be grateful if you could help spread the word to anyone who may benefit from a warm meal and a welcoming community atmosphere. 
With the summer festivals season just around the corner, the city council is making temporary changes to the way some of our city centre streets operate between Sunday 19 July and Monday 7 September 2026.
During this busy period the population of our city effectively doubles, which brings challenges for our residents, businesses and visitors.
These temporary changes, which include removing or restricting vehicle traffic, are designed to make our streets easier and safer to walk around.
George Street and several streets in the Old Town will be impacted. A full list of streets along with further information is available on the council’s website.
There is also specific advice for blue badge holders, home deliveries, loading and services for businesses, places of worship and special arrangements.
You can find more information and advice on events in the city over the summer on the Council’s website.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “We’re ready to welcome the world back to the Capital, and as always, we’re making sure that these higher visitor numbers are managed properly.
“These temporary changes to our city centre streets have proven very successful for many years and I’m sure that this summer will be no different. The planned full reopening of the North Bridge in time for the festivals will also be a great boost for people getting around the city.
“Our residents and businesses have my thanks for their understanding and patience as we prepare to showcase and enjoy our city’s unparalleled cultural offering once again.”
Views are being sought on plans to introduce two new council tax bands for properties worth more than £1 million and £2 million respectively to help fund local public services across Scotland.
A public consultation seeks responses on possible increases of around £720 and £3,600 above the current highest Band H council tax charges.
The final proposed rates for new Band I and Band J properties – expected to apply to fewer than 1% of properties – will be laid in Parliament for MSPs’ consideration following analysis of consultation responses and engagement with local government. Existing council tax protections, such as discounts, exemptions and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, will continue to apply across all bands.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance Jenny Gilruth said: “Our approach to tax is based on fairness – asking the wealthiest among us to contribute a bit more.
“As it stands, some multi-million pound properties have council tax bills that are not materially different from those faced by people living in far more modest homes.
“Our progressive approach to taxation helps to target investment in economic growth, deliver public services and support cost of living measures not available elsewhere in the UK, such as free tuition, free prescriptions and our plans for a £2 bus fare cap across Scotland.
“Additional revenue raised through these new council tax bands will be retained in full by local government to support the local services communities rely on – unlike the UK Government’s proposals for a similar scheme that are set to be returned to the Treasury.
“In launching this public consultation, we are keen to hear the views of people and communities right across Scotland.”
Consultation: Council Tax High-Value Property Bands (Mansion Tax)
The consultation will run until 24 August 2026.
Underbelly George Square – Udderbelly: 6 – 31 August: 6:00pm
For the first time ever, Sumo Wrestling comes to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer.
Following a successful run in Osaka and an international debut, selling over 10,000 tickets, at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in Australia, The Sumo Show HIRAKUZA will make its Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut this summer, bringing audiences an introduction to one of Japan’s oldest sporting traditions through a live theatrical experience.
The Sumo Show HIRAZUKA gives audiences the chance to see Sumo demonstrated and performed by former professional sumo wrestlers, whilst offering audiences the chance to discover the history, rules, rituals and techniques behind sumo, Japan’s national sport.
Performed in a dohyo, or sumo ring, the production combines authentic demonstrations of the sport with theatrical staging, dramatic visuals and immersive sound, giving audiences an opportunity to experience the athleticism, discipline and traditions of sumo up close.
Alongside competitive bouts between former professional wrestlers, audiences will learn about the customs and etiquette that surround the sport, from its ceremonial traditions to the techniques used inside the ring.
“We’re excited to bring the weight of more than 1,500 years of Japanese tradition to Edinburgh this summer.
“Our performers have competed at the highest level of sumo, and this show is an opportunity to share the history, rituals and excitement of Japan’s national sport in a way that’s accessible and fun.
“We hope audiences will laugh, learn, cheer and maybe even discover they have what it takes to step into the ring themselves.” Sumo Hall HIRAKUZA
Sumo has been practised in Japan for more than 1,500 years and remains an important part of the country’s cultural heritage and is recognised as the country’s national sport. Originating in ancient Shinto rituals, it developed from ceremonial contests performed to pray for good harvests into the professional sport seen today.
While modern tournaments attract audiences from around the world, many of the traditions established centuries ago remain unchanged, from the purification rituals before each bout to the use of the traditional dohyo, or sumo ring.
The Edinburgh production gives audiences the opportunity to experience both the athletic competition and the rich cultural heritage that continue to define the sport
HIRAKUZA is a Japanese entertainment company dedicated to presenting live sumo performances and cultural experiences featuring former professional sumo wrestlers.
Based in Osaka, the company was created to introduce visitors from around the world to the history and traditions of Japan’s national sport in an accessible way.
Reflecting Osaka’s reputation as a city known for its entertainment culture, HIRAKUZA combines authentic demonstrations with a welcoming and engaging presentation, making the experience suitable for audiences with little or no previous knowledge of sumo while remaining rooted in the sport’s traditions.
What the press have said about The Sumo Show HIRAKUZA:
“Culture, entertainment, and the overwhelming strength of the sumo wrestlers. An unforgettable experience that exceeds expectations in every aspect.” ★★★★★ My Adelaide Tribe
“Authentic, incredibly powerful, and outstandingly entertaining. Definitely a must-see show at this year’s Adelaide Fringe.” ★★★★★ What’s On In Adelaide
“It flamboyantly conveys the power and intensity of sumo while also deepening the understanding of tradition and culture.” ★★★★★ Glam Adelaide
Listings Information
Show: The Sumo Show HIRAKUZA
Dates: 6th – 31st August
Time: 18:00
Venue: Underbelly – Udderbelly
Address: George Square Gardens, EH8 9LH
Price: £16.50 – £31.50
Box Office: https://www.edfringe.com/ / https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/event/the-sumo-show-hirakuza
