Police Scotland have released images of two males they believe may hold information which might assist in relation a serious assault in Edinburgh which occurred around 8.30pm on Saturday 7 December 2024 on Princes Street.
One of the males is described as white, aged approximately 18 years old, slim build, short light, brown hair. He was wearing a grey coloured Nike hooded jumper, a dark coloured cross body bag and dark coloured trousers.
The other male is described as white, aged approximately 20 years old, medium build, short dark hair and dark stubble. He was wearing a black Canada Goose gilet top with a dark top underneath and dark trousers.
Anyone who has any information about the incident or who recognises the males pictured is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3251 of 07 December 2024. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where you can give your information anonymously.
Customers queued for over 12 hours on Princes Street to be first to try the famous Chicken Sandwichyesterday
The much-hyped arrival of Popeyes® UK in Edinburgh yesterday had fans queuing down Princes Street from 10.30pm on Thursday night, eager to be the first to try the world-famous Chicken Sandwich.
Opening its doors at 11am, Popeyes® UK celebrated its Edinburgh debut in true Mardi Gras style. Its signature New Orleans hospitality arrived on Princes St, with confetti cannons and live band The Brass Funkeys entertaining customers. Making launch day memorable, fans also had the chance to snap a photo in the new Popeyes® bite booth, capturing all of Edinburgh’s first bite moments.
Over 100 chicken fans lined up from 10.30pm to get a taste of the world-famous Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich.
First in the queue was Jonathan McCaleb who said: “I’m a huge Popeyes® fan, it’s my top-tier fried chicken restaurant!
“Since moving here from America in September, I haven’t had a Popeyes® and I’ve been craving it – especially after seeing the team out and about on campus at the University of Edinburgh yesterday.
“I’ve been waiting over 12 hours to be first in line, and I can’t wait to finally get a taste of that southern goodness again!”
Tom Crowley, Popeyes® UK Chief Executive Officer, commented:“The turnout in Edinburgh today has been incredible.
“People across Scotland have shown their love for our Louisiana chicken, and Edinburgh has now proved just as popular. We look forward to bringing a taste of New Orleans to even more customers across the city.”
Now officially open, the Edinburgh Princes Street location serves the full Popeyes menu.
The line-up includes fan favourites like the iconic Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich, Wings and Tenders. Each piece of Popeyes® famous chicken is marinated for 12 hours in bold Louisiana seasoning, then hand-breaded and battered for that world-famous ‘shatter crunch,’ and complemented by delicious sides like its Original Biscuits and Cajun Gravy.
Plus, the all-new Saucin’ range is dripping with bold flavour featuring three New Orleans-inspired sauces: cheesy Garlic Parm, smokin’ Bold BBQ and spicy Buffalo.
From today, Saturday 15 March, Popeyes® will also be serving up its breakfast menu from 8am to 11am each day. The menu features the Big Cajun Roll, Cajun Hash Browns, and indulgent Nutella-topped buttermilk biscuits – a classic British breakfast with a New Orleans twist.
Popeyes® is located at 131-133 Princes Street, Edinburgh and open from 8am until 10pm. The new 86-seat restaurant includes touch screen self-service kiosks and collection points for orders made online via the Popeyes® UK website or official app.
Edinburgh Princes Street is Popeyes® seventh restaurant in Scotland, as part of its ambitious plans to open more than 45 restaurants across the UK in 2025.
To find out more about Popeyes® Edinburgh, visit the website here or follow the brand on Instagram at @PopeyesUK or TikTok at @popeyesuk
There’s still time to share your views on council plans to revitalise Princes Street, the Gardens and area around Waverley Station.
The survey closes at midnight TONIGHT – Friday (21 Feb). If you work, live, shop, enjoy visiting or just travel through the city centre, this survey is for you:
At 6pm tonight Princes Street will shut for Hogmanay.
Edinburgh Trams will be running a split service during this time with trams running from every 10 mins between Edinburgh Airport – West End and Picardy Place – Newhaven.
A set of 12 ‘Season’s Greetings’ cards designed by Edinburgh school pupils will brighten up Princes Street, with winning designs displayed on JCDecaux digital screens from Thursday 28th November to Sunday 1st December.
Three of the young winning artists; Eshaal Ahmed (Drummond High School), Elsie Smith (Bruntsfield Primary School) and Lilia Walas (Braidburn School), joined the City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Cammy Day on Thursday to unveil their designs at a bus shelter on Princes Street.
In addition, winning card designs by Eshaal Ahmed (Drummond High School), Elsie Smith (Bruntsfield Primary School), Lily Stokes (Parsons Green Primary School), Suri Pirani Carrasco (Drummond High School) and Mark Downie (Pilrig Park School) have been selected to feature on the official festive greetings cards for the City of Edinburgh Council.
The Season’s Greetings competition is an annual event, with 2024 marking the eighth year that JCDecaux UK has offered lucky Edinburgh pupils the chance to have their designs shown on digital Out-of-Home screens on Princes Street.
Council leader Cammy Day said: “The standard of artwork in this year’s competition made it really difficult to narrow down the entries to just 12 to feature on digital screens on Princes Street.
“I want to thank the teaching staff at schools across the city who have encouraged their pupils to get involved in the competition, and congratulate the youngsters who have had their creative artworks recognised.”
Lord Provost Robert Aldridge added: “Every year I am blown away not only by the number of entries we receive to the Seasons Greetings’ competition but by the standard of creativity from children and young people across the city.
“It’s amazing for pupils and their families to see their artwork on display on Princes Street, and I know that the designs will delight shoppers this weekend.”
Mike MacLennan, New Business Development & Partnership Manager at JCDecaux UK, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this wonderful artwork competition once again, working with The City of Edinburgh Council to showcase the talent and creativity of young artists in Edinburgh.
“This annual display on digital bus shelter screens brings festive cheer to people out and about on Princes Street.”
The winning designs will be displayed on all JCDecaux digital screens on Princes Street from Thursday 28th November to Sunday 1st December.
Residents, businesses and other interested groups in the Capital are being asked to comment on a strategy to revitalise Princes Street and the wider ‘Waverley Valley’ to be more vibrant and welcoming.
The new vision will guide the long-term regeneration of this part of the city centre, providing a mix of shops and services for residents and visitors, attracting investment and jobs and supporting businesses within an exceptional historic and climate resilient environment.
The Princes Street and Waverley Valley draft strategy is part of our bold plans to transform the city centre. The ECCT was approved in 2019 and includes the George Street and First New Town, Meadows to George Street projects. www.edinburgh.gov.uk/citycentretransformation
As well as Princes Street the Waverley Valley area covers East and West Princes Street Gardens, Waverley Station, Waverley Market and East Market Street.
The draft strategy aims to:
Create a more accessible city centre
The masterplan for comment recommends guiding the area from the West End of Princes Street along to Waverley Station to become more accessible, with improvements such as additional ramp access to Princes Street Gardens, a footbridge over the Waverley Valley, more public spaces to enjoy, an improved crossing and pedestrian improvements to Castle Street, the Mound Precinct, and Waverley Bridge.
Protected green spaces
The strategy looks to integrate climate resilience and biodiversity measures to protect the existing Waverley Valley and Gardens from climate change and to plant more trees and flowers – also promoting sustainable transport options and the retrofitting of historic buildings in line with Edinburgh’s net zero aims.
Revitalise Princes Street
Working with developers, the strategy suggests improvements to Princes Street with temporary pop-up premises, building wraps and artwork and encourages mixed-uses for the prominent high street. Improvements to historic buildings, including the Ross Bandstand, are also suggested to create better opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the area.
Make improvements to Waverley Station
Shape the future of Waverley Station and the area around it. Its key position between the Old and New Towns makes the station a vital connection between the Old and New Towns. Network Rail’s Waverley Masterplan recognises the need to restore and modernise the station.
Councillor James Dalgleish, Planning Convener, said:“We have published a draft ambitious vision for the Capital’s iconic Princes Street and surrounding area which sits within our internationally renowned World Heritage Site.
“I’d encourage everyone living in or interested in our beautiful Capital city to comment on it by answering the questions we’re asking around accessibility and public space in area, the future of the Gardens and the area in and around Waverley Station.
“As we put together the draft vision we listened to views about all of these important sites for Edinburgh. And as we move forward developing it, we need to make sure we balance our city’s rich heritage with the urgent need for sustainable and accessible spaces, and with new development. This will allow us all to continue to appreciate the charm of our city centre as well as the facilities it provides.
“The area is well used by Edinburgh residents, businesses and visitors from across the world and we plan to breathe new life into it, protecting and invest in it, to make sure that this will be the case for many years to come.”
GRAHAM has enhanced Edinburgh’s skyline with some festivity as the contractor progresses with the transformation of the historic Grade-A listed Jenners building on Princes Street.
Draped in colourful lights, the crane has become a striking feature of the city’s celebrations, towering over the city’s magical Christmas Market in the Princes Street Gardens.
For more information about the ongoing transformation of the Jenners Building, please visit:
Susan Jack, a shining star at Marks & Spencer’s Princes Street store in Edinburgh is celebrating a half-century of holiday magic this year.
Sales Advisor for Jaeger and Womenswear at Marks & Spencer Princes Street, Susan is celebrating her 50th Christmas working for the high-street retailer and is particularly excited about this year’s range of sparkling dresses and skirts, perfect for any festive occasion.
Susan’s M&S career began just before Christmas in 1974 at the Princes Street store, just in time for the holiday rush in the ‘Ladies Fashions’ department.
With 50 years retail experience now under her belt, Susan has witnessed incredible innovations, from the evolution of tights to the affordability of cashmere and to the sparkle of the modern-day beauty counter, particularly at Christmas. She has always been fascinated by the changing trends in customer shopping habits.
From 1994 to 1999, Susan left the Princes Street store to join the opening team at the Gyle Shopping Centre. Remarked as one of Susan’s proudest moments, she thrived in training the new store team before returning to Princes Street as a Section Manager for Womenswear.
For Susan, the Christmas season is a magical time, she reflected: “Christmas is always special, particularly watching customers come in for their Christmas food shop. It brings so much joy to the store.”
She fondly looks back on the annual ‘turkey trot’, a term the team has coined for when Edinburgh shoppers collected their turkey and cranberry sauce!
The Turkey ordering service was soon introduced in 1982 to enhance convenience for customers.
As for Susan’s favourite turkey, she reveals: “The British Oakham Turkey Breast Joint is my favourite, we get it every year as it carves like a dream!”.
Susan has cherished celebrating Christmas with her colleagues over the years. From being amongst the first to sample the Christmas range as soon as it’s released, to attending January Christmas parties (a retail tradition), she has seen it all.
Reflecting on her five decades working for the retailer, Susan Jack, says: “More than anything over the years, M&S has given me confidence; I was very shy when I started, but my time at M&S has taught me how to be outgoing, reassuring me in my skills.
“I’d like to thank all my colleagues for creating such an enjoyable working environment and M&S for all the opportunities I’ve had over the last 50 years. The friendships I have made over the past five decades are truly irreplaceable and will last a lifetime.
“Watching their children grow up and become parents themselves is something I am forever grateful for.”
Store Manager Jon Cameronadded; “I am immensely proud of the incredible dedication and achievements Susan has made over the past 50 years.Her unwavering commitment, exceptional service, and the positive impact she has on both our team and customers are truly inspiring.
“We are honoured to celebrate this remarkable milestone and look forward to many more years working alongside Susan.”
Police Scotland have released images of a male they would like to speak to in connection with a robbery which occurred on Tuesday, 14 May 2024 at around 5pm on Princes Street.
Officers believe the male in the images could assist them in their ongoing enquiries and are appealing for the male himself or anyone who may recognise him, or has information about this incident, to get in touch.
The male (pictured) is described as a white male, aged between 30-40 years old, slim build, brown facial hair and spoke with a Glasgow accent.
The male was wearing a white hooded top, black trousers and a black beanie hat.
Anyone who recognises the male pictured or has any information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 2725 of 14 May 2024.
Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where you can give information anonymously.
BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO SHABBY OLD PRINCES STREET?
‘Ambitious’ proposals to conserve and revitalise one of Scotland’s most iconic streets have been welcomed by councillors.
Designed to improve connectivity between the historic Old and New Towns of Edinburgh and target regeneration within the World Heritage Site, the Council’s draft Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy has been approved by members of the Planning and Transport and Environment Committees.
The Strategy aligns with Edinburgh’s Net Zero 2030 ambitions, City Mobility Plan, Edinburgh City Centre Transformation (ECCT) and City Plan 2030 to guide the long-term regeneration of Edinburgh’s city centre.
A more accessible city centre
The masterplan approved by councillors recommends guiding the area from the West End of Princes Street along to Waverley Station to become more accessible, with improvements such as additional ramp access to Princes Street Gardens, a footbridge over the Waverley Valley, more public spaces to enjoy, an improved crossing and pedestrian improvements to Castle Street, the Mound Precinct, and Waverley Bridge.
Protected green spaces
The strategy looks to integrate climate resilience and biodiversity measures to protect the existing Waverley Valley and Gardens from climate change and to plant more trees and flowers – also promoting sustainable transport options and the retrofitting of historic buildings in line with Edinburgh’s net zero aims.
A revitalised Princes Street
Working with developers, the strategy suggests improvements to Princes Street with temporary pop-up premises, building wraps and artwork and encourages mixed-uses for the prominent high street. Improvements to historic buildings, from the Ross Bandstand to Waverley Station, are also suggested to create better opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the area.
Councillor James Dalgleish, Planning Convener, said: “Princes Street and the surrounding area is the beating heart of our city and well used by Edinburgh residents, businesses and visitors from across the world. We have a great duty to protect and invest in it.
“This masterplan presents a new opportunity for us focus on how we can make sure we take care of the area going forward and guide improvements to parts of the World Heritage Site which need to be nurtured.
“There is a desire from residents and visitors to see us invest and make areas like the Gardens more accessible for everyone to enjoy, and we hear that loud and clear.
“We must balance our city’s rich heritage with the urgent need for sustainable and accessible spaces, and with new development which can make our cherished high street a thriving, welcoming place.
“This plan has the potential to breathe new life into Princes Street and the surrounding area and make sure it’s cared for and invested in for many years to come.“
Following the decisions this week of the Planning and Transport and Environment Committees, the strategy will be considered by the Culture and Communities Committee when it meets in October.
A public consultation phase will then take place to gather feedback from residents, businesses, and stakeholders on the draft strategy, before it is finalised in 2025.
And here was me thinking Auld Reekie was skint!Be nice for the tourists, mind …
