Breaking news

After 18 months’ determined lobbying behind the scenes, Leith Central Community Council has succeeded in getting the riverside pathway reopened in Bonnington. 

The section between Newhaven Road and Anderson Place had been closed because of an unstable wall adjoining the Miller Homes construction site. 

Work even to begin fixing the problem took much longer than anyone thought possible (apparently due to some mix of institutional inertia at the Council and corporate awkwardness at Miller), but is now sufficient advanced to allow pedestrians to pass with care. 

Locals distracted by yet another round of roadworks on Broughton Street may not have noticed that Nom de Plume has the builders in. 

In fact, this is more than a simple refurbishment. The much-loved café has now closed, with the owners leaving to concentrate instead on their Regent Bar at Abbeyhill. 

Moving in at No. 60 is Pickles, the winebar/purveyor of prestigious preserves, pickles, port and pies, currently at No. 56A. Pickles will move out of the basement on 22 June and reopen upstairs and downhill about three days later.

As reported in Issue 285, the Cockburn Association has recently issued a list of 10 buildings that ‘define’ Edinburgh. 

Spurtle is never too proud to pinch a good idea when we see one, so here’s our provisional list of 10 buildings that – for good or ill – define Broughton. 

As you read this, team members in sundresses, sandals, and sombreros are already wading across the barony with the latest sizzling copies of the Broughton Spurtle. 

This month’s issue begins on Page 1 with bollards, moves on to a public rift, detours via unusually sized body parts, and concludes with a new Place for Edinburgh communities. 

Planning permission in principle is sought for the demolition of Smithie’s Bar on Eyre Place, and its replacement by a 3-storey housing block with attic and basement (Ref. 19/02460/PPP). 

The applicant is Lindsay John McArthur, one of two directors for the public house and bar company L & K McArthur Ltd, registered at 49–51 Eyre Place since 2017. 

In February this year, Cornerstone Property Development made an unusual application (unusual to our eyes) to use an existing residential property at 8 Baxter’s Place as short-stay commercial visitor letting ‘by people living together as a family’ (Ref. 19/00932/CLP). 

Spurtle took the opportunity of a rare day-off to visit foreign parts this afternoon.

A meander through the Old Town is recorded here in a short series of photographs.

We provide explanatory captions for those unaccustomed to life in the capital’s Deep South.

It's not a complete assessment of Edinburgh's historic heart, so if you’d like to add images and impressions of your own, please do.

We begin with the New Waverley Square area, which is rapidly taking shape. So far, we like it.

Spurtle is as delighted as everyone else at the gradual return of Antony Gormley’s Six Times along the Water of Leith. 

Police in Edinburgh have issued a press release and CCTV image of a man they wish to trace as part of their ongoing enquiries concerning an assault on a teenager. We reproduce their statement below in full.

The incident took place around 11am on Thursday 25th April in Montgomery Street, near the junction with Hillside Street.

Racial abuse was directed at a group of teenagers before a 16-year-old boy was struck on the head, resulting in injuries to his face.

Crowds gathered again on Leith Street today as the mammoth red crane brought in to help create the new St James roared and blustered and promised much, but didn’t deliver. 

The engine growled. The air was thick with fumes. Passers-by stopped and stared and took photos. 

Sound and fury there were aplenty.

But, seemingly, nothing happened.