The Edinburgh Council Finance and Resources Committee meets today
At this morning’s meeting the council will agree to lease the former VisitScotland office next to the City Chambers to the Cobbs Group which has several visitor attractions in the Highlands.
VisitScotland closed all of their visitor centres earlier in the year including this one at 249 High Street. the council is keen to keep a “tourism offer” on the High Street and want to lease this to Cobbs which has offered a “good rental” on a 25 year lease.
If the council had wanted to open its own visitor centre the building would have required further work – and it would have required around £550,000 of funding each year.
VisitScotland had reported the running costs were high relative to their income.
The report before the council committee this morning states: “Cobbs are an established tourism based retailer which has been in existence for over 30 years. They currently operate four hotels in the Highlands, 12 gift shops in key tourist locations and employ over 500 staff. They have recently taken over two former Visit Scotland premises in Fort William and Aberfoyle.”
Cobbs have submitted a proposal for the “Experience Scotland” retail and tourism offer within the ground floor space of 249 High Street previously occupied by VisitScotland. A copy of the proposal is below in an appendix to the council report and may be found here online.
The offer will consist of Scottish themed retailing featuring local producers such as Edinburgh Honey Company, Coco Chocolatier, and Red Box tea and coffee.
The officer recommendation is: “It is considered that the proposal from Cobbs provides the right balance in terms of commercial return to the Council with the inclusive rent more than matching what was previously received from VisitScotland on the ground floor. In addition, there is a commitment to providing a tourist based offer with the scope to develop this further in conjunction with the Council’s Business Growth and Inclusion service.”
The rent will be £150,000 for the first five years when it will be increased at a review. The rent includes a proportion of utilities and rates payable for the building, and there will be a rent free period for the first three months since the property requires repair and upgrading.
All papers and access to the webcast can be found on the council website here. Anyone is entitled to attend the meetings to sit in the public gallery.
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Armed Forces Day 2025
Serving personnel, veterans and their supporters will parade through St Andrew Square in Edinburgh next weekend at a special event being held to celebrate Armed Forces Day.
The celebrations will start from 10am on Saturday, June 28, as the annual procession of around 400 members of the Armed Forces community will assemble in Charlotte Square, led by 10 vintage vehicles from the Scottish Military Vehicle Group.
From there they will follow the route along George Street, reassembling in St Andrew Square where they will be welcomed by Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge, followed a day of fun and entertainment until 3pm.
Highlights will include The Highland and Lowland Bands of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Royal British Legion Scotland and Association’s Standards and Veterans, live performances from Stuart McLean, Richard Kerr, Niamh Corkey, Fraser Mclean and Maria Townsley. The event will be hosted by BFBS broadcaster Mark McKenzie.
There will also be static displays of vintage military vehicles throughout the day and members of the public will be able to see some of the kit and equipment used by our Armed Forces over the years.
Dr Claire Armstrong, OBE, Chief Executive of Legion Scotland, said: “Armed Forces Day on Saturday follows on from Monday’s event (June 23) when the Armed Forces Day flag was presented to the Depute Lord Provost Lezley Marion Cameron, and raised above Edinburgh’s City Chambers with pride to honour military personnel past, present and future.
“We hope you can come along and help us celebrate the Armed Forces community in our capital city in style, whilst also learning about the valuable work of charities Legion Scotland, Poppyscotland and many more.”
Meanwhile, Poppyscotland, in partnership with Legion Scotland, are calling for volunteers to help man collection stations over the course of the weekend.
Volunteers are required to help at both Waverley and Haymarket train stations during timed slots on either June 28 or June 29.
If you are interested in volunteering on either Saturday, 28 June or Sunday, 29 June then sign up for Haymarket Station at www.poppyscotland.org.uk/AFDHaymarket or for Waverley Station at www.poppyscotland.org.uk/AFDWaverley
On Monday the Armed Forces Day flag was presented at the City Chambers.
Photo Tom Duffin
Portobello Book Shop Summer Book Club
The bookshop is excited. A spokesperson said: “We are so excited to be launching a Summer Book Club for younger readers this summer! Starting on Friday 27th June, this initiative is designed to encourage kids to read for pleasure with prizes built into the challenge to make it fun and rewarding for those taking part!
“To take part, pick up a booklet from the bookshop. Each booklet contains the full list of prompts with reading suggestions inside and the bingo board on the back.
“There’s space in the booklets for a small review for each book read so that these can be shown to a bookseller in exchange for a stamp. This Book Club is designed for readers aged 4-12 so some readers may need a little bit of help with the reviews but depending on age and ability, they can be as short as necessary.”
Writing Worth Reading
The Royal Scots Club is holding its own mini book festival this August.
A spokesperson said: “Join us during the Edinburgh Fringe for an exclusive series of intimate author events.
“Over twelve days, we’ll welcome twelve acclaimed writers, each discussing their latest book, followed by a Q&A and book signing. Enjoy complimentary tea and coffee as you delve into fascinating topics ranging from Scottish history and art to contemporary satire and global health.”
Curated by Alan Taylor, the inaugural Writing Worth Reading festival has been designed to allow audiences to meet the people behind the words and inspire new ideas of their own.
Alan Taylor is a writer, journalist, editor and broadcaster whose books include The Assassin’s Cloak: An Anthology of the World’s Greatest Diarists, Appointment in Arezzo: A Friendship with Muriel Spark and, most recently, Edinburgh: The Autobiography.
The Royal Scots Club. © 2025 Martin McAdam
Contract for Castlebrae High School site
The council is advertising for a contractor to bid for a contract worth £81.2 million to redevelop the site of the former Castlebrae High School as housing. The site is 4.36 hectares in size and the scheme which is currently at pre-planning stage has been developed so that any contractor will simply adopt and build the preferred design. These will be “energy efficient homes in a sustainable development”.
It is envisaged that the contract will last for three years while the building project is carried out.
The tender is open for bids by 23 July 2025 at noon. Full details can be found here.
A new Castlebrae Community Campus was opened in 2022. The £28m community building on Niddrie Mains Road was delivered for the Council by Hub South East Scotland Ltd in partnership with Morrison Construction as the main contractor.
The 700 capacity school, which has the potential to be extended to 1,200, opened to pupils and staff in April three years ago. It was built in the heart of Craigmillar, next to the East Neighbourhood Centre and Library and was developed after extensive consultation with educationalists, service users and the local community.
At the heart of the design there are many different spaces for learning activities to support “collaborative and inclusive practice, developing and enhancing strategies for continuing improvement in attainment and achievement”.
There are three main learning plazas which provide opportunities for school staff to plan innovative and creative learning experiences together, to further develop and apply skills for learning, life and work in different contexts for pupils.
Castlebrae Community Campus
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
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