Hey! Nashy here 👋
Welcome to your weekly Thriving Newsletter!
Keeping you up to date with what’s happening in the city, highlighting local businesses, events and being your ‘boots on the ground’ telling Edinburgh stories while finding hidden gems.
Straight to it today!
So much going on behind the scenes as we prepare to launch our Thriving Card.
The weather has been brilliant and the city is buzzing!
This week's newsletter includes:
🔥 New business SHOUT OUT!
🏪 Local business highlights!
⚡Thriving card update and a discount for you!
📅 Events and Workshops for your diary!
Let's get into it! 👇
NEW BUSINESS SHOUT OUT!
🍲 The Daaler - Slow Cooked Fast Food
I bumped into Ally and Hannah at Portobello Food Market on Sunday and I'm really glad I did. The Daaler is one of those businesses that makes you smile from the first conversation. New, independent and with gret energy, they are working incredibly hard to make a success of it. 🧡
Slow-cooked daal served fast. Green lentil, black lentil and red lentil options paired with garlic buttery naan. Simple but super tasty.
Find them at markets across Edinburgh or order a Daalivery straight to your door.
Keep an eye on their socials as to where they're popping up next and go show Ally and Hannah some love. They deserve it.
This is exactly the kind of independent business Edinburgh needs more of.
🤝 Grassmarket Community Project
I spent last Thursday at the Grassmarket Community Project running a pop-up event and it was one of those days that remind you why community matters so much in this city. 🧡
Here over 500 people work together to support positive changes in one another's lives. Free membership, woodworking, IT skills, Make and Mend groups and so much more. It’s open to Edinburgh's most vulnerable adults. No waiting lists. No barriers. Just good people doing brilliant things.
Inside you'll find Coffee Saints, one of Edinburgh's best social enterprise cafes. Great coffee, brilliant food and every single penny goes straight back into the project. The Pay It Forward scheme lets you buy a meal for someone who needs it.
I also spent time with the GCP marketing team helping with their socials and sharing their message.
A genuinely special organisation doing work that matters every single day. Go and visit.
Have a coffee. Buy something from the shop. It all makes a difference. 🧡
🧡 The Thriving Card - Launching Next Week
100+ independent businesses across Edinburgh and the Lothians. One digital card. One membership community built around helping to keep this city's best independents alive and thriving.
Every time you use your Thriving Card you are putting money directly into a local business. A real person. A real story. A real part of what makes Edinburgh the city we all love.
Newsletter subscribers will get first access and a founding member discount when we go live.
Our Annual Membership for £45 instead of £59 for the first 250 people only.
Keep your eyes peeled next week for your unique code.
This is your city. Keep it thriving. 💚
🌊 Porty Festival is back! This weekend: Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd May
One of the best weekends in the Edinburgh calendar is almost here. Porty Festival is back for the May Bank Holiday and Portobello is going to be buzzing! 🧡
Saturday night, Mànran headline Portobello Town Hall. One of Scotland's most exciting bands combining Gaelic and Scottish songs with pipes, fiddle, accordion, guitars and drums. A proper night out by the sea and guranteed to get your feet tapping! Sunday night, Indoor Foxes take to the stage.
All weekend there's a Makers Market, family rave, dog show, Dip and Sip wild swimming, Cinnamon Bun Run, vintage clothing pop-up, creative workshops and street food. Most events are free. Be sure to check in advance availability for paid events as some are already sold out, something for absolutely everyone.
This is a community festival done properly. Get yourself to Porty this weekend. 🧡
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd May 2026.
📣 WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT: Events and Workshops
🛍️ The Neighbourgood Market - Friday 1st May - 2nd August
One of Edinburgh's best independent markets is back. Local makers, independent traders, great food and good vibes. The kind of market that reminds you why shopping local beats a retail park every time.
Starting with a 5k run with the Blank Barber running crew at 6pm.
Follow their Instagram for details, traders and updates.🧡
🖨️ Studio Lilow - Lino Printing Workshop - 30th April, 4th and 18th June
Learn the basics of lino printing in a brilliant beginners’ workshop at Tribe Porty in Portobello. You'll leave with the skills and confidence to explore the craft at home.
A brilliant, creative and immersive session where time will fly as you lose yourself in it. 🧡
Thursday 30th April, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, 🎟️ £38. Book ahead
🍪 Edinburgh Bake Trail - Starting 1st May
This is exactly the kind of thing Edinburgh does brilliantly. Chulo's Stuffed Cookies has teamed up with five of the city's best independent bakeries for the ultimate sweet treat trail. Grab your stamp card at any participating bakery, visit all five, collect your stamps and redeem two free treats at the end.
You have until 1st June to complete it. Get your walking shoes on. 🧡
Starting Friday 1st May. Free to take part.
🍺 Grassmarket Craft Beer Festival - Saturday 9th May
Back after three sellouts. Cold Town House in the Grassmarket. Ten Scottish craft breweries, including Thistly Cross from East Lothian. Live music all day, Neapolitan pizza and Edinburgh Castle as your backdrop. One of the best afternoons in the city this May. 🧡
Saturday 9th May, 12pm - 6pm, 🎟️ £15 includes entry, festival cup and tote bag.
🏴 Edinburgh Tartan Parade - Saturday 9th May
Thousands of participants marching from the Royal Mile down Cockburn Street, across Waverley Bridge to the Mound Precinct. Pipe bands, highland dancers, clan tartans and musicians from across Scotland and beyond.
Free to spectate. This event is followed by an evening concert at the Usher Hall headlined by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
Get yourself on the Royal Mile at 1pm, see you there! 🧡
That's your lot for this week! 🧡
Abby and I genuinely love putting this together for you every week. The fact that you read it (all the way to the end!!), share it and support means the world to both of us.
Our Newsletter is a place to shine a spotlight on the many brilliant local businesses on our doorstep and to keep you in the loop on local events, workshops and cool stuff that we find happening in and around Edinburgh.
Know a business deserving a shout-out? Reply to this email and tell us their story.
Have a great weekend guys!
Nashy & Abs