Hey! Nashy & Abs here 👋
Welcome to your weekly Thriving Newsletter!
Summer in Edinburgh. A lovely mix of sun, rain and who knows! Don’t let the weather get you down on those dull days! Get out and explore Auld Reekie!
I’m still wandering, meeting new businesses and soaking it all in. Following recent demand, I’m now offering guided wanders around town for tourists, taking them directly to Edinburgh's brilliant independent businesses.
Real Edinburgh. Real people. Real experiences.
This week's newsletter is packed and includes:
🔥 New business shout-out: Cal’s Leaf and Lawn
💳 A taste of what's on the Thriving Card this week
🏪 Local business highlights
📣 Worth shouting about & 📅 Dates for your diary
Let's get into it! 👇
A taste of what's on the Thriving Card this week:
The Thriving Card is out there in the wild and people are already using it across the city and the Lothians. We have received great interest from tourists and visitors to the city who are keen to explore and find local spots.
Here's a taste of what's waiting for you this week:
🛹 Focus Skateboard Store - Edinburgh's legendary independent skateboard shop. 25 years on the city's streets and still going strong. Boards, clothing, footwear and everything in between. A proper Edinburgh institution. Thriving Card offer: 10% off full price footwear and clothing.
🧖 àile holistic - Holistic therapies and wellness treatments in the heart of Edinburgh. Reiki, reflexology, massage and more. A genuinely restorative experience from a brilliant independent practitioner. Thriving Card offer: 10% off workshops, events and retail products.
🔑 Home Secure Locksmiths - Trusted independent locksmith serving Edinburgh 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Lock repairs, key cutting, security upgrades and emergency callouts. The kind of reliable local business you want to know about before you need them. Thriving Card offer: 15% off all materials.
🧴 Òir Soap - Beautiful handmade Scottish soaps crafted in small batches using natural ingredients. Brilliant for gifting or just treating yourself. The kind of small independent that deserves every bit of your support. Thriving Card offer: 10% off everything (apart from Wonky soap).
🧘 Flow & Massage Therapy - Professional massage therapy in Edinburgh helping you move better, feel better and recover properly. Sports massage, deep tissue, relaxation and more. Your body will thank you. Thriving Card offer: 15% off first visit or 15% off with a minimum 3-month membership.
So many more tempting offers across food, drink, professional services, health, wellness, shopping, experiences, outdoor activities and so much more. A wee something for everyone! 🩷
Check out all the offers available on our Business Directory.
If you haven't grabbed your Thriving Card yet, the founding member price is still available for newsletter subscribers only.
🔥 NEW BUSINESS SHOUT OUT
🌿 Cal's Leaf & Lawn - Garden & Lawn Care, Edinburgh & West Lothian
Local, reliable and genuinely brilliant at what he does. Cal's Leaf & Lawn offers premium garden and lawn care services across Edinburgh and West Lothian.
Regular maintenance, tidy-ups, hedge trimming and eco-friendly garden care. The kind of service that does exactly what it says it will, they turn up when agreed and leave with your garden looking great.
Free quotes available. DM or WhatsApp to book. 📞 07541 968999
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
🤠 Rhinestone Cowboys - Leith Walk, Edinburgh
One of Edinburgh's coolest independent clothing stores, right on Leith Walk. Exclusive streetwear, vintage clothing, limited edition sneakers, art and homeware all under one roof. A brilliant shopping experience that supports local talent and gives Edinburgh something genuinely different from the usual high street. The kind of independent shop that makes this city what it is. 🩷
Thriving Card offer available - 10% off everything in store
☕ Haymarket Cafe by L&G - Haymarket, Edinburgh
A brilliant independent cafe right opposite Haymarket Station.
Established in 2023 by L&G and already a firm local favourite. Bacon rolls, avocado toast, smoked salmon, waffles with bacon and maple syrup, homemade cakes and outstanding coffee. The menu features unique treats inspired by the Philippines, including ube cake and ube coffee. Something genuinely different and absolutely worth trying.
Warm, welcoming and the kind of neighbourhood cafe where the staff know your name.
📣 WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT & 📅 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY!
Midsummer's Day at North Berwick Harbour and this one is going to be special. North Berwick Sounds is hosting its very first summer event. A brilliant afternoon of live music, ceilidh dancing, fire performance and a massive sea shanty singalong right on the coast.
Something for the whole family and the perfect East Lothian summer event.
Sunday 21st June. 3pm to 8pm.
🎟️ £3 concession / £5 adult / £10 family. Book ahead.
Six years in and one of Edinburgh's most loved summer running events is back. A flat seaside promenade route along Marine Drive with stunning coastal views and a brilliant festival atmosphere as the sun goes down. Open to all abilities from first timers to seasoned endurance athletes.
Choose your distance - 7km, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, Relay Marathon or the 6 Hour Ultra Challenge. There's even a 1km kids race at 4pm. No hills, no excuses, just good running and great vibes by the sea.
Saturday 20th June. From 3pm.
🎟️ From £20. Book ahead.
The UK's biggest inflatable obstacle course is coming to Dalkeith Country Park this summer and it looks absolutely brilliant. 👨👩👧👦
The Labyrinth Challenge is packed with themed zones, hurdles, biff n bash sections, slides and combat-style challenges for adults and children over 1.2m tall. One-hour session with unlimited laps. For the wee ones under 1.2m, there's Jungle Mania. A vibrant jungle-themed inflatable course with climbing zones, obstacles and slides. Something for the whole family, just 20 minutes from Edinburgh.
Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July 2026, starting 10am with last entry 4pm.
🎟️ Book ahead.
A lovely one for East Lothian mums this June. As part of Scottish Breastfeeding Week 2026, Breastfeeding LENS in association with Mother Baby Together and Home-Start East Lothian are hosting a relaxed outdoor picnic for breastfeeding mums and their babies at Lauderdale Park in Dunbar.
A welcoming space to meet other local mums, share experiences and access friendly support in the beautiful surroundings of Lauderdale Park.
Bring a picnic blanket and come as you are. 💙
Saturday 13th June. 11am to 1pm.
Free. No booking required - turn up.
That's your Thriving Thursday! ☀️🌈
If you haven't grabbed your Thriving Card yet the founding member price is still available for newsletter subscribers only.
£45 instead of £59. Forever.
We genuinely love putting this together for you every week. The fact that you read it, share it and support it 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 and what’s happening in and around Edinburgh.
We really want to hear about new independent businesses that are opening in Edinburgh and the Lothians! Know a business deserving a shout-out? Reply to this email and tell us their story.
Are you a local business owner? Would you like to join our Thriving Card? It’s FREE and takes only 2 minutes to register.
Let's Keep Edinburgh Thriving. 🚀
BIG love,
Nashy & Abs