Hey! Nashy & Abs here 👋
Welcome to your weekly Thriving Newsletter!
Still out and about, wandering, meeting new businesses and finding brilliant independents that deserve every bit of your support. The city never stops surprising us and that's exactly why we love it. 🧡
This week's newsletter includes:
🔥 New business shout out - East Coast Print Club
🏪 Local business highlights
🩷 Father's Day Gift Guide - Keep it Local
📣 Worth shouting about & Dates for your diary
If you haven't grabbed your Thriving Card yet, the founding member price is still available for newsletter subscribers only.
Let's get into it! 👇
🔥 NEW BUSINESS SHOUT OUT
Owned by Sophie. An East Lothian-based printmaking artist bringing brilliant creative workshops to adults and kids right across the region. Different classes and workshops available throughout the year, from beginners to more experienced makers, all designed to get people creating something they are genuinely proud of.
Sophie is also running a brilliant Kids Lego Printmaking Workshop at Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick this summer, for ages 9 to 16 years. A fantastic creative session for young makers using Lego to create unique printed artworks. The kind of workshop that sparks a love of making, whilst gaining a print that makes you smile and creating memories that last a lifetime.
Keep an eye on her Instagram for upcoming workshops near you and get booked in before they fill up. Spaces always go fast!
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
🚶♀️ EDINBURGH STREET HISTORIANS - Walking Tours
Founded by Fraser. Born and raised in the city with a birthplace visible from the tour route itself. Edinburgh Street Historians is as local and authentic as it gets. Professional guides experienced in acting, academics, teaching and comedy showing you the city that so many love.
Old Town and LGBTQ walking tours all available on a Pay What You Think It's Worth model. The stories Fraser tells are ones nobody else tells. Surprising even for locals who have lived here their whole lives.
Perfect for visitors, brilliant for locals and genuinely a great way to experience Edinburgh.
Go and book a tour.
Tell us your best independent discovery of the summer - go!
Shop, cafe, market, hidden gem; whatever it is, we want to hear about it. Reply to this email with your recommendation and we'll shout out the best ones in next week's newsletter.
📚 BOOM SALOON BOOKSHOP - Browns of Leith
Something really special is happening in Leith this Saturday and it is well worth your time. Boom Saloon are relaunching their pop-up bookshop at Brown's of Leith from 9am to 1pm, stocking a curated selection of Boom Saloon publications alongside books, magazines and zines from their members, contributors and featured creatives. 🩷
Twenty brilliant writers and artists are involved, including Akwaeke Emezi, Rachel Long, Samuel Tongue and many more. All profits go directly towards their final publication on rewriting the story of dementia and supporting future community-led projects. The kind of independent publishing project that makes Edinburgh's creative scene genuinely special.
Saturday 13th June. 9am to 1pm. Free entry.
🩷 Father's Day Gift Guide - Keep it Local
Father's Day is coming up on Sunday 21st June! Edinburgh and the Lothians have everything you need to give Dad something genuinely brilliant from a local business 🩷
And the ultimate Father's Day gift? A Thriving Card of course!
One annual membership. Over 150 independent businesses across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Discounts, offers and a whole city waiting to be explored. The gift that keeps giving every single time Dad heads out the door.
Some discounts and partner businesses below. 👇
Here are some ideas from our Thriving Card business directory:
🍺 For the beer lover
Check out an ExBEERience with Cold Town Beer
Thriving Card offer:
🍺 Cold Town - 20% off experiences, including Mixology Classes and ExBEERiences at Cold Town House. Must book in advnace.
🎨 For the creative Dad - a bespoke leather wallet or belt from John T Taylor or gift a Blacksmithing course at Work of Iron
Thriving Card offer:
🎨 10% off in person purchases at John T Taylor’s workshop.
🎨 10% discount on the Blacksmithing Intro course at Work of Iron.
🧖 The Dad who needs to relax - book him a session at the Hot & Bothy sauna.
Thriving Card offer:
🧖 10% off sauna seats at Hot and Bothy.
🏋️ The active Dad - book him into a week of fitness sessions at The PT Hub or get a discount on an EPIC outdoor adventure with Wild Cairns or Ocean Vertical. Race Dad around the obstacle course at Funparx.
Thriving Card offer:
🏋️ The PT Hub - Free week of open gym and group classes
🪓 Wild Cairns - 10% off all activities (excludes Mini Highland Games and party packages)
🧗 Ocean Vertical - 15% off all activities
🎢 Funparx Edinburgh - 10% off two-hour sessions (online purchase only)
🍦 The Dad with a sweet tooth - treat him to gelato at The Little Parlour or something indulgent from Chulo's Stuffed Cookies.
Thriving Card offer:
🍦 The Little Parlour - 10% off ice cream and milkshakes.
🍪 Chulo's Stuffed Cookies - 10% off any purchase in Chulos Stockbridge store.
🎸 The food lover - point him towards Down the Hatch or Nami for some good old yummy comfort food.
Thriving Card offer:
🍽️ Down the Hatch - 20% off your food bill.
🥘 Nami - 10% off food 12pm - 6pm.
Every purchase supports an independent Edinburgh or Lothians business. The best gift you can give Dad and the city this Father's Day.
📣 WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT & 📅 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
East Lothian this one is for you. Support The Makers are back at Haddington Corn Exchange with a brilliant curated makers market packed with local talent, handmade shopping and creative workshops. Art, accessories, ceramics, jewellery, woodwork, homeware and more, plus young makers joining in too. 🩷
The Knife Guy is on site offering professional knife and tool sharpening. Summer Fun Cookie Decorating Workshop with Blink Bonnie Biscuits. Free entry. Dog friendly. Fully accessible.
Thriving Card offer:
The Knife Guy - 10% off when you spend £50 or more on sharpening services with your Thriving Card.
Saturday 20th June. 10am to 3pm. Free entry.
Edinburgh's much-loved free outdoor movie weekend returns for its 15th anniversary this weekend. Three days of big-screen entertainment in the heart of the city. Grab a picnic blanket and head to St Andrew Square Garden.
Friday night is Swayze Night; The Outsiders, Dirty Dancing and a 35th anniversary screening of Point Break. Family screenings across the weekend include Zootropolis 2, Wicked: For Good, Lilo & Stitch and How To Train Your Dragon. Evening films include Back to the Future, F1 The Movie and a 15th anniversary screening of Bridesmaids.
Free entry. No tickets. Just turn up. All films shown with subtitles.
Friday 12th to Sunday 14th June 2026.
A local festival run by Leithers for Leithers. Here, visitors from up the toon and further afield are always welcome to join in for a week of entertainment, performance, festivities and fun. One of Edinburgh's most loved community celebrations and it is back for another brilliant year. 🩷
Gala Day kicks things off at Leith Links on Saturday 13th June with live music, food and games for locals and visitors alike. The Leith Festival Pageant and Community Tattoo rounds off the festival on Sunday 21st June. A multicultural celebration of the diversity that exists in Leith with traditional and contemporary performances from across the world alongside pipes and drums.
Mostly free. Get yourself down there.
Saturday 13th to Sunday 21st June 2026.
That's your Thriving Thursday! ☀️🌈
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