Hey! Nashy & Abs here 👋
As we write this on Wednesday morning, we have just finished a group call with the Edinburgh Council marketing team, who are pulling in resources to help push footfall and custom to Leith, The Shore and Newhaven.
Since the Trams have stopped, Nashy has made every effort to get to Leith and share stories of local businesses and nostalgia to keep eyes on the areas affected since the fire on Princes Street.
He even wrote a wee poem. 👇
The Festival is drawing to a close after a fast-paced, crazy whirlwind month and we’re now starting to look ahead at what’s next with Halloween and even Christmas chat creeping in. It’s all go in Edinburgh!
Let's get into it! 👇
This week's newsletter includes:
🔥 When Mario met Janie at the West End Fair - A nice wee encounter
🏪 Local business highlights
📣 Worth shouting about, 📅 Dates for your diary
💳 A taste of what's on the Thriving Card this week!
If you haven't grabbed your Thriving Card yet, the founding-member price is still available to newsletter subscribers only.
🔥 GOOD NEWS & A BUSINESS SHOUT OUT
The Magician meets the Maker at the West End Fair 🩷
Every now and again we hear from a local business owner that one of our videos helped a customer find them and it always makes our day!
Well, this week, Mario the visiting magician, bought a little David Bowie doll from Janie at her West End Fair stall. They recognised each other from recent videos we had featured on Keep Edinburgh Thriving and the conversation started.
Mario reached out to us about his lovely encounter with Janie and told us how the whole thing went down. He will return to New York with his David Bowie doll as a lasting memory from Edinburgh.
We LOVE this! This is our ‘why’ for Keep Edinburgh Thriving and we hope to create many more connections.
Get in touch with us; we're happy to share, shout about you, your business or a friend / family member.
🏪 LOCAL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
☕ Quick & Plenty Cafe, Leven Street, Edinburgh
I popped in yesterday and met Johnny, his dad and his sister and came away absolutely delighted that I did. Quick & Plenty has been a family-owned cafe on Leven Street for over 100 years. One hundred years! That is an Edinburgh institution if ever there was one. 🩷 There’s even a story about a family member surviving the Titanic! I’ll hopefully get the full story another time.
The kind of no-nonsense, brilliant value, proper Edinburgh greasy spoon that the city needs to protect and cherish. Full breakfasts, rolls, soups, daily specials and the warmest welcome you'll get anywhere in the city. Go and support Johnny and the family and keep this brilliant piece of Edinburgh history thriving.
🩷 THIS WEEK YOU CAN WIN A THRIVING CARD!!
Tell us your favourite Edinburgh independent business that isn't already on our Thriving Card. Reply with the name and why you love it. Best answer wins a free annual Thriving Card membership.
💿 Greenhouse Records, Barclay Terrace, Edinburgh
I popped in this week and met Mark at this brilliant shop! An independent record shop and radical bookstore on Barclay Terrace in Bruntsfield. Specialising in underground dance music, leftfield and experimental sounds from around the world, alongside a brilliantly curated selection of books covering politics, feminism, queer culture, Scottish writing and so much more.
An in-store online radio station, vinyl subscriptions, a genuine passion for music and community that makes this one of the most unique independent shops in Edinburgh.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am - 5 pm.
📍 10 Barclay Terrace, Edinburgh, EH10 4HP
📣 WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT & DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
🛍️ Makers Market, Haddington Corn Exchange, Saturday 29th August
A brilliant end-of-summer market in the heart of Haddington. 38 makers in the main hall featuring accessories, jewellery, textiles, homewares, ceramics, stationery, art and prints. Two interactive makers, creative workshops in the back room and a full bar available. 🩷
Free entry. Dog-friendly. Fully accessible.
Saturday 29th August. 10 am to 3 pm.
📍 Haddington Corn Exchange, 13 Court Street, Haddington, EH41 3DS
The final weekend pop-up of the Fringe and this one is stacked. EH Retro Kits and Stoppage Time Winner are back for their last Fringe run, with rails full of new exclusive stock. Vintage football shirts, memorabilia, football-inspired clothing and prints. If you missed the first pop-up, this is your last chance. 🩷
Saturday 29th August, 10 am - 6 pm and Sunday 30th August, 11 am - 6 pm
📍 Stoodio, 45 Thistle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DY
🌿 Wild Fix Book Launch - Anna Deacon, LARCH, Leith Walk
Anna Deacon is launching her new book The Wild Fix Scotland: Feel-good living inspired by nature on Pilrig Street next week in partnership with brilliant independent bookshop, Toppings Edinburgh. An evening of nature connection, immersive elements and simple ways to bring more calm and creativity into your everyday life. 🩷
Tickets from £5. Must be booked in advance.
Thursday 3rd September. 7pm.
🎟️ Book tickets at Toppings Edinburgh
📍 LARCH, Pilrig Street, Edinburgh
🏃 Stride Out Running Tours x Trusted Crumb - 5k Crumb Run, Leith Walk
Run. Explore. Refuel. Two brilliant Edinburgh independents joining forces for the perfect Sunday morning. Stride Out Running Tours are hosting a social 5k guided run through the city, followed by discounted bakes from Trusted Crumb, the newest whole food bakery to hit the Edinburgh food scene. 🩷
Free to join. All participants get 20% off their bakes post-run. The ideal morning of fitness, community and scrumptious bakes.
Sunday 30th August, 9 am. Free, but you need to register.
📍 Leith Walk Police Box Pop Ups, Leith Walk, Edinburgh, EH7 4LT
🌿 Summer Celebration at Gorgie Community Farm, Edinburgh
Gorgie Community Farm is celebrating almost one year on site, and they’d like you to join the party! Grab your friends, family and a picnic blanket for an afternoon of crafts, games, live music, food, drink and maybe even a wee visit from some furry friends. A brilliant free community event celebrating a genuinely special Edinburgh space. 🩷
Sunday 30th August, 1 pm to 6 pm. Free, book your tickets in advance.
🎟️ Book free tickets on Eventbrite
📍 Gorgie Community Farm, Edinburgh
🏃 SMI x Custom Lane - September Residency, Leith
SMI are coming to Leith for the whole of September and kicking things off in brilliant style. From Saturday 5th September they are operating a pop-up residency at Custom Lane on the Shore. Customisable Nalgene bottles, Cadence electrolytes and a rail of new-season apparel. Open 7 days a week 9 am - 5 pm. 🩷
Launch event next Saturday, 5th September, from 2 pm - 5 pm. Free refreshments, tunes and light bites. Get yourself down to the Shore.
Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm throughout September.
📍 Custom Lane, 1 Customs Wharf, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6AL
🦖 Dinosaurs at Whitekirk Hill, East Lothian, 29th & 30th August
East Lothian families, this one is for you. Bruno the T-Rex and his dino pals are coming to Whitekirk Hill for two days only and it looks absolutely brilliant. Bruno is a whopping 4 metres long and 3 metres high when fully stretched. Up-close encounters, selfies and cuddles with baby dinosaurs, storytelling and performance by Rent a Dinosaur, fossil making, a dino trail and face painting by Pink Tiger. 🩷
Food and drinks on the day from The Big Blu, Wee Green Events and With a Cherry on Top Scotland.
Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th August. 10 am to 12:30 pm and 2 pm to 4:30 pm.
🌐 Find out more
📍 Whitekirk Hill, East Lothian
💳 A TASTE OF WHAT'S ON THE THRIVING CARD THIS WEEK
The Thriving Card is doing exactly what it was built to do. Locals are saving money, tourists are finding the real Edinburgh and brilliant independents are getting the support they deserve. Here's a taste of what's on the card this week:
⚓ The Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent, Newhaven - One of Edinburgh's most iconic and atmospheric gastropubs right on the waterfront. Stunning views, brilliant food and the kind of independent venue that makes Edinburgh so special. Perfect for a long lazy lunch or an evening by the sea. 🩷
Thriving Card offer: 20% off food and drink, Monday to Thursday, up to group of 4.
🍷 Tapa, Shore Place, Leith - Award-winning Spanish restaurant right on the Shore. Inventive tapas dishes made with artisan Spanish ingredients. One of the best dining experiences in Leith and an absolute must if you haven't been yet. 🩷
Thriving Card offer: The Better Than A Meal Deal - sourdough, soft drink, two tapas, padron peppers, patatas and churros for £15pp. Tuesday to Saturday, 1 pm - 5 pm.
🍜 Nami, Shore, Leith - One of Edinburgh's most exciting independent restaurants right on Leith's Shore. Pan-Asian small plates blending East Asian dishes with creative fusion and bold flavours. The kind of dining experience that has people coming back again and again. 🩷
Thriving Card offer: 10% off food 12 pm to 6 pm.
🩷 Loads more offers across food, drink, health, wellness, shopping, experiences and outdoor activities. A wee something for everyone.
That's your Thriving Thursday! 🩷
If you haven't grabbed your Thriving Card yet, the founding member price is still available at £45 through the link below:
BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER - £45
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.
Let's Keep Edinburgh Thriving. 🚀
BIG love,
Nashy & Abs