Busker patrols planned to stop 'wall-to-wall Wonderwall'
Plus: David Olusoga trains his history detective skills on Edinburgh; and Tom Cruise's daughter gets rave Fringe reviews
Buskers set to be licensed with official patrols to enforce good conduct rules
Edinburgh looks set to become the first place in Scotland to license buskers after a voluntary code of conduct failed to stem complaints about some performers.
Rules limiting the volume of amplified music and how long musicians can perform in one spot before moving on would be enforced by council officials.
There would be patrols at hotspot areas in the city centre and on Portobello Prom during the busy summer months.
The crackdown aims to tackle the cause of the most persistent complaints, which are amplified music being played too loud and the same tracks being played repetitively.
Councillors are being asked to approve the plans at a meeting of the local authority’s culture and communities committee on Thursday.
What’s the problem? Common gripes from residents and businesses include buskers playing the same tracks on repeat - “Wonderwall on loop” - and bagpipers trotting out the same traditional standards time and again. The main complaints come from a small number of hotspots: the Grassmarket; the Lawnmarket; the corner of the High Street at the top of Cockburn Street; and Portobello Prom.
Why don’t they just learn new tunes? Street musicians say their sometimes limited soundtrack isn’t down to a lack of talent, rather a need to play the familiar crowd-pleasers that their audiences want.
Patrols, eh? The report to councillors recommending actions says: “Councillors have also highlighted that the lack of a visible on-street presence can make it challenging for residents and businesses to raise issues directly with the council. Regular patrols will be undertaken of key locations over the busy summer period.”
Who’s paying for this? The council plans to hire Street Ambassadors, paid for with money raised through the Visitor Levy, who will be able to patrol hotspots and take enforcement action. They would be supported, if necessary, by the new City Centre Policing Unit, which is also being funded by the Visitor Levy.
What about the musicians? They would have to pay for a license, but the council has made clear it wants to ensure the cost is not prohibitive for musicians. Several local authorities run similar systems in English cities with the cost of licenses varying from £10 (for one month) in Westminster (with students at half-price) to £150 (for two years) in Camden.
When will it happen? Assuming the plans are approved on Thursday, the new system is likely to be up and running ahead of next year’s Festivals. So, buskers will be able to play on relatively freely this summer.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
HOUSES THROUGH TIME: There’s a real treat for history lovers as best-selling historian (and The Traitors star) David Olusoga turns the spotlight on Edinburgh for his hit BBC show A House Through Time. The sixth series explores the capital, delving into the individual stories of four city homes over several generations. The first episode goes out on Thursday. You can also catch him at the Book Festival on 24 August.
MORE SHOW(S)TIME! After official launch events were almost rained off last week, the sun is set to come out for the first week of the Fringe. A late rush from artists since the official line-up was announced in June means this year’s festival is set to be the biggest ever in terms of number of performances (4,202 in total). Our last-minute check found hotel rooms available from £195 a night next weekend (a doubleroom in the budget Ibis in Corstorphine through booking.com).
MORE BUS PRIORITY MEASURES? Councillors are being urged to use some of the £5m Princes Street fire recovery fund to pay for temporary bus priority measures in congested areas and to install temporary bus stops on George Street. The plea comes from public transport pressure group, the Edinburgh Bus Users Group.
‘A LIST’ OFFSPRING: The daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes is appearing at the Fringe in Midsummer!, a queer reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Suri Noelle, 20, appears as Helena alongside fellow Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama at the temporary Assembly @ St Andrew Square. She’s getting rave reviews.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: The horrifying levels of violence against women and girls being reported to Police Scotland has been highlighted in the wake of the murder of Edinburgh woman Vikki Soloman. New Police Scotland statistics show 204 incidents being logged each day over the last year, an increase of 7.6%.
KILN, KIRK AND CUSTOM HOUSE: Leith’s Custom House is in line for £300,000 investment from the city’s new Visitor Levy to continue developing its plans for a £15m restoration. Funding for the restoration of the Tron Kirk and improvements to Hunter Square would be increased to £3.2m, and £724,000 set aside in 2028/29 to complete the restoration of Portobello’s historic seafront pottery kilns, under plans to be considered by councillors on the local authority’s culture and communities committee on Thursday.
GIRL’S DEATH: Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an 11-year-old girl who died after being found in a woodland river near Gorebridge, Midlothian. The girl was found in the water near Shank Bridge, which carries the A7 over the Gore Water, on Thursday afternoon after concerns were raised for her wellbeing. Police say her death is being treated as “unexplained”.
WILD FIRE: The play park at the National Trust for Scotland’s Newhailes House in Musselburgh had to be evacuated after a wild fire broke out in a neighbouring field on Thursday. The fire was successfully extinguished without any damage to the historic property or its grounds.
ARROWS GROUNDED: The Red Arrows have cancelled a planned flypast at the Tattoo next Saturday after being grounded by bad weather in Canada. The return journey from North America requires several refuelling stops and poor forecasts mean the journey has been ruled too dangerous this week.
Pic of the week
THE BUSINESS
Chamber stars in UK awards
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce will learn if it is to become the British Chambers of Commerce’s UK Chamber of the Year Award at a dinner in London later this year.
It is the only Scottish Chamber to be shortlisted in the national category. The award recognises outstanding projects from across the UK Chamber network that demonstrate innovation, collaboration and measurable impact for businesses, members and local communities.
The Chamber’s submission focused on its Rising Stars Professional Development Programme, a leadership initiative designed to support early and mid-career professionals and help employers develop the next generation of business leaders.
Working in partnership with The University of Edinburgh, the inaugural programme brought together participants from sectors including professional services, healthcare, retail, real estate and the third sector.
Liz McAreavey, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, paid tribute to the chamber team and said: “Rising Stars is a great example of what can be achieved when business and education come together with a shared ambition. Through our partnership with The University of Edinburgh, we’ve created a programme that is developing the next generation of leaders while strengthening the talent pipeline for organisations across Edinburgh and beyond.”
The Rising Stars programme will run again from January to April 2027 – to register your interest and be the first to receive further details, please follow this link.
TRIPLE CROWN: City-based accounting and financial services firm Accountability has achieved a trio of national accolades – being named amongst the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026, achieving B Corp certification, and becoming one of the first UK businesses accredited as a flexible workspace by Flexibility Works Scotland. The business was founded in 2012 by Rosie Berridge.
HOTEL GO-AHEAD: A new 256-bedroom hotel next to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre is to be operated by the Dalata Hotel Group under their Clayton Hotel brand. The hotel, at 60 Morrison Street, is being developed by MRP in the £95 million redevelopment and expansion of an office building, with development funding from AIB. Work is now underway.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
It won’t have escaped your attention that it is Festivals season again, but with the Fringe and International Festival underway we’re only just warming up. This week the Film Festival launches with the UK premiere of The Incomer on Thursday (with Domnhall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin and John Hannah in attendance), the Art Festival gets underway in earnest on Friday and the Book Festival starts on Saturday.
Don’t worry if you are struggling to keep up as Will Quinn will be bringing you regular despatches from the frontline.
WELCOME TO THE PIANODROME: We heartily recommend the free lunchtime recitals at the Pianodrome in Bruntsfield. (Like a huge walnut, mahogany, musical hug)
MURRAYFIELD MATCH: Expect to hear plenty of Geordie and Scouse accents on Wednesday night as Premier League giants Everton take on Newcastle in a pre-season friendly at Murrayfield Stadium.
QUICK BITES
ARRIVEDERCI: One of the city’s well-reviewed Italian restaurants is to close at the end of the month. Radicibus, on Deanhaugh Street in Stockbridge, has confirmed via social media that Saturday 29 August will be its final service after a decade in business.
FRESH BAKED: Renowned Fife family baker Fisher & Donaldson has opened its first outlet in East Lothian, joining the ranks of Scottish food businesses at the newly refurbished food market at Archerfield Walled Garden near Dirleton.