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Edinburgh Reporter
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
It's time for Edinburgh's Christmas…
It may only be June but already the arrangements for Edinburgh's Christmas have been announced. All festivities will begin on 15 November and run until 4 January 2026. Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh said: 'Edinburgh's Christmas is always a highlight of the year within our city centre. The attractions welcome thousands of residents and visitors to enjoy the most magical time of the year. With Edinburgh's city centre home to high class retail and hospitality businesses to suit everyone's tastes, this Christmas promises to be another fantastic time to visit and enjoy the best of Edinburgh.' Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh's Christmas said: 'We are thrilled to share this year's dates for Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations, with a seven-week programme packed full of family favourites, plus new events and attractions to be announced. This year's event promises to be one of the best ever and we look forward to welcoming everyone to enjoy some sparkle as the nights close in.' Family favourites which will be back to entertain everyone at the end of the year include Santa Stories , Ice Skating, LNER Big Wheel , Around the World Starflyer and the Family Festive Funfair , , and the Traditional Christmas Markets return to East Princes Street Gardens – organisers open Trader Applications and call for local traders to join the festivities return to East Princes Street Gardens – organisers open Trader Applications and Local EH Resident Discount returns to spread extra Christmas cheer across the city returns to spread extra Christmas cheer across the city Tickets go on sale from July – register now to receive 48hours advance access and discounts. Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: 'This year Edinburgh's Christmas looks set to light up the city centre once again with an exciting programme of events for everyone to enjoy. I'm really pleased that the Edinburgh community will be a focus too, with discounted tickets, offers for local groups and fund-raising for local charities taking place. The Capital truly is a magical place to be at this time of year and there's so much on offer throughout the city.' Lawrence Thorburn, owner of Edinburgh's Nutcracker Christmas Shop said: 'As local business owners, we are thrilled to see the return of Edinburgh's Christmas Market this winter. We have already submitted an application for what will be our 12th season at the Edinburgh's Christmas Market. As a local, family business, with permanent premises in the city we welcome the opportunity to showcase our products and provide Christmas gifts to such a large audience. Working with Unique Assembly over the past three years, we have seen the Market go from strength to strength and we are keen to return, looking forward to welcoming locals and visitors from around the world. The event has become imperative for our small family business and our team look forward to taking part each year.' Register now to receive updates, be the first to hear when tickets are about to go on sale, and access a limited opening ticket discount by signing up here – © 2023 Martin McAdam Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Edinburgh Christmas Market 2025 dates revealed ahead of festive season
The traditional Christmas Market will return to the East Princes Street Gardens with a multitude of market stall holders offering locally made crafts from wooden cabins. Visitors can enjoy mulled wine, big bratwurst sausages, strawberries and marshmallows dipped in chocolate with food and drink stalls placed throughout the market. More than 75% of the market was made up of local and Scottish traders last year, selling everything from hand-made Christmas ornaments to festive fare and organisers have opened applications for this year already. Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: 'This year Edinburgh's Christmas looks set to light up the city centre once again with an exciting programme of events for everyone to enjoy. Read More 'I'm really pleased that the Edinburgh community will be a focus too, with discounted tickets, offers for local groups and fund-raising for local charities taking place. The Capital truly is a magical place to be at this time of year and there's so much on offer throughout the city.' Lawrence Thorburn, owner of Edinburgh's Nutcracker Christmas Shop said: "As local business owners, we are thrilled to see the return of Edinburgh's Christmas Market this winter. 'We have already submitted an application for what will be our 12th season at the Edinburgh's Christmas Market. As a local, family business, with permanent premises in the city we welcome the opportunity to showcase our products and provide Christmas gifts to such a large audience. 'Working with Unique Assembly over the past three years, we have seen the Market go from strength to strength and we are keen to return, looking forward to welcoming locals and visitors from around the world. The event has become imperative for our small family business and our team look forward to taking part each year." The LNER big wheel and the 80M Around the World star flyer both offer incredible views of the city at the markets, while other rides are available for those who prefer to stay closer to the ground. Other favourites making a return include the opportunity to meet Santa and his elves at Santa's Stories, with children able to write the all important letter and drop it straight into the Santa post-box while the outdoor ice rink also makes a comeback. The EH residents discount will return and offer locals more than 100,000 tickets at 20% off. Tickets will also be given to local community groups for people to enjoy the festivities. Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh said: 'Edinburgh's Christmas is always a highlight of the year within our city centre. The attractions welcome thousands of residents and visitors to enjoy the most magical time of the year. 'With Edinburgh's city centre home to high class retail and hospitality businesses to suit everyone's tastes, this Christmas promises to be another fantastic time to visit and enjoy the best of Edinburgh.' Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh's Christmas said: 'We are thrilled to share this year's dates for Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations, with a seven-week programme packed full of family favourites, plus new events and attractions to be announced. 'This year's event promises to be one of the best ever and we look forward to welcoming everyone to enjoy some sparkle as the nights close in.'
Edinburgh Live
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Dates for Edinburgh Christmas event released as festive favourites return to city centre
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Dates have been released for this year's Edinburgh Christmas event. Due to kick off on Saturday November 15 until Sunday January 4. Visitor favourites such as Santa Stories, ice skating, LNER's big wheel, the around the world Starflyer and the family festive funfair will all feature as part of the celebrations. Traditional Christmas markets will return to East Princes Street Gardens – with organisers opening trader applications to anyone interested. Local EH residents will also be able to receive a discount. Those attending the market will be able to gulp down mulled wine and chow down on some giant bratwurst sausages. There is an increased call encouraging more local businesses and independent retailers to take part in the market and showcase their produce. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. Lawrence Thorburn, owner of Edinburgh's Nutcracker Christmas Shop said: "As a local, family business, with permanent premises in the city we welcome the opportunity to showcase our products and provide Christmas gifts to such a large audience. Working with Unique Assembly over the past three years, we have seen the Market go from strength to strength and we are keen to return, looking forward to welcoming locals and visitors from around the world. The event has become imperative for our small family business and our team look forward to taking part each year." Edinburgh's Christmas will also be welcoming families back to West Princes Street Gardens. Edinburgh's Christmas said they will be working with local community groups to give away thousands of tickets for fairground rides, ice-skating and Santa Stories and looking to raise donations for city charities through tickets and donation points across Edinburgh's Christmas. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Edinburgh's Christmas attractions are open daily except Christmas Day, with varying opening dates and times available at the official website. Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh's Christmas said: 'We are thrilled to share this year's dates for Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations, with a seven-week programme packed full of family favourites, plus new events and attractions to be announced. This year's event promises to be one of the best ever and we look forward to welcoming everyone to enjoy some sparkle as the nights close in.' You can keep up to date with Edinburgh Christmas here.
Scotsman
13-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Council secrecy over Christmas events casts a shadow
Edinburgh's Christmas Market and Hogmanay celebrations have never been far from controversy. Yet again concerns are bubbling away over procurement rules and the council's ability to recover funds from operators. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... At last month's full council my Conservative colleague Phil Doggart asked the council leader a simple question. He prefaced it by indicating he had been asking officers similar questions for six weeks without an answer. Phil said: 'Can the council leader confirm that Unique Assembly has complied with all the terms of the winter festivals contract and is not in breach of any terms of the contract, and the council has received all monies due to it.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The council leader read a prepared statement that didn't answer the question, deflected onto the cancellation of events because of weather and puffed up the benefit of the winter and summer festivals. What she did say was that work was ongoing and reporting would go to two council committees. She then used the pretext of allowing local companies who are suppliers to the contractor to be reimbursed first. The second committee met yesterday with the only reporting being a short cryptic reference to the committee having 'received correspondence' and that a legal review of issues raised was under way. Equally cryptic was the noting of the response to two Freedom of Information requests which seem to admit the funds due have not been paid. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Councillors clearly aren't happy with the secrecy as another political party added to the tension by lodging an amendment calling for a lot more information to be released to councillors, even if this must happen in private. Loved by many and loathed by others, the market's use of public space by private operators for profit causes a public debate. Reinstatement of public areas causes annoyance. Seeming flouting of planning rules has, in the past, led to allegations of preferential treatment. There is then the issue of whether this helps all year-round local businesses who pay rates and property costs by bringing footfall. Or whether it draws business away to short term market operators imported from elsewhere. Given this, you would think the council would be making sure that the procurement of these events was squeaky clean. Yet the correspondence seems to be linked to other potential operators who failed to get the contract. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If the council wants the controversy to go away it will have to openly show it is acting in the best interests of the taxpayer and local businesses and has complied with all the legal rules. The disinfectant of sunlight is required here but watch this space as it may take some time.
Edinburgh Reporter
06-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Hogmanay cash clawback will be ‘transparent'
Edinburgh council is still working to reclaim almost £430,000 in grants and income from organisers of last year's cancelled Hogmanay event. All of the city's outdoor Hogmanay events on 30 and 31 December last year were cancelled due to severe weather, with attendees securing refunds from organiser Unique Events. Council officers presented a report to councillors on the 2024/25 winter festivals on Thursday, which showed that the winter festivals were largely successful. However, it also said that the city was still working to secure almost £220,000 in expected income from Unique Events, and £208,000 in grant money used for the event. Officers said an open-book audit will be conducted into the Hogmanay celebrations, in order to 'ensure no enrichment has occurred' as a result of the cancellation. SNP councillor Lesley McInnes asked officers: 'Is there a clear indication about when those items of outstanding repayment to the council will be settled?' Adam Henry, a council officer covering festivals and events, said: 'We're working with the contractors at the moment, and agreeing a payment plan for those. 'We've had the most recent submission of their accounts, and the figure stated [in the report] has been revised and increased. We're currently expecting a figure in excess of £208,000. 'That process is ongoing, but we expect it to be concluded shortly.' Mr Henry also said that the organisers were working with their insurance adjusters, and that they expected payment to be made shortly. Gareth Barwell, the city's Executive Director of Place, added: 'We are aware this is a very high public interest matter. Just to give an undertaking for the record that there will be a public domain report on this when we conclude it. 'There are some legal issues we're dealing with which means we can't discuss it in a public forum right now. 'But I do want to reassure members of the public that there will be a report that comes back that sets out a settlement sum and a justification behind it, so everyone can understand how those final figures have been arrived at.' The city expected to make a total profit from the Hogmanay celebrations of just under £669,000, just under two-thirds of which has been paid by the event organisers. In 2024, Unique Assembly, a partnership of Unique Events and Assembly Festivals, was given a three year contract to run the city's winter festivals, with two year-long extensions possible. The 2024/2025 Hogmanay was carried out by Unique Events on its own, while future Hogmanay celebrations will be carried out by Unique Assembly. Councillors agreed to note the report, and added a request for officers to ask the organisers for details of air pollution monitoring they said they would carry out. Additionally, they agreed to an addendum expressing concern over the 'governance, legal compliance and financial enforcement' of the winter festivals contracts and asking for a private briefing from the council's legal team on that subject. However, the committee had already received a briefing from the legal team by the time the committee meeting was conducted. Conservative councillor Tim Jones said: 'My initial concerns here were that critical facts regarding the governance, legal compliance and financial enforcement of the contracts had not been fully disclosed and discussed. 'Now we have received a legal briefing which needs time to be considered. If my understanding is correct, we are going to have another report brought back for discussion.' Labour councillor Margaret Graham, convener of the Culture and Communities Committee, said: 'The findings of this report demonstrate the many benefits Edinburgh's winter festivals deliver to local communities, businesses, and charities, despite the cancellation of last year's outdoor events. 'Our Winter Festivals, which last year attracted a footfall of almost 3m, contribute significantly to the wellbeing of our residents by providing activities for all ages and income brackets to enjoy during the festive season. 'The events bring positive economic benefit for the city and for Scotland as a whole, supporting jobs in the tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors, among others. 'However, it's essential that we continue to be transparent around the enforcement of the contract, and as agreed at Culture and Communities Committee additional briefings on the matter will be delivered to members, alongside an open book audit of Edinburgh's Hogmanay.' By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
