The Edinburgh Report

In this episode of The Edinburgh Report, Louis Scott who is second generation in the family business, discusses the legacy and future of Howie's Restaurants which is celebrating 35 years in Edinburgh. He shares insights into the restaurant's evolution, the importance of teamwork, and the challenges faced in the hospitality industry today. Louis also highlights the significance of using local produce and their plans for the restaurant's anniversary, including a collaboration with New Barns Brewery in Leith.

Nominations have opened for people to put themselves forward as community councillors. Here we speak to Alan Gordon the Secretary of Longstone Community Council about the successes they have had recently.

This is a trailer for a longer chat with the secretary of Longstone Community Council, Alan Gordon, about what a community council can actually do in its own area... and of course it is all about potholes. Nominations have just opened for anyone to nominate themselves as a member of their local community council. More details on our article here. https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/02/nominations-open-now-for-community-councils/

A chat with Alex Winter the GM at Duck & Waffle Edinburgh - one of only three in the UK about his career and the restaurant's 2nd birthday

Council Leader Cammy Day talking about the plans for introducing the long-awaited Visitor Levy - which the council began asking The Scottish Government for in 2018

Edinburgh born artist Leon Morrocco talks to The Edinburgh Reporter about his new exhibition which is on at The Open Eye Gallery until 24 August

Scott is one of four new Labour MPs elected to Westminster this week - he represents Edinburgh South West with a majority of 6,217 in a swing from the SNP.

Tracy Gilbert is the new Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith - and you can hear the excitement in her voice in this episode of our podcast. Her email is tracy.gilbert.mp@parliament.uk

The new mural tells the tale of King David I and the white stag. It was King David who established the royal burgh here which is now 900 years old. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Cllr Simita Kumar was only elected in 2022 but she said to us that she has much more experience from the workplace that will allow her to operate well as leader. She will make changes but she is adamant - in the same way as her predecessor was - that the other parties on the council (except the Greens) are in coalition with the minority Labour administration. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Here we speak to the Housing Convener Jane Meagher to find out what it means and also to Cllr Iain Whyte the leader of the Conservative group who voted differently from the remainder of the council. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Dovecot Studios opens new exhibition Monarchs of the Glen: From Whisky to Wes Anderson, celebrating the international history of a Scottish icon. The painting 'The Monarch of the Glen' by Edwin Landseer has inspired people around the world since the 19th century, being reproduced and re-interpreted many times. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Landseer's death, the four walls of Dovecot's world-renowned tapestry studio balcony in Edinburgh will be dedicated to exploring images derived from this familiar and romantic image of the highlands. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Speaking to the still new charity which is beginning a fundraiser to bring Filmhouse back to life with a café. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Cllr Ross McKenzie represents a ward which extends from Haymarket almost to the edge of the city. Cycling the route as far as Sainsbury's we chatted about what the issues in the area are. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

In a last minute move Douglas Robertson of Soundhouse explains their move onto the Fringe with a huge array of Scottish, or Scottish-based artists --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

All that Longstone Community Council want is a pedestrian bridge over the Water of Leith. Here Alan Gordon from LCC explains why --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Roddy Martine and Ricky Demarco,CBE, are almost two decades apart in age but they know more than most about the Edinburgh Festival. A new book recounts their bewilderment with the biggest arts festival in the world and here we speak to Martine about some of the tales narrated in it. The book is published by Luath and is available to buy now. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

We spoke to Xani Byrne who is partway round the UK coast on a fundraising ride in memory of his sister Alice who died from suicide in January 2022 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

There is a six month long trial of a new Low Traffic Neighbourhood in Corstorphine which many people are opposed to. A public meeting was held last week - which the Transport Convener did not attend - when many called the new measures ridiculous and ill thought out. We had a cycle around Corstorphine with Cllr Scott Arthur to hear his point of view. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

On until Sunday, 10 September, the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2022, captures and share emotional, dramatic, or everyday moments in life. A truly global affair, the prize celebrates the very best in contemporary photography, drawing on over 4,000 entries from 62 countries, which have been whittled down to 51 portraits from 36 artists. Here the Co-curator Louise Pearson guides us round --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

With ten days to go before the Hidden Door Festival 2023 we met Festival Director Hazel Johnson to see what is going on - and what festival goers will enjoy when they get there. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Alison Johnstone the Presiding Officer of The Scottish Parliament spoke to us about her visit to the US during Tartan Week. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Dr Joe Morrow is the Lord Lyon Ling of Arms and is in New York for Tartan Week. Here he speaks to us about the purpose of his trip and his role in the Coronation and beyond. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Robert has written a book in 40 chapters covering Neanderthal bone flutes and The Beatles. Here he explains a little about the book - and his wife concert pianist, Susan Tomes, provides the most appropriate accompaniment --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Ash Regan MSP for Edinburgh Eastern has been one of three candidates for SNP leader and First Minister over the last few weeks. Here she talks about some of the topics which have not come up during the 19 or so debates held on TV, radio and in person during the campaign --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

We met Bernie Reid whose first UK institutional art show is at Edinburgh Printmakers until 16 March. He uses surprising materials and techniques which may have been acquired as an occasional graffiti artist in Edinburgh - and at Edinburgh College of Art where he studied.

Chatting with the Transport Convener who explains the councils big plans approved by committee this week and which will now move forward to consultation. Cllr Arthur dispels myths around consultations and explains the logic of London Road --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Angus McEwan is the new President of The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour and he explained about the work included in the exhibition which will run until 16 February. He also regrets that the Patron has been a little too busy to submit any work this year. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

The council has agreed to fund Gorgie Farm on a temporary basis - but subject to clarifying the legalities. Here Council Leader Cammy Day gives us his views on the matter --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

The BBC has disclosed plans to cut programmes like Classics Unwrapped, JazzNights and Pipeline all aired on BBC Scotland. Jazz musician Tommy Smith OBE has started a petition to save the programmes and to encourage the BBC to expand its jazz coverage. He explains how he got to know of the planned cuts and what he intends to do now. (Photo Derek Clark) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edinburgh-reporter/message

Jenny Brownrigg the Exhibitions Director at The Glasgow School of Art has curated the new exhibition of early 20th century films and photographs by women of subjects all over Scotland --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

The Transport Convener updates us on problems at Brunswick Road the new fourth plinth at Picardy Place and the George Street New Town project --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

An international was held over the weekend of 3 and 4 September in Edinburgh. Here we speak to the captain of the Irish team who took on Scotland at Balgreen Croquet Club --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

I sat down to have a coffee with Council Leader Cllr Cammy Day and our conversation was wide-ranging touching on a lot of subjects - and of course leaving lots to talk about next time in what we hope will be a regular catch up --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

The book festival will be back in person and online this year with too many events to mention - the programme is 105 pages long. Following the press breakfast we got a broad overview from Director Nick Barley about the event which will begin on 13 August 2022. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

Here we talk to Tim Vincent Smith Lead Artist on the latest version of Pianodrome which will be unveiled at Hidden Door Festival on Thursday. The Old Royal Pianodrome will be situated at the former Royal High School for the festival and then other events throughout the summer. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

The Old Royal High Pianodrome opens to the public on Thursday 9 June at the former Royal High School which is hosting Hidden Door Festival from 8 to 16 June https://hiddendoorarts.org The newly created amphitheatre is made from 40 pianos --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

Cllr Cammy Day became leader of The City of Edinburgh Council just one week before this chat with him to find out how the week has progressed. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

The Rt Hon Lord Provost Frank Ross is also a councillor who will stand again at the local council elections. Here he looks back over the five years of being Lord Provost. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

SNP have launched their wish list for the next five years if they are returned to the council administration in Edinburgh. Here we talk to the SNP group leader Adam McVey about some of the proposals. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

I met with Deidre Brock MP to get a flavour of what she is doing at Westminster. It turned out to be a wide-ranging conversation as always sitting in the sun at The Shore in Leith --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

Residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the pre-planning application for student accommodation on a gap site on Eyre Place. Here we spoke to two - Alison and Jane about the proposal - and also what might be acceptable to them. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

The MP for Midlothian Owen Thompson is calling on the government to relax visa rules for Ukrainian refugees. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

Chris Howard stopped off in Edinburgh on the homeward stretch of his 11,000 mile journey walking around the British coast. Today was the 393rd day of his walk which began at Heacham in Norfolk after a really brief three weeks of planning. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

A planned walk and chat along Lanark Road with local MSP Gordon Macdonald discussing the changes to the road layout --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

We explore the new sculpture at Fruitmarket - Pardes by Jyll Bradley --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

Cllr Bird is the Young People's Champion and very much involved with the Scottish Youth Parliament and the elections which begin on 8 November 2021 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

Michael Jenkins President of Forest Trends on the COP26 announcement of $20 billion on deforestation and land degradation --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

A walk is taking place from Dunbar to Glasgow in time for COP26. We joined the walk just after it left the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop and went with them as far as Granton Castle Walled Garden where the Keeper of the Soil, artist Natalie Taylor, collected a small sample of soil in her hand made cape with its special pockets. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

Ali Pretty describes herself as an artist activist and has just joined the Pilgrimage to COP26 in Edinburgh with 500 flags made as part of the Beach of Dreams project. The flags will be displayed at St Mary's Cathedral in Palmerston Place and will then be carried to Glasgow from Monday morning. Each flag represents a mile of coastline from Lowestoft to Tilbury chosen by one person to explore how we are looking after the coastline the community and ourselves. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message

The Edinburgh Reporter invited Daniel Johnson MSP for a cycle and a chat about his role in the opposition and also a bit about his constituency of Edinburgh Southern. Despite the rain the chat is sparkling! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/edinburgh-reporter/message