Edinburgh Evening News - May 15, 2025

In this issue

May 15, 2025

Black cab drivers call for cap on wild west hire vehicles

An Edinburgh black cab taxi driver has called on the council to cap the number of private hire vehicles on the city’s streets, describing the current situation as “like the wild west”.

2 mins

Busy bistro presents excellent opportunity

A charming Edinburgh bistro has gone up for sale, presenting an “excellent opportunity” for new owners.

1 min

Brewers urge early finish for workers if temperatures hit 20C

Scots bosses are being urged to let their workers knock off early today if the temperature reaches 20C.

1 min

New venue to be proper pub that's part of neighbourhood

Edinburgh is to welcome an exciting new venue this month - and it promises to be \"a proper pub that feels part of the neighbourhood from day one\".

1 min

Drivers over 70 face fresh calls for road tests and eye checks

Third of motorists support test resits at for older drivers – poll

2 mins

How to have 'the talk' about driving

Starting a conversation about driving with an older loved one can be emotionally challenging.

1 min

Government drive to sort unacceptable test backlog

A Government target to clear the record high backlog of driving tests will be missed by up to eight months, according to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

1 min

Minister pledges review after city toddler killed by car driven by 91-year-old

UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is looking into introducing cognitive tests for drivers over 80, as recommended by the inquiry into the death of city toddler Xander Irvine.

1 min

Fire breaks out at old hospital in west of city

Fire crews were dispatched to an old Edinburgh hospital yesterday morning after a blaze broke out.

1 min

Cycle hire scheme could be back on the streets in August

A cycle hire scheme could return to Edinburgh's streets in time for this year's Festival.

1 min

Teen fined for head-butting footballer

A teenager has admitted head-butting Hearts midfield star Cameron Devlin in an Edinburgh city centre pub.

1 min

Student who tried to smuggle drugs facing jail

Sage-Ahliea Gold had more than 16 kilos of herbal cannabis in her suitcase when she arrived at Edinburgh Airport

2 mins

Fire crews spend 5th day tackling major forest blaze in West Lothian

Fire crews were yesterday on day five of tackling a major wildfire which broke out in a West Lothian forest over the weekend.

1 min

Death of man hit by tram could have been avoided

The death of a man who was struck by a tram in Edinburgh in 2018 could have been avoided if reasonable precautions had been taken by the tram operator, a Sheriff has ruled.

1 min

Pups are guiding city zoo's vision for inclusivity

Two puppies in training to become guide dogs recently enjoyed a visit to Edinburgh Zoo to familiarise themselves with some of its most popular residents.

1 min

Heinz rebrands tartare sauce as 'Fish & Chips Sauce'

Heinz has launched a new 'Fish & Chips Sauce' in a rebranding of the classic condiment tartare sauce.

2 mins

Josh Grogan - I want to sing in space, man

After 25 years in music, crooner Josh Groban has played shows in some of the most famous and bizarre venues in the world, from his Las Vegas engagement to appearing on set with the Muppets-now he wants an intersellar career.

1 min

Capital brothers rowing Pacific feature in new STV documentary

The story of three Edinburgh brothers, who broke records when they crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 2019, has been documented in a new feature film.

3 mins

Sculpture park among UK's best hidden gems

An Edinburgh attraction has been named among the UK's best attractionsthat most people haven't heard of.

1 min

Soldiers' pitstop switch from kilts to combat gear

Soldiers based at Redford Barracks could give an F1 pitstop team a run for its money after their latest switch from ceremonial to operational duties.

1 min

Welcome to our city of Edinburgh, roadworks capital

I know that this makes me sound like Mrs Grumpy (which I probably am and have a Mr Grumpy to live with), but why are there always so many roadworks in Edinburgh?

2 mins

Jenny answers phone ban call

For far too long, the SNP kept coming up with spurious reasons not to ban mobile phones in schools-kids might need to call their parents, a ban wouldn’t cover watches, there were so many a ban wouldn't work, that sort of thing.

1 min

Up for the election challenge

It has been an important week for me as I've been adopted as the Scottish Conservative candidate for Edinburgh South Western, the area in which I was brought up and still live.

1 min

Instead of Assisted Dying Bill let's strengthen our duty to care

It was certainly one of the most emotional debates I have ever taken part in and MSPs on all sides knew the vote on the first stage of the Assisted Dying Bill was going to be one of the hardest decisions they would be asked to make.

2 mins

Trade deal boosts Scottish industry

Last week, the Labour government secured not one but two landmark trade deals. The deals with the United States and India will help to deliver our Plan for Change to grow the economy, boost living standards and put more money in people's pockets across Scotland.

1 min

Award-winning Musselburgh Italian restaurant goes on sale

An award-winning Italian restaurant just outside Edinburgh has been put on the market, with a guide price of £100,000.

1 min

Council writes off £800,000 of bad debt as businesses go bust

The amount of bad debt written off by East Lothian Council more than doubled in the last six months of the last year with over £800,000 wiped off the books.

1 min

Parking bays for campervans at popular beauty spot removed

Overnight parking at a popular East Lothian beauty spot will be removed after councillors admitted they did not have the resources to stop it being abused.

1 min

Decision on community groups' use of schools delayed amid tensions

A delay in a decision on the future running of school community wings has been welcomed by West Lothian's Tory group leader.

1 min

Council can't say when IT system will be fully restored

Council bosses are unable to say when their computer network will be fully restored after a suspected ransomware cyberattack.

1 min

Work ongoing to clear up the damage from Storm Éowyn

Work is still being done to clear up the damage caused by Storm Éowyn in the worst-hit area of West Lothian, almost four months after the devastating weather event.

1 min

When Capital hosted the glitz and glam of Eurovision (70s style)

All eyes will be on Basel, Switzerland for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest Final on Saturday - but back in 1972, the spotlight was on the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. Have a look a these photographs from our archives for a trip back to when Eurovision came to Auld Reekie

1 min

Female spy travails in the murky world of dirty espionage in UK

Traumatised in her childhood, Samantha Hunter (Melissa George) is an espionage operative for Byzantium, a private intelligence agency.

1 min

Remember Monday sign up for Eurovision song therapy session

On the record

1 min

Hearts players to go as part of Tynecastle summer overhaul

Hearts will release winger Barrie McKay and midfielder Jorge Grant at the end of the season as they continue reshaping their squad. The Capital club are aiming to entice Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes to Tynecastle Park as their new head coach, and players' futures are being cleared up, writes Barry Anderson.

1 min

Ex-Hearts boss in the equation to replace McInnes

Hearts have moved a step closer to appointing Derek McInnes as their new manager - and a former Tynecastle boss is said to be amongst the contenders to replace him at Rugby Park.

1 min

Transfer window to close at earlier time

This summer's two transfer windows will close at the earlier than usual time of 7pm, the Premier League has announced.

1 min

Dan returns to FA after his ill-fated United stint

Former Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth has returned to the Football Association after being appointed chief football officer.

1 min

Outgoing gaffer Fox says Milne took his opportunity well

Blair Spittal, Craig Gordon, Kenneth Vargas and James Penrice all missed Hearts’ 2-1 win over St Johnstone as Tynecastle Park hosted its final Scottish Premiership match of the season, writes Barry Anderson.

2 mins

Night of high drama as Hibs confirm best of the rest status

At a venue just along the road from Scotland's second busiest airport, David Gray's Hibs secured a result that enabled their supporters to dream of European destinations and - they hope-sun-kissed adventures in foreign lands, as a battling draw with St Mirren secured their status as the third best team in Scotland, writes John Greechan.

2 mins

Read all stories from Edinburgh Evening News

Edinburgh Evening News Newspaper Description:

For nearly 150 years, Edinburgh Evening News has helped the voices of our community be heard. The Edinburgh Evening News is a daily newspaper and website based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded by John Wilson (1844–1909) and first published in 1873. It is printed daily, except on Sundays.

Much of the content of the Evening News concerns local issues such as transport, health, the local council and crime in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The paper has a significant number of journalists covering sport, with a dedicated reporter assigned to each of the city's football teams, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian.