Essential Edinburgh

Property consultancy JLL has hoisted the 'for sale' sign for the former department store in one of Scotland's most famous locations (file image). Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.

Former Debenhams on Edinburgh's Princes Street put on sale by owner L&G

Groan if you must, dear reader, but the City Chambers would be ideal for convers...

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

A Festival village which turns into student accommodation? Now there’s a thought...

Cris Peploe and Martha Haskins pose with a large-scale version of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 programme cover in Anchor Close in the city's Old Town. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Student housing helps Fringe fend off accommodation ‘perfect storm’

St James Quarter Sessions takes place in August

Free music festival comes to St James Quarter for Fringe

Pedestrianisation of George Street will see almost all motor traffic excluded between 10am and 7pm.

Calls for a 'complete rethink' on George Street taxi ban

A weekend of free film screenings will be staged in St Andrew Square in Edinburgh later this month.

Edinburgh to revive free outdoor cinema screenings ahead

Princes Street in Edinburgh

Time to smarten up Princes Street - Kevin Buckle

Once members of a coalition, Labour's Cammy Day ousted Adam McVey as leader after the recent council election

Numbers are adding up for city prosperity - Cammy Day

The £100 million project involves a 300-bedroom hotel and ground-floor retail space below.

Plans lodged for 300-bedroom hotel in Princes Street

The Essential Edinburgh team celebrate the 92 per cent vote in favour of renewing the BID. From left to right: Grant Roberts, Grant Stewart, Denzil Skinner (back), Gillian James (front), Roddy Smith, PC Sanii, Emily Campbell Johnston and Mark Farvis.

City centre businesses vote to continue paying levy which raises £1million

Open-air film screenings in St Andrew Square are one of Essential Edinburgh's initiatives, in partnership with the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Businesses in vote on another five years of improvement initiatives

Eat Out Edinburgh returns for 2023, bringing exclusive restaurant offers to the city centre

Ad Feature Early line-up unveiled for Eat Out Edinburgh 2023

Ukrainian and Czech circus artists performed at the McEwan Hall during last year's Fringe. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Edinburgh Festival Fringe acts may be staying in schools, ships and empty shops

Find the best set menus, deals and events as Eat Out Edinburgh returns for 2023

Ad Feature Where to find Edinburgh’s special food and drink offers plus events

A tourist tax could help pay to clear away graffiti from Edinburgh's streets

The debate is over. Edinburgh needs a tourist tax – Donald Anderson
Council Leader Cammy Day recently addressed the Edinburgh Tourist Action Group on a range of subjects including the proposed ‘tourist tax’ or, to give it it’s full name, the Transient Visitor Levy.

Edinburgh has bounced back from the Covid pandemic better than anywhere else in the UK apart from London (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA)

Essential Edinburgh has put new heart into our city centre – Donald Anderson

Kate Russell Bonnie & Wild, St James Quarter, Dominik Kawalec Edinburgh Grand & James Sleigh, Signature Group.
Photo - Chris Watt

Eat Out Edinburgh returns with special deals at dozens of restaurants and bars

Edinburgh's George Street can look forward to exciting times ahead (Picture: SNS Group)

Profound transformation of city will cause some disruption but it'll be worth it

This illustration by Rowlandson shows market stalls, shoppers, and deliveries, at London's Covent Garden Market, circa 1812

Covent Garden plans wither but Camden’s here! - Kevin Buckle

Record players seem to have been a popular present again this year

We need a proper analysis of footfall in post-epidemic Edinburgh - Kevin Buckle

Social Bite and itison are urging generous Scots to help homeless and vulnerable people this Christmas. For just £5 you can provide a Christmas dinner for someone in need this festive period. For £28 you can provide a meal, gift, essential items pack and a bed for the night.

Homeless charity needs help 'more than ever'

Santa Claus is coming to Edinburgh!

Full programme for Christmas events and market

The new Ruby Hotel, with rooftop bar and retail space below, is proposed for 104-108 Princes Street, formerly home to Zara and Next.

New hotel plan for last vacant site in Princes Street

Roddy Smith is calling for city centre businesses to get more support

It’s very much a mixed shopping bag for retailers - Kevin Buckle

Cast and crew from The Ladyboys of Bangkok have been clearing rubbish up outside their venue on Lothian Road. Picture: Duncan McGlynn

Festivalgoers urged to take their rubbish home during Edinburgh bin strike

Edinburgh beat 52 other cities to the number one spot. Photo: Vishnu Prasad

Edinburgh voted best city in the world to visit
Scotland’s Capital has been named the best city to visit in the world, beating the likes of New York, Berlin and Madrid to the number one spot.

Graffiti in Milne’s Court off Edinburgh's Royal Mile (Picture: Donald Anderson)

Urgent plan needed to tackle stain of graffiti on our Capital – Donald Anderson

Shoppers on Edinburgh's Princes Street (Picture: Lesley Martin/AFP via Getty Images)

Princes Street, one of the great European boulevards, must not be left to rot

Essential Edinburgh wants to see fair rents and rates for city-centre businesses

Solution needed for "outdated" business rates in city centre

Engaging with business must be honoured - Liz...

Market stalls will not bee returning to the High Street

It looks like it’s stall over for the High Street - Kevin Buckle

Edinburgh council elections 2022: Business rates tops concerns at hustings

Business rates top concern at city-centre hustings

There were people about in Cockburn Street, but not in the numbers typical before the pandemic

Covid Edinburgh: businesses urge return to city centre two years on from start o...

Essential Edinburgh says promotion of the city centre is vital to bring back visitors. Picture: Esme Allen.

Businesses set out priorities for city centre

Contini George Street - one of dozens of hospitality venues join new campaign.

Ad Feature Find the best locations to Eat Out Edinburgh

Edinburgh's Hogmanay fireworks could be ditched in favour of a drone display

Actions speak louder than Hogmanay words - Kevin Buckle

Fancy winning an exclusive private dining experience for you and five family or friends?

Ad Feature Want to win a private dining experience for six?

L-R: Kate Russell (General Manager), Bonnie & Wild, St James Quarter; Dominik Kawalec (Executive Chef), Edinburgh Grand & James Sleigh, Signature Group.

Ad Feature ‘Eat Out Edinburgh’ brings deals to your meals

The Thai Express Kitchen recently opened at the St James Quarter in Edinburgh. Picture: Ian Georgeson Photography

Edinburgh launches new campaign to revive city centre work gatherings

Some Edinburgh business-owners would like to see some Christmas market activity in the Grassmarket, citing its many food outlets and independent shops, for example (file image). Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.

Is Edinburgh's Christmas market a gift - or a curse - for local firms?

This year's Hogmanay street party could be the last large-scale new year celebration staged in Edinburgh city centre. Picture: Wullie Marr

Business leaders urge Edinburgh to save Hogmanay street party and make winter fe...

Edinburgh's Christmas festival will be expanding onto George Street this year.

Edinburgh to get 'Lidl on Ice' attraction on George Street for Christmas

The ice rink will return at Christmas - this time in George Street

Who will be left out in the cold this Christmas? - Kevin Buckle

Litter blights some areas of the city centre

Edinburgh's streets are neglected, warn business figures

The new attraction is seen as 'a terrific, positive signal that Edinburgh is very much open for business'. Picture: Diageo.

How will Edinburgh's new Johnnie Walker attraction reshape the city's West End?

Joseph Pearce's in Elm Row Image: Google Maps

Bars welcome longer drinking time

Princes Street was largely empty at the height of the pandemic Picture: Ian Rutherford

Return to offices 'vital' for city centre recovery

A sign in the former Next store directs customers to the St James Quarter Picture: Lisa Ferguson

What's the future for Princes Street?

It was announced in January that Debenhams in Edinburgh would close for good, but regeneration plans could see it turned into a hospitality hub

Edinburgh's Debenhams could become £50million hotel and hospitality ‘hub’

Edinburgh's Princes Street and the city centre needs a credible recovery plan or it faces troubled times ahead, warns John McLellan (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

Princes Street has 32 empty shops. We need a recovery plan – John McLellan

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Essential Edinburgh, who between them represent the interests of around 1,500 businesses, are delivering a clear message to a major consultation on the future of the winter festivals, asking to make them better – not smaller.

Bodies unite to offer vital support for Edinburgh's winter festivals

In the First Minister’s latest COVID-19 update (11 May), it was confirmed that the spread of the virus was under control and the Scottish Government’s route map out of lockdown was on track for the majority of the country.

Leaders welcome further easing of restrictions and announce continued support

Beer gardens were allowed to open in the Capital yesterday

Forever Edinburgh: Our capital city reopens for business

Council plan should lead to more al fresco dining

Council to waive permit fees for outdoor bars in Edinburgh