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Encore Edinburgh has opened on Hope Street in the Capital, beneath the bustling Parisian-style West End Brasserie restaurant.

First look inside new Parisian-style cocktail bar

To celebrate St Andrew’s Day, Edinburgh Castle was lit up with a call to rally Edinburgh’s kind and generous spirit and support #MAKESOMEONESDAY

In pictures: St Andrew's Day in Edinburgh over the years

Anyone with Andrew as their first name or surname can claim a free St Andrew's Day meal at two Edinburgh pubs.

Free St Andrew's Day meal for Andrew's

Where: Barcelona, Spain

14 landmarks including Edinburgh Castle reimagined

The best Italian restaurants and takeaways across Scotland were honoured at the 10th annual Scottish Italian Awards.

The Edinburgh and Lothians winners at Scottish Italian Awards

An artist's impression of Lothian Leisure Development Ltd's planned 8,000 capacity indoor arena at Straiton, which was submitted in 2019 but has never progressed.

Previous failed proposals for a large music arena in the city

Edinburgh Festivals

The Stand has staged Fringe shows at the New Town Theatre on George Street since 2017.

The Stand pulls plug on biggest Fringe venue after acts and crowds stay away
Comedy club operator The Stand will go ‘back to basics’ after axing shows at the New Town Theatre

Exclusive Sir Sean Connery’s family reveal plans for film and TV talent school in Leith

Aftersun star Paul Mescal and the film's writer-director, Charlotte Wells, at the 2022 EIFF opening gala. Picture: Pako Mera

New Edinburgh Film Festival director pledges ‘bright new future’

Exclusive Tourist tax risks creating ‘negative and unwelcoming’ image of Scotland

Emmanuel Sonubi and Susie McCabe, who will appear at Ho Ho Hogmanay in Edinburgh.

Ho Ho Hogmanay line-up for 2023/24 revealed

Exclusive Alcohol advertising ban's 'chilling effect' on potential festival sponsors

Exclusive Edinburgh’s festivals seek tourist tax exemption for performers and crews

Arts and Entertainment

Chart-toppers Madness will play a massive outdoor gig at Edinburgh Castle next summer, as part of a wider UK tour.

Madness to play huge Edinburgh Castle gig
Having secured their first number one studio album, the ska-pop band will visit Edinburgh

Becky Hill has been announced as the first headliner for next summer’s Edinburgh Summer Sessions. Photo: Lesley Martin/PA Wire

Becky Hill to headline Edinburgh Summer Sessions 2024

John Bishop will return to Edinburgh with two shows at the Usher Hall in 2024. Photo: Rhian Ap Gruffydd

John Bishop makes Edinburgh return next year

A favourite among Instagrammers and amateur photographers, the beautiful Circus Lane in Edinburgh's New Town is drenched in history.

11 Edinburgh locations that evoke another era

Tenement housing at the corner of Earl Grey Street and Fountainbridge in Edinburgh, August 1987. Also in picture the Halifax building society.

16 photos taking you back to 1987

Overall score: 4.68 out of 5. Breakdown of the rating scores from 1 to 5 for Melbourne: Student Friendliness: 4.93, Cost of Living: 3.91, Nightlife: 4.90. Public Transport: 4.78, Amenities: 4.89, Safety: 4.64.

In pictures: The 25 best student cities in the world

Where: 34 Bread Street, EH3 9AF. SquareMeal says: If you want somewhere to watch the fireworks without having to brave the elements, SKYbar Edinburgh offers the perfect place to enjoy a few glasses of something nice in cosy surroundings.

15 Edinburgh restaurants with a view to celebrate New Year

Things To Do

Castle of Light will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, until January 3, 2024, excluding November 26 and December 24 and 31.

Castle of Light opening weekend success: in pictures

The iconic Coca-Cola Christmas Truck rolled into Edinburgh as part of its annual tour of the UK in the run-up to Christmas.

14 photos of Coca-Cola Christmas truck's visit to Edinburgh

Drummohr Camping and Glamping Site is located 8 miles from Edinburgh and 2 miles from Musselburgh

Review: Drummohr Camping and Glamping Site is the perfect getaway

Queues in East Princes Street Gardens as record numbers visit Edinburgh's Christmas Market.

Queues as record number visit Christmas Market

Evening News lifestyle editor Gary Flockhart chose this George Street institution as a great place to grab a Christmas drink in Edinburgh. He said: "The Noddy Holder of Edinburgh bars, no place in the city shouts out 'It's Christmas!' quite like The Dome. The festive decor inside and out is second to none, and, given it's only a short stroll from the Christmas Market, it's the perfect place to warm up with a cocktail or mulled wine. Or both."

The best places for a Christmas drink - in pictures

Edinburgh musician Stuart McGachan (left) has organised the Beatles Marathon in memory of his father Patrick McGachan (right).

Musician to host Beatles Marathon in memory of dad

Nightlife

Plans for Edinburgh’s first purpose-built concert hall in over 100 years have been met with a mixed response from locals.

‘8,500-capacity Edinburgh music venue too small', says locals
Evening News readers have their say on plans for 8,500-capacity Edinburgh concert arena

Take a look through our photo gallery to see 13 of the best cocktails bars in Edinburgh.

13 of the coolest Edinburgh cocktail bars

Level X is set to open at Ocean Terminal next year

Gaming and entertainment venue set to open at Ocean Terminal next year

Liam Gallagher, Gerry Cinnamon and Calvin Harris are set to headline TRNSMT 2024.

Liam Gallagher and Calvin Harris to headline TRNSMT

If you are wondering how much a visit to Edinburgh’s Christmas Market will cost, we've got you covered with a breakdown of the food and drink prices.

Here are Edinburgh Christmas Market food & drinks prices

Where: 367 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 8SE.

12 'proper' pubs in Leith - in pictures

Edinburgh's Christmas Market was a busy place to be on Friday night.

25 stunning photos as Edinburgh Christmas Market opens

More What's On

Smyths Toys has revealed its list of the Top 10 toys that kids will want this Christmas.

The Top 10 toys Edinburgh kids want from Santa

Pictured in 1963 is Dymock Howden and Co in George Stree, which was the place to go for a coffee.

15 pictures of George Street through the years

Children at the pick 'n' mix aisle on the last day of the Woolworths store at Leith before it closed for good in 2008.

17 pictures of Edinburgh's lost Woolworths stores

Several witty Edinburgh and Lothian business owners are competing for the title of the UK's 'punniest' shop name. Photo: Google Street View

Search launched for UK’s best shop name puns

Paterson Joseph and Daisy Haggard star in the new BBC comedy-thriller Boat Story (Picture: BBC/Two Brothers/Matt Squire)

Boat Story review: A frenetic, violent coke-com

Sam Heughan as Danny and Alfred Enoch as Pete in Channel 4's The Couple Next Door.

Sam Heughan says he'd 'be a brilliant James Bond'

There wasn't a bookworm, journalist or literary academic in Edinburgh who didn't shop at James Thin's at one point or another. Thin's had been in business for more than 150 years when it closed in 2002.

In pictures: 17 lost Edinburgh institutions that locals miss

The decaying Ross Bandstand in Edinburgh still hosts big concerts every year, despite many redevelopment plans over the years failing to come to fruition. The venue in Princes Street Gardens has a seating capacity of 2,500 and a maximum capacity of up to 10,000 for events such as the Hogmanay party and concerts by the likes of Travis, pictured above, with the bowl used for standing customers.

How the size of proposed arena compares to other venues in city

Victoria Street in Edinburgh has been crowned as the UK’s best spot for independent shops. Photo: Robert Perry

Edinburgh street is UK’s No.1 spot for independent shops

The opening date for a new Stack & Still restaurant on Edinburgh's Hanover Street has been revealed – and it’s just days away.

New Stack & Still restaurant gets opening date

Entertainment gians AEG have reveaed plans to create an 8500-capacity indoor arena in Edinburgh.

Plans submitted for major music arena in city

An artist's impression of inside the new Dunard Centre concert hall. Image: David Chipperfield Architects/ Hayes Davidson.

Council asked for more concert hall funding

The UK’s best places to eat in 2023 have just been revealed – and three Edinburgh restaurants have been included in the top 100 list.

3 Edinburgh venues on list of UK's top 100 restaurants

Craig and Debbie Stephens from the Portobello area of Edinburgh appear in seasonal movie Christmas in the Highlands, now showing on Amazon Prime.

TV couple land roles in Amazon Prime Christmas film

The Christmas events programme at Dalkeith Country Park runs from Saturday, November 25 until Sunday, December 24. The Midlothian park's Santa's workshop will host cookie decorating, Christmas crafting, elf storytelling and gingerbread house making workshops. Some of The Park’s festive workshops have already sold out with a few places open for booking. Adults can enjoy Christmas wreath making workshops at the park's Restoration Yard - using foliage foraged from the Dalkeith Country Park estate. Scott’s Apothecary is set to host a range of apothecary workshops on December 2 and 3, where attendees will get to make their own natural candles, perfumes and bath bombs, to enjoy themselves or to give as thoughtful gifts. And for families with excitable little ones, the 1k Elf Dash on December 17 is the perfect way to run off some of that extra Christmas energy. Ramping up the fun factor on this family outing – prizes will be given for the best festively dressed elf and most jolly dressed-up dog. For more information and tickets, go to www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/christmas_2023/.

10 great things to see and do this Christmas

Edinburgh’s Christmas tree lights were turned on at around 4.30pm on Monday, November 20

Watch as Edinburgh's Christmas tree lights are turned on to sound of bagpipes

Formed in Edinburgh in 1995, indie rockers Idlewild have since released nine albums. The band started out with a punk indie rock sound, gradually maturing their sound and gaining a larger audience, with their third album 'The Remote Part' providing a major breakthrough and seeing them switch from playing clubs and small theatres to larger arenas, with singles including 'American English' and 'You Held the World in Your Arms'. Other hits include 'When I argue I see shapes', 'Love Steals Us from Loneliness' and 'No Emotion'. Idlewild played their first show on 16 January 1996, at the Subway Club in Edinburgh to a crowd of 30 friends.

The 10 best bands and artists who come from Edinburgh - in pictures

The South Queensferry Christmas lights switch-on event takes place on Thursday, November 24, at 5.30pm. The Santa parade starts from Scotmid on The Loan at 5.45pm, then on to the High Steet for the light switch-on show featuring school choirs, a brass band, Forth Dimension, solo performers and more. Sponsored by BuzzWorks, organisers will have 200 light wands to give out free, courtesy of Diamond Financial. The 2016 event is pictured above.

Christmas lights switch-on events across Capital