French Film Festival UK – final weeks
With just two weeks left of French Film Festival UK 2025 which runs until 14 December), escape the chill to some sun-drenched French landscapes.
Edinburgh’s Dominion Cinema will be hosting screenings from 7–11 December. Catch Aline – The Power of Love on 8 December, Valérie Lemercier’s Céline Dion homage, which includes a pre-screening chat by vocalist January Butler (before her 2026 Usher Hall tribute event).
Shepherds screens on 9 December, and tracks a burned-out ad exec herding sheep to Italy; and Denys Arcand’s Testament on 10 December follows a retiree among activist protesters.
Amélie Bonnin’s Leave One Day closes our selection at the cinema on 11 Dec – a musical comedy-drama of chef Cécile reconnecting after her father’s heart attack.
Three more films round out the historic venue’s programme. Book now: https://frenchfilmfestival.org.uk/venue/edinburgh-dominion/
Council to build new council homes with Visitor Levy monies
Members of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee approved plans for the £5m Housing and Tourism Mitigation Fund, which could help to build 472 affordable homes between 2026/27 and 2028/29. Of these more than 75% would potentially be available for social rent.
The council says that making more social rent homes available would allow households currently using unsuitable temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts, to access more appropriate settled accommodation. This would return B&Bs to their intended use for shorter-term guests.
It is expected the Fund would support three new build developments – at Fountainbridge, Meadowbank and Coatfield Lane in Leith – with around 361 social rented homes and around 111 mid-market rent homes.
The investment is subject to further approval by the council at the budget meeting on 26 February 2026. If it is then given the green light, there would be annual progress reports to the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee.
Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy scheme was formally agreed in January 2025.
Volunteering opportunities this Christmas
Christmas is a time for giving, and what better opportunity to discover new ways to give back to your community than on 5 December, International Volunteer Day.
The theme for 2025 is “every contribution matters”, so whether you have just one hour or one day to spare in the run up to Christmas, the team at Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL) are encouraging people to give up a little of their time to make a big difference to those in need.
Christmas can be a particularly tough time for many people. Thankfully, there are lots of fantastic charities based in East Lothian dedicated to providing help and support. However many of these charities are in desperate need of extra help throughout the Christmas period so they can continue to bring comfort and joy to people across the region.
There are more than 120 volunteering opportunities currently listed on VCEL’s interactive search tool. From NHS ward helpers assisting people in hospital and community first responders tending to people in emergency situations, to befrienders and bereavement counsellors offering friendship and support to those who may be lonely or struggling this Christmas.
The search tool can also be used to filter volunteering opportunities in a variety of ways, making it as easy as possible for anyone to find a suitable role, whatever their age, abilities and availability.
Speaking ahead of International Volunteer Day, VCEL Chief Officer Maureen Allan said; “It’s easy to get caught up in the Christmas rush and forget that the true spirit of the season is about giving. If you can contribute to your community by giving up just a little of your time, you could make a real difference to those in need right here in East Lothian. There really is a volunteering opportunity to suit everyone, whatever your skills or experience.”
A full list of volunteer opportunities is available to view on the VCEL volunteer search tool, www.volunteereastlothian.org.uk/volunteering-opportunities.
Winter Makers Market
6 and 7 December 2025 from 10am to 5pm.
This weekend Endless Love Creative are back at Fruitmarket, 45 Market Street, with more than 50 artist and maker stalls, featuring botanicals, ceramics, clothing, homeware, jewellery, knitwear, stationary, textiles and print.
Entry £2
Skip the queue pre-book your ticket below.
Ardfern Provisions
Edinburgh chefs and restaurateurs Roberta Hall McCarron and Shaun McCarron (The Little Chartroom, Eleanore) are launching Ardfern Provisions.
This is a product range of sauces and pantry staples, inspired by the flavours and home comforts of Roberta’s third restaurant – Ardfern (Michelin Bib Gourmand). The range will debut this month with two cult favourites: Nori Hot Sauce and Brown Sauce.
Available to purchase at Ardfern and online, Ardfern Provisions will be shipped nationwide, and there will be more products released throughout the year. The initial products, the Nori Hot Sauce and Brown Sauce, will be available in 240ml bottles and priced at £7.50.
Paired with oysters across Roberta’s restaurants and used in the Ardfern Bloody Mary, the Nori Hot Sauce is all about the heat of green chilis mixed with the umami of Japanese Nori seaweed. A brunch staple at Ardfern, Roberta’s takes on a classic brown sauce using apples, prunes and onions to produce a softer, fruitier brown sauce.
Bottled and labelled at the restaurant, these products will be the starting point for Ardfern’s range, which will expand in 2026.
Available to purchase at Ardfern, 10-12 Bonnington Road, Edinburgh, EH6 5JD and www.ardfern.uk
