Christmas for Free
Crisis, Southside Commmunity Centre – Christmas Day and Boxing Day 8am – 8pm
Drop in for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. As well as good company and good food, you can also have
a haircut, enjoy a massage or create a piece of art (Suitable for people 18+)
Missionaries of Charity, 18 Hopetoun Crescent 0131 556 5444 – Christmas Day Dinner 4pm-5pm
Will be closed from 26th December until 2nd January then will resume to free food every day at 4pm,
except Wednesdays and Thursdays
Salvation Army, 431 Gorgie Road, Christmas Lunch 12:00
Book beforehand – please contact 01313462875 or let a member of staff know
Social Bite, 131 Rose Street Christmas Day Dinner, Drop in between 12pm-4pm - 0131 220 8206
After Christmas, Social Bite on Rose Street and 89 Shandwick Place are open Monday - Friday: 9am 5pm for free coffee and food, but not always guaranteed
Jericho House
53 Lothian Street, entrance on Bristo Place, 0131 225 8230, Open Christmas Day at 10am – 2pm and
Free Soup, hot drinks and sandwiches every Sunday from 10pm–2pm
St Marys Cathedral, 61 York Place, 01315561798; Free sandwiches daily from 5:00 – 5:30pm
Before and after Christmas
Bethany Care Van, Evenings – Every Day at 9pm – 11pm Except Hogmany: Starting at Waverley
Bridge, and then going to the Grassmarket and North Bridge: - Free Soup, rolls and tea/coffee
Bethany Care Van, Lunchtime: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: 12.40pm from Waverley Bridge,
then George Street, Lothian Road, King’s Stable’s Road, George IV Bridge, Chamber Street, North
Bridge / Royal Mile Junction; reaching Leith Walk (just North of McDonald Road) at 2pm for free
Soup, rolls and tea/coffee.
Bethany Christian Trust (Care Shelter) Various Churches, From 5 Nov – 1 Mar: Call: 0131 5618930 /
07919 557673, Monday–Sunday: 9:30pm–7am. Free meal and a floor to sleep on. Transport from
Waterloo Place at 9.15pm and 9.30pm. Supper: 9.30pm-11pm and breakfast 6.30am.
Salvation Army, 25 Niddry Street, 01315231060 – Closed on 25th, 1st and 2nd, Open from the 3rd;
Monday – Friday 9:00 – 10:00 Breakfast (£1.25) and 12:00-1:00 Lunch (£1.00)
Christmas Dinner with Salvation Army on New Year’s Day, 1 East Adam Street, – get there for 12:30
Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row 01312253626
Drop in for free Soup, Sandwiches, Biscuits and Cake from 4pm – 5:30pm on Monday 22nd and
Monday 29th December
St Catharine’s Convent: 4 Lauriston Gardens. 0131 229 2659
Monday-Friday: 9am-11.30am & 5.30pm-6.30pm. Free hot meals & showers available – Open until
Monday 22nd December and open for Christmas Dinner on the 29th December at 1:00pm
Serenity Café – Hogmany 7pm – 1pm: Live Music with Nobby and Friends £5 charge (kids go free)
Carrubbers Christian Centre: 65 High Street, EH1 1SR. 0131 556 2626.
Free breakfast every Sunday: 8am - 9.30am (men’s clothes and blankets provided at breakfast).
Free lunch Tuesdays from 12.45pm – 1.30pm
South Leith Parish Church, 6 Henderson Street: 0131 554 2578
Free Takeaway breakfast on Sundays from 9.30am - 10am
Souper Saturday, The Church of St John the Evangelist, Lothian Road, 07955 274058
Saturdays from 8:30am–2pm: Free breakfast, lunch, sandwiches, coffee and conversation
Advice Services at Christmas
City of Edinburgh Council – Advice Shop
0131 200 2360
Scottish Welfare Fund (crisis grants)
0131 529 5299
Citizens Advice Direct (telephone advice):
0808 800 9060
Closed 25 and 26
December
And 1 and 2 January
Closed 25 and 26
December
And 1 and 2 January
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Council Services at Christmas
All Council offices will be closed on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December 2014 and Thursday 1 and
Friday 2 January 2015
Out of hours social care services
Contact in emergencies on evenings, weekends, and public holidays: 0800 731 6969
Emergency housing
Call if you need emergency housing on an evening, weekend or public holiday: 0800 032 5968
Libraries and museums
All libraries will close at 5pm on Wednesday 24 December and reopen as normal on Saturday 28
December. They will then close at 5pm on Wednesday 31 December and reopen as normal on
Saturday 3 January.
All museums will be closed on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December, and Thursday 1 and Friday 2
January. The only exception is the Scott Monument, which will be open on Thursday 1 January as
normal.