Edinburgh’s George Street, typically a hub of festive cheer and twinkling lights, found itself at the center of an unusual Christmas caper this week. A brazen thief, masked and hooded, made off with an eight-foot Christmas Nutcracker statue from outside the popular Copper Blossom cocktail bar—right in front of passers-by and under the watchful eye of CCTV cameras.
The incident unfolded on November 25, 2025, at around 1pm, according to multiple reports from BBC Scotland and The Scottish Sun. The thief, described as male and dressed in a hood and mask, arrived at the scene riding an electric bike. In a move more befitting a slapstick comedy than a holiday crime, he was captured on video wrestling the 28-pound (13kg) Nutcracker—named ‘Nolan’—free from its moorings outside the bar. The statue, valued at £900 and part of a display costing thousands, was then awkwardly hoisted across the handlebars as the thief pedaled away, heading east along George Street toward St Andrew Square.
The entire episode lasted barely a minute. Copper Blossom’s general manager, Paul Paxton, recounted to BBC Scotland his disbelief: “People were walking past as he was loading up his bike, it’s so shocking. We were still open and had just stacked up all the outdoor furniture in front of the statue five minutes beforehand. He cycles up on his e-bike and it all happens in the space of a minute, it’s so fast.”
Paxton described the scene as the thief pushed aside furniture, breaking a £350 table in the process, then struggled to balance the massive Nutcracker horizontally across his lap. “He falls off his bike once while trying to put it on and struggles to lay it horizontally across him. It’s an 8ft statue horizontally across a little e-bike. The people on the street didn’t really bat an eyelid,” Paxton said, still incredulous at the thief’s audacity and the apparent indifference of bystanders.
The statue, affectionately named ‘Nolan’, is one half of a pair that forms the centerpiece of Copper Blossom’s annual Christmas display. Its twin, ‘Nelson’, has now been moved indoors overnight as a precaution. For years, the bar’s elaborate festive decorations have drawn crowds seeking the perfect holiday photo for Instagram and TikTok, and its special seasonal menu of cocktails and sharing platters has made it a must-visit spot during Edinburgh’s chilly winter months.
“We put a lot of time, effort and expense into our Christmas decorations at Copper Blossom to create a spectacular winter wonderland for all our guests,” Paxton told The Scottish Sun. “Our Christmas Nutcracker statues take pride of place as part of our seasonal celebrations, so not only has someone stolen one of our favourite decorations, but they’ve also stolen the spirit of Christmas, too!”
The theft has left staff and patrons alike feeling a little less merry. “We’re now calling on the culprit to return our Christmas Nutcracker ‘Nolan’ and restore our special touch of festive magic. If Nolan is returned in one piece, then no further action will be taken, but the culprit is definitely on Santa’s naughty list!” Paxton added, with a mix of humor and exasperation.
Copper Blossom is no stranger to the city’s bustling nightlife and holiday crowds. As part of the Signature Group—a leading Scottish hospitality company with over 20 venues including Cold Town House, The Huxley, Badger & Co, and Kyloe—the bar has built a reputation for its welcoming atmosphere and creative holiday displays. But, as Paxton explained to BBC Scotland, the venue’s location below street level means it relies heavily on eye-catching decorations at its entrance to draw in foot traffic. “We’re a city centre venue but we are small so we rely on our front door to get some traffic because we are a basement venue,” he said, underscoring the impact of the theft on the business’s holiday season.
The crime has not gone unnoticed by authorities. Police Scotland confirmed that they received a report of the theft on November 25, 2025, and that inquiries are at an early stage. “On Tuesday, 25 November, 2025, we received a report of a theft from a premises on George Street, Edinburgh. Enquiries are at an early stage,” a spokesperson told The Scottish Sun and Edinburgh Live, echoing the frustration of the Copper Blossom team and the wider community.
The incident has sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many Edinburgh residents lamenting the loss of a beloved holiday fixture and others marveling at the boldness of the theft. Some have even dubbed the culprit a real-life “Grinch,” a nod to the Dr. Seuss character notorious for stealing Christmas joy. “Police are hunting a ‘Grinch’ thief that stole an eight-foot Christmas Nutcracker statue from outside a cocktail bar,” reported The Daily Record, capturing the city’s collective disbelief and disappointment.
Despite the setback, Copper Blossom’s team remains hopeful for a festive resolution. Their plea is simple: return Nolan, no questions asked, and the spirit of Christmas can be restored. The incident has also prompted the venue to rethink its security measures—at least for the remainder of the holiday season. “The statues are part of a pair with the other one now being kept indoors overnight,” Paxton noted to BBC Scotland, a practical but bittersweet adjustment.
Nutcracker soldier dolls, as BBC Scotland reminds readers, are a traditional German Christmas decoration dating back to the 17th century. Their presence in holiday displays across Europe and beyond is meant to symbolize good luck and festive cheer, making the theft all the more poignant for both Copper Blossom and its patrons.
For now, the search for Nolan continues, with police reviewing CCTV footage and following up on leads. The hope remains that the eight-foot Nutcracker will be returned intact, reuniting him with Nelson and restoring a bit of magic to George Street’s winter wonderland. As the city waits, the tale of the stolen Nutcracker has already become a memorable—if bittersweet—chapter in Edinburgh’s holiday lore, a reminder that even in the most festive of seasons, a little mischief can lurk around the corner.
