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Venues details and Specifications for Performers

All of our current venues and performance spaces available for this years Fringe are listed below. Though we are still waiting on some additional spaces that are uncertain due to continued COVID restriction issues.

Click on the links for full details, plans and photos. There is also Venue Map at the bottom of this page.


How our venues are set-up

For each of our venues below you can click through to a separate page with all of the specifications for each performance space. Our spaces range in capacity from 20 to 150.

All of the rooms are separate spaces from public areas of venues, apart from stages marked as suitable for music only

All of the rooms are set-up and managed by us or the venue owners, and are supplied as standard with a full PA system, lighting and stage set-up, audience seating, and are ready to go for your show. Many have more facilities available with larger PA systems, lighting rigs and projectors or other AV, backstage areas and so on – These details can be found when you click on the link below for each venue.

Please do not confuse us with other free venue promoters who ask performers to supply their own equipment, build their own spaces and are often in inappropriate areas of public bars without a separate performance space - or in some cases not really venues at all.


What shows are suitable for our venues

We have spaces suitable for all Fringe genres and we programme a mixture of genres at each venue to provide a varied programme in each space, an indication of genres we feel are suitable are listed for each venue.

If you are planning any free walking tours of Edinburgh, Scavenger Hunts, or similar why not include these in the Free Festival programme, or the can start/end at a free festival venue.


If you have any questions on our venues email us on info@freefestival.co.uk

Click here for general Performers Information and click here to Apply for a Space in one of our venues


32 Below

32 Below (Fringe Venue 442)

32b West Nicolson Street. Phone: 0131 667 7533

Click here for map

 Bar Food WiFi AirCon All ages until 6pm, then 18+ only

32 Below and sister venues The Counting House and Pear Tree form a complex featuring shows in three performance spacesand a huge outdoor courtyard. 32 Below is located right in the heart of the area most associated with the Fringe, within seconds of the venues in George Square and Bristo Square

Performance Genres possible at 32 Below:

Comedy Theatre Events and Tours Music Musicals and Opera Nightclubs Cabaret Spoken Word 

Performance Spaces available in 32 Below:

Little Cellar: 40 Capacity, Rectangular room. Flat on Floor. Large TV Screen for AV.

Main Cellar: 70 Capacity, Rectangular room - raised stage

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts


Bar 50

Bar 50 (Fringe Venue 151)

Within A&O Edinburgh City Hostel, 50 Blackfriars Street. Phone: 0131 524 1989

Click here for map

 Accessible Bar Food WiFi All ages until 10pm, then 18+ only

Bar 50 is the lively bar of the A&O Edinburgh City Hostel (formally the Smart City/Safesay Hostel) on Cowgate, always busy and Vibrant this venue is in an ideal location in the centre of Edinburgh, with a built in audience from the hostels residents. It is only a few minutes from the royal Mile. Bar 50 has been a Free Festival venue since 2012, after previously running Fringe shows under another promoter.

Performance Genres possible at Bar 50:

Comedy Theatre Childrens Musicals and Opera Cabaret Spoken Word 

Performance Spaces available in Bar 50:

The Alcove: A 60 capacity room off of the main bar area. Raised Stage. Projector & Screen.

The Garden Room: A 60 capacity room located of of the courtyard

The Side Room: A 40 capacity, square room located off of the venues courtyard.

Upstairs: A small, rectangular 35 Capacity room

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts


Brass Monkey

Brass Monkey (Fringe Venue 153)

14 Drummond St. Phone: 0131 556 1961

Click here for map

 Food 18+ Only

The Brass monkey is a cosy bar, very centrally located just off of South Bridge, near the Festival theatre so within very quick walking distance from Cowgate, Bistro Square and the Pleasance. The performance space is a unique, cosy space with huge sofas for people to lounge on while watching shows.

Performance Genres possible at Brass Monkey:

Comedy Theatre Childrens Musicals and Opera Cabaret Spoken Word 

Performance Spaces available in Brass Monkey:

The Cinema Room: A cosy 38 Capacity Room (including standing) on the ground floor

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts


Cabaret Voltaire

Cabaret Voltaire (Fringe Venue 338)

36-38 Blair Street. Phone: 0131 247 4704

Click here for map

 Bar Food WiFi 18+ Only

Cabaret Voltaire has been a Fringe venue for a number of years, and is now part of the Free Festival, with four performance spaces and a music/DJ stage spread over three floors its a busy and vibrant venue. It's located right in the centre of things, just of the Cowgate and seconds from the Royal Mile - close to the City Cafe, Tron, Caves and Free Sisters Venues.

Performance Genres possible at Cabaret Voltaire:

Comedy Theatre Events and Tours Music Musicals and Opera Nightclubs Cabaret Chat Shows Spoken Word 

Performance Spaces available in Cabaret Voltaire:

Main Room: 120 Seated Capacity (plus standing room) space, very flexible large rectangular room with full PA, raised stage and backstage area

The Long Room: A long room split into two parts with overall capacity of 105 - A cosy 60 Seat and 10 standing space room, with an overflow area with a further 15 seats and 20 standing spaces.

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts


The City Café

The City Café (Fringe Venue 85)

19 Blair Street. Phone: 0131 220 0125

Click here for map

 Bar Food WiFi AirCon All ages until 9pm, then 18+ only

Located on Blair Street, between the Royal Mile and Cowgate, the City Café is right in the heart of the Fringe. Refurbished downstairs in late 2017, there are now three small performance spaces which are all sound proofed and air-conditioned. It's been a Free Festival venue since 2008 the City Café has always been a in the thick of things, with performances inside, and the vibrant street performances from the Royal Mile and Tron Square Outside.

Performance Genres possible at The City Café:

Comedy Theatre Childrens Events and Tours Music Musicals and Opera Cabaret Spoken Word 

Performance Spaces available in The City Café:

Hollywood: 30 capacity, with 25 seats. Low ceiling, lights and small PA system. Decorated with a Hollywood Theme.

Las Vegas: 40 capacity, with 35 seats. Low ceiling, lights and small PA system. Decorated with a Las Vegas Theme.

Nineties: 25 capacity, with 20 seats. Low ceiling, lights and small PA system. Decorated with a 90's Theme.

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts


The Counting House

The Counting House (Fringe Venue 170)

38 West Nicolson Street. Phone: 0131 667 7533

Click here for map

 Bar Food WiFi All ages until 9pm, then 18+ only

This year the Counting House remains a bustling hub of the Fringe, with two performance spaces and access to the lively bar and Courtyard of the Pear Tree Below. There's more shows in the basement venue 32 Below too. The Counting House is located right in the heart of the area most associated with the Fringe, within seconds of venues in George Square and Bristo Square

Performance Genres possible at The Counting House:

Comedy Theatre Childrens Events and Tours Music Musicals and Opera Cabaret Spoken Word 

Performance Spaces available in The Counting House:

The Attic: A 40 capacity room, 30 seated and 10 standing - on the 2nd floor, ideal for solo performances with flat stage and no backstage

The Ballroom: 150 seated capacity and one of the premier performance spaces on the Fringe, with a large raised stage, backstage area, wing space, and full lighting and PA. Suitable for all manner of productions, large and small.

The Loft: A 40 capacity room, 30 seated and 10 standing - on the 2nd floor, ideal for solo performances with flat stage and no backstage

The Lounge: An intimate space, with 55 seats, ideal for solo/duo performances.

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts


Dragonfly

Dragonfly (Fringe Venue 411)

52 West Port (Just off of Grassmarket). Phone: 0131 228 4543

Click here for map

 Bar Food WiFi Strictly 18+ Only

Dragonfly Cocktail Bar was re-established in 2018 as a revival of the original spirit of the Edinburgh cocktail scene and it has been a Fringe venue for much longer, with a history of successful shows in a venue located just off of the Grassmarket. Following 'Hero's of Fringe' decision to stop producing shows, the venue has moved over to the Free Festival for the first time in 2022.

Performance Genres possible at Dragonfly :

Comedy Theatre Childrens Musicals and Opera Cabaret Spoken Word 

Performance Spaces available in Dragonfly :

Main Room: 45 seated capacity Room, with small backstage area.

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts


Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys (Fringe Venue 289)

7 Merchant St (Off Candlemaker Row). Phone: 0131 225 2002

Click here for map

 Bar AirCon 18+ only

Benefitting from a central Location, just off of the Cowgate, and also with a dedicated venue promotion team Dropkick’s is a large venue open through the year as a nightclub, and we will have shows in the space from lunchtime to early evening,

Performance Genres possible at Dropkick Murphys:

Comedy Theatre Events and Tours Music Musicals and Opera Nightclubs Spoken Word Cabaret 

Performance Spaces available in Dropkick Murphys:

Main Room: 100-120 capacity room, in high celing venue - large raised stage

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts


The Hanover Tap

The Hanover Tap (Fringe Venue 259)

112 Hanover Street. Phone: 0131 225 2022

Click here for map

 Bar Food WiFi 18+ only

Located on Hanover Street, The Hanover Tap was completely refurbished in 2019 and it focuses on delivering great beer and food in a comfortable urban environment. Previously this bar was the Jekyll & Hyde, and has been one of the Free Festival's longest running venues - literally just around the corner from George Street and Princes Street Gardens.

Performance Genres possible at The Hanover Tap:

Comedy Theatre Events and Tours Music Musicals and Opera Cabaret Spoken Word 

Performance Spaces available in The Hanover Tap:

The Wee Tap: 60 Seats in an L-shaped room, with a flat stage. A cosy and modern space. A room which is always popular with crowds and performers.

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts


The Pear Tree

The Pear Tree (Fringe Venue 257)

38 West Nicolson Street. Phone: 0131 667 7533

Click here for map

 Bar Food WiFi All ages until 6pm, then 18+ only

The Pear Tree is located underneath the Counting House, and has a huge and popular outdoor courtyard, seating over 200, and next to a large indoor bar. This venue forms a large complex with the Counting House, Ushers and Pear Tree Venues that is a real Fringe Hub moments from Fringe Central, The Gilded Balloon and the Pleasance Dome.

Performance Genres possible at The Pear Tree:

Comedy Theatre Events and Tours Music Musicals and Opera Nightclubs Cabaret Spoken Word 

Performance Spaces available in The Pear Tree:

Pear Tree Indoor Stage: 100 Capacity, 120 capacity with standing. Rectangular room - mixture of cbaret and theatre style seating

The Courtyard Stage: Large covered outdoor stage overlooking busy 300 capacity courtyard area, suitable for bands and other performances suited to this. Complete with power, lighting, video projection and full PA.

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts


The Three Sisters

The Three Sisters (Fringe Venue 272)

139 Cowgate. Phone: 0131 622 6802

Click here for map

 Accessible Bar Food AirCon All ages until 8pm, then 18+ only

Described as “The Free Festival’s version of the Pleasance Courtyard”, the Free Sisters is located on the Cowgate, right in the middle of town. Usually a multi-room venue located around the courtyard, this year there are shows in one room next to the courtyard, which is now an outdoor drinking area full of tables for before and after shows.

Performance Genres possible at The Three Sisters:

Comedy Theatre Childrens Courses Events and Tours Music Musicals and Opera Cabaret Spoken Word 

Performance Spaces available in The Three Sisters:

Maggie's Chamber: Upstairs 120 capacity all seated, with raised stage, full PA system and lighting, and small backstage. Ideal for cabaret shows and the room can be set with small tables or theatre style. Projector and Screen available.

Maggie's Front Room : A smaller room adjacent to Maggies chamber, with a 70 seat capacity theatre style, small stage on the flat and full PA system.

The Courtyard: A flexible outdoor stage, suitable for music, busking and street performance

The Live Room: Located at the back of the main downstairs bar, with raised stage, lighting, PA and a capacity of 120

The Wee Room: A small and intimate 20 capacity room ideal for comedy shows and intimate solo theatre or music

Click here for full details, tech specs and room layouts



Free Festival Venues

In 2022, we look forward to welcoming you back to these venues in Edinburgh...


View Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival Venues in a larger map.