Summerhall
Summerhall
4
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Monday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Friday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
About
“One of the world’s great arts venues” (Mark Cousins, The Guardian), Summerhall is situated in the heart of Edinburgh, and offers diverse programmes of theatre, live music, film, visual arts and performance. Alongside its unique year-round events programme, Summerhall is also one of Edinburgh’s premier Edinburgh Festival Fringe venues, winning multiple Fringe First and Total Theatre awards and bringing leading theatre-makers to the festival. The venue is home to a varied community of creative artists and businesses (including two cafe-bars), and is a major cultural destination where audiences meet and mix, and where artists and performers are inspired to make and present their best work.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Southside & Holyrood
Many of Edinburgh’s student hangouts gather around university buildings in Southside, the sort of neighbourhood that supports a long string of second-hand shops and eateries serving ethnic food for just a few pounds. In August the student population is replaced by vast numbers of boisterous visitors here for the Fringe, Edinburgh’s world-class comedy and arts festival which headquarters itself here. Flanking Southside are two great parks. The Meadows is a vast flat and sporty space where football, rugby, tennis, cricket, croquet, and golf often all take place side by side. Kids in its big playgrounds add to the joyful noise. Far bigger and much wilder, Holyrood Park extends to the east and provides a real hike up Arthur’s Seat, but the district is best known as the site of Scotland’s Parliament and its premier Royal Palace—and their steady stream of sightseers.
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520 within 10 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
60 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
19
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
10
Katy V
1 contribution
Nov 2022
Although no doubt popular with the student community, a couple of railings could be attached to the front entrance to help other age groups. If running a cafe, attention needs to be paid to basic staff appearance and hygiene. Please do not insult potential customers with nonsense about ritual hand washing at the front entrance and refusal to take cash in payment. Decide whether the venue is being run on commercial lines or as a downmarket expression of WEF ideology.
Written 13 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vic M
Dundee, UK3 contributions
Sep 2021
As a musical gig venue, this place doesn't work (I have nothing but praise for the outdoor area and the small bar) BUT when you attend a gig here, you're met with a bottle neck situation as soon as you arrive in the room. The show area is small, you can't access a view from the overly long bar that no doubt aids the capacity of the venue, but I'm aghast as to why promoters still think this is a wise choice for Edinburgh when there's a dozen more that can facilitate it far better for gig goers. There's a few acts who are playing here in the near future I'd love to see, but having had one experience there, I wouldn't return, I may as well sit in the lav for the entirety of the gig and flush my £30 down the sh*tter.
Written 8 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris W
Blaxton, UK258 contributions
Jun 2022
A really nice building. Lovely courtyard and the bar at the back serving Barney's Beers was brilliant.
Written 6 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johnc
Edinburgh, UK5 contributions
May 2022
What a lack of flexibility! I realise that organisations need to run to a clock... but Arrived just immediately before 12 to ask for breakfast and was told sorry we shift to lunch menu at 12 ( By the time I worked my way through the queue it was a few minutes after 12). Staff at front desk seemed to me to be more interested in winning a pointless argument and making the customer feel in the wrong. I have to say that getting a call to say that they(Pete) had gone through the CCTV and that I arrived at 11.59 is bit discomforting!! How many years and how much have I spent going to this place. Without wishing to accept defeat tomorrow I will present at 11.57
Written 16 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ken s
Dundee, UK34 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
I was a guest at a wedding here as a first time guest at this establishment. I found the premises cold and for elevenses and drinks we were directed to an outdoor buffet, the temperature was 8 degrees and people were so cold they starting drifting in to anyplace in the building to be warmer. . The main wedding meal was served as a choice of salmon or steak. The salmon most people finished and the steak which nobody including myself finished . At no time were the guests offered a choice of how they wanted their steak done, mine was rare as was all the other ones I saw. The carrots and potatoes were stone cold and I mean stone cold. Someone suggested that they were supposed to be like that. In my long lifetime I've never had steak with cold vegetables. By this time I was pretty hungry but didn't eat any of the single choice of brown bread. At least I looked forward to the sticky toffee pudding of which I've eaten the length and breadth of Britain. No chef can go wrong with this one. Oh yes they can.... Sticky doughy pudding would have been a more suitable name. I ate one spoon ful and that was enough. I won't be back to summerhall and if I was paying I would have asked for a refund
Written 2 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi. Thanks for taking the time to leave us feedback. Summerhall weren't providing catering services for this event - external catering was organised by the wedding clients - but we appreciate your feedback nonetheless. We hope you'll consider returning in the future to sample Summerhall's food and drink offerings!
Written 5 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TheWaterCloset
Glasgow, UK175 contributions
Oct 2021
We went to Summerhall for a recent gig, and the venue was brilliant. Although the layout is a bit compressed and there isnt a lot of space in certain areas, the whole experience of going to a gig at the Summerhall is a great experience. The drinks were reasonable and the staff were really friendly during the gig.
Written 7 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IAN D
Wigan, UK19,557 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
This is a very quirky place once being the university veterinary school. Now a multi use complex. We visited Pickerings gin distillery and also the Royal Dick bar.
Written 27 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marketing Man
Galashiels, UK1 contribution
Dec 2019 • Solo
Visited in December to see an exhibition at Summerhall but it was colder inside than it was outside!
Having previously studied in Edinburgh I was looking forward to seeing what had changed in the place - sad to see not much has changed. The whole place looks a bit “shabby” but not in a “chic” way. The cafe was pretty cold as well so decided not to make a visit.
The area beside reception was just a mass and clutter of leaflets and posters - not a great first impression at a venue and suggests a sense of utter chaos..
The exhibition itself wasn’t bad - just let down by a poor venue. As others have posted this place has potential but sadly for me seems to lack a bit of TLC.
Having previously studied in Edinburgh I was looking forward to seeing what had changed in the place - sad to see not much has changed. The whole place looks a bit “shabby” but not in a “chic” way. The cafe was pretty cold as well so decided not to make a visit.
The area beside reception was just a mass and clutter of leaflets and posters - not a great first impression at a venue and suggests a sense of utter chaos..
The exhibition itself wasn’t bad - just let down by a poor venue. As others have posted this place has potential but sadly for me seems to lack a bit of TLC.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travellingfifer79
Edinburgh, UK14 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Summerhall used to be the home of the Royal Dick Vet college but has now been turned into a multi purpose arts venue.
This place has so much potential but at the moment is such a let down - grubby in places and cold! It feels more like being back at school (but maybe that’s the look they are going for given the history) but doesn’t work as a contemporary arts venue. Also felt that the building was freezing cold (especially some of the larger rooms!).
In conclusion it’s definitely got potential - maybe just needs to decide it’s identity
This place has so much potential but at the moment is such a let down - grubby in places and cold! It feels more like being back at school (but maybe that’s the look they are going for given the history) but doesn’t work as a contemporary arts venue. Also felt that the building was freezing cold (especially some of the larger rooms!).
In conclusion it’s definitely got potential - maybe just needs to decide it’s identity
Written 24 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SimonJohnPollard
Wilmslow, UK6 contributions
Oct 2019
Having graduated from the R(D)SVS in 1989, this is my first visit back. I was shocked by Summerhall’s appearance along with the disrespect and disregard for the site’s illustrious history.
One would have imagined that arts organisations would present and use the building to its best, unfortunately it no longer has any character and the courtyard resembles a slum.
So upsetting.
One would have imagined that arts organisations would present and use the building to its best, unfortunately it no longer has any character and the courtyard resembles a slum.
So upsetting.
Written 13 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SheenaL74
West Calder, UK13 contributions
Is there parking here?
Summerhall
Edinburgh, UK
Hi Sheena,
There are no available parking spaces at Summerhall, however there are some non-permit spaces nearby the building around the Sciennes Road, Melville Terrace and Causewayside areas.
Thanks,
Summerhall Reception
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Frequently Asked Questions about Summerhall
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