Edinburgh Festivals

[danhibees1875]

Edinburgh will seem quite a different place this August!

I enjoy the annual fringe thread on .net for people's reviews and suggestions which sadly won't be happening this year but wondered people's wider thoughts on the festivals in Edinburgh at this time of year.

Personally I love them and think they add loads to the city. However I quite often read comments on Facebook and news articles from people who claim that residents of Edinburgh hate the festival and how busy the city gets throughout August. :dunno:

What are people's thoughts? Do you like having this on your door step, or does it not interest you and make life harder for the month? Either way, will you enjoy a break from it this year?

[-Jonesy-]

It’s going to be the death of a massive number of hotels and restaurants in the city centre this year.

[overdrive]

I don’t think some of the festivals will survive, nevermind the bars and hotels.

[Pretty Boy]

It’s going to be the death of a massive number of hotels and restaurants in the city centre this year.

The Festival isn't as lucrative for bars and restaurants as some believe. The sheer volume of people in the city means they are of course busier but the rise of festival 'hubs' and venues having multiple pop up bars means they draw in a lot of the trade. How much of that money then stays in Edinburgh is an interesting debate.

I can take or leave the Festival. I enjoy a couple of days taking in the Fringe but I can't say I'm particularly distraught it isn't happening this year. It's infinitely preferable to the tacky theme park schmaltz that is 'Edinburghs Christmas' and 'Edinburghs Hogmanay'.

[Speedy]

I like the festival. Will be a big miss.

[Peevemor]

I used to complain as much as anyone about having to live and work through the festival while always acknowledging that it's brilliant and that I was lucky to have that problem.

I brought my girls to Scotland for the first time last year and made sure the 3-4 days we had in Edinburgh were during the festival.

[CropleyWasGod]

I'm an enormous fan of the Festivals. I usually do about 25-30 events every year.

It will be a big hole in my year, but I'm really intrigued to see what August feels and looks like without it.

[Scouse Hibee]

The Festival isn't as lucrative for bars and restaurants as some believe. The sheer volume of people in the city means they are of course busier but the rise of festival 'hubs' and venues having multiple pop up bars means they draw in a lot of the trade. How much of that money then stays in Edinburgh is an interesting debate.

I can take or leave the Festival. I enjoy a couple of days taking in the Fringe but I can't say I'm particularly distraught it isn't happening this year. It's infinitely preferable to the tacky theme park schmaltz that is 'Edinburghs Christmas' and 'Edinburghs Hogmanay'.

That certainly isn’t the case for the Vittoria Group, the loss of the festival is a massive blow to the business financially.

[neil7908]

Edinburgh is extraordinary lucky to have the biggest arts festival in the world at our doorstep. I do find myself getting a bit worn out by the end of August but it's bar far one of the best things about Edinburgh.

Going to be a huge loss this year

[Jamesie]

The Festival isn't as lucrative for bars and restaurants as some believe. The sheer volume of people in the city means they are of course busier but the rise of festival 'hubs' and venues having multiple pop up bars means they draw in a lot of the trade. How much of that money then stays in Edinburgh is an interesting debate.

I know from having friends in the trade that for a long time, August was one of the quieter months of the year for George Street venues given, as you say, there was so much on the southern side of the city centre (often also with 3am / 5am licenses) that meant the George Street clientele would be heading elsewhere.

[Jamesie]

That certainly isn’t the case for the Vittoria Group, the loss of the festival is a massive blow to the business financially.

On the basis that their two largest venues in terms of number of covers are bang in the centre of Festival-land, it’s no wonder.

[Pretty Boy]

That certainly isn’t the case for the Vittoria Group, the loss of the festival is a massive blow to the business financially.

Of course there are venues that do well out of the Festival and it will be a huge blow to them when compounded with everything else.

There are others though who don't make anything like as much out of the Festival as seems to be believed.

[SuperAllyMcleod]

Edinburgh is extraordinary lucky to have the biggest arts festival in the world at our doorstep. I do find myself getting a bit worn out by the end of August but it's bar far one of the best things about Edinburgh.

Going to be a huge loss this year

This is me, I don’t think people realise quite how lucky they are to have this major event on their doorstep every year.

As a comedy fan I’ve seen loads of great acts before they go on to bigger things over the years. I’ve also seen some dross but that’s another story. [emoji16]

I’ll certainly miss it this year but hope to embrace it on it’s return next year.

[Smartie]

I think it might have been in the book “Why England Lose” that I read this.

It was mainly about the benefits of holding major tournaments - does hosting a World Cup of the likes give a huge financial benefit to the host?

The answer is often no, although events like that have a huge emotional benefit for the host.

A city like Edinburgh has tourists all year round. To survive, restaurants etc need to be busy all year round. There are also loads of “pop up” caterers that add supply to meet the increased demand during the festival.

There will be certain big losers who depend on the festival who will miss out. I expect there to be a huge, negative impact on individuals but as a city I reckon it will be weathered.

Taxi drivers and the like will probably take a bit of a doing again.