Custom House Leith
Lily Allen to headline Hogmanay
Sheraton is very grand!
Craig Hill sweeps Edinburgh’s streets
Your reviews
The council will ratify the decision to purchase Customs House in Leith when it meets next week. The building will cost £650,000 and it is proposed that the council sets it up as a museum. The problem is that the council have not yet quite finalised the plans for the building, but they had to go ahead and buy it anyway as it was seen to be a one-off opportunity. So if the negotiations which the council is having with third parties to decide upon the use of the Custom House are not concluded by next spring the council may be left to carry the expense of renovations.
Councillor Richard Lewis will chair a project group to oversee the future proposals. There are clearly financial risks in this strategy, but if the council have paid only market value for the building, as stated in the report, then even if they had to sell the building on, it appears that they are starting from a reasonable position.
That has to be balanced against the risk of losing the building for the community in Leith who are desperately keen to establish a museum. If the council had made a conditional offer for the property then National Museums Scotland would not have accepted it and would instead have placed the property on the open market. This is part of the flagship projects envisaged by the Tourism BID, one of two being established in the port.
The price will be paid from the Common Good Fund which currently has a balance of £1.6m.
***
Pop superstar Lily Allen will headline Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2014/15 ‘Concert in the Gardens’.
The concert is organised by Unique Events on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council.
This special headline show will end a spectacular year for Lily Allen and will be the final show of her 2014 world tour.
On her headline appearance at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, Lily Allen has said: ‘I’ve always wanted to spend Hogmanay in Scotland so the fact that I get to do it this year but performing onstage in front of a whole load of people up for the best time makes it extra special. I can’t wait.”
Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals and Events Champion for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Edinburgh’s Hogmanay has long been the envy of cities across the globe and the celebrations to bring in the start 2015 are set to be no exception. Headliner Lily Allen is sure to be a big hit with revellers, and coupled with an absolutely spectacular fireworks display, we are aiming to yet again bring together and entertain thousands of people as the capital brings in the bells.”
Pete Irvine, Artistic Director of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, said: ‘We are delighted to announce Lily Allen in this the final week of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Lily’s had a great year headlining at festivals and playing all over the world. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is THE New Year party, Lily is THE party girl.’
Recently listed as the only event/festival in the ‘Discovery Channel – Top 25 World Travel Experiences’, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is recognised globally as one of the world’s best New Year celebrations and last year welcomed visitors from over 60 countries to celebrate at the ‘Home of Hogmanay’.
Over three-days of spectacular free and ticketed events in 2013/14, audiences of over 130,000 joined the celebrations, with 5 of 6 main ticketed events sold-out before the 31st December.
How to buy tickets
Revellers can purchase tickets for Concert in the Gardens and all other Edinburgh’s Hogmanay events including Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party, The Keilidh at the Street Party, Torchlight Procession and Concert in St Giles’ Cathedral from 10am Friday 22 August through
The Edinburgh Hogmanay website
By calling Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Box Office on 0844 573 8455 or by calling into the Hogmanay Box Office at The Fringe Office, 180 High Street, Edinburgh.
***
The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa has been voted Scotland’s Leading Hotel in the World Travel Awards for the second year running. These awards are nominated by travel and tourism professionals worldwide and this accolade recognises the Sheraton Grand’s commitment to excellence in the past 12 months. Hailed as ‘the Oscars of the travel industry’, World Travel Awards is acknowledged as the ultimate travel accolade that aims to celebrate those organisations that are pushing the boundaries of industry excellence.
Tristan Nesbitt, General Manager at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa said: “To win this award for the second year running is exceptional recognition for my team. This award is voted by our clients and guests so is testament to our warm welcome and high levels of Scottish hospitality with excellent service. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to welcome our travellers and Edinburgh locals who remain loyal to the Sheraton Grand.”
***
Fringe stalwart Craig Hill kept it clean when he helped City of Edinburgh Council’s street cleansing team spruce up the capital during the Festival.
The comedy veteran and Edinburgh resident pitched in to help the local task force tackle one of the summer’s busiest spots, against the familiar backdrop of his own promotional posters at Middle Meadow Walk.
Craig is one of hundreds of performers to be promoting their shows using the Council’s official advertising, which for the first year will generate thousands of pounds towards keeping the city clean during the festival.
The scheme, now in is in its fourth year, dissuades illegal fly-posters by providing alternative advertising opportunities, saving the Council up to £350,000 on the cost of cleaning away flyers and posters.
And now, for the first time, revenue from the advertising contract with print and distribution company Out of Hand, in partnership with Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, will be ploughed back into keeping the city beautiful for residents and visitors.
Money gained from the contract to advertise on Council-owned assets will be used to fund additional street cleansing and litter capacity over the busy festival period.
Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Last year’s Fringe Festival Advertising proved a real success so now it’s great to be able to harness this to help keep our city beautiful for everyone.
“Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an amazing experience for performers, visitors and people living in Edinburgh, but it has an undoubted impact on the city’s environment.
“That’s why we’re glad to be able to work with Out of Hand and Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society to provide a solution benefitting both citizens and those making the most of this world-famous festival.”
The City of Edinburgh Council’s outdoor advertising poster project, delivered by Out of Hand, provides different styles of advertising on around 900 Council-owned assets throughout the city, including wrap-around lamp post advertising and tower columns.
Revenue gained from advertising of performances during the period will fund operational costs associated with the Fringe.
Amongst these measures are the employment of more than 70 temporary street cleaners to patrol the city’s streets to tackle litter resulting from increased footfall and a batch of extra large bins, to be located in some of the city’s busiest areas to cope with the rise in rubbish.
Comedian Craig Hill added: “Edinburgh is so gorgeous I’m really pleased that one of the Council’s priorities is keeping it clean because it’s too beautiful a city to mess up!”
***
If you have been to see something side splittingly funny or a show which made you think then do share your reviews with us. The EdinburghReportage site has an Edinburgh Festivals page which is waiting for your views.
Please put up photos, video or text here.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
