Why Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, steeped in history, offering traditional, dynamic and unique venues alongside the city’s rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes. It has a great arts scene famous for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (the largest arts festival in the world) and the annual Edinburgh Tattoo.
Here are our top reasons why you should book a venue in Edinburgh for your next event:
Accessibility
Edinburgh is well-connected by air, rail, and road, making it accessible for both national and international attendees. The Edinburgh Airport is a major hub, and the city’s central location in the UK makes it a convenient choice for conferences.
WHAT DOES EDINBURGH HAVE TO OFFER?
Edinburgh offers a variety of venue options, from historic castles and palaces to modern conference centres and hotels. This diversity allows you to find a venue that suits your event’s specific requirements and theme, ranging from small meetings to large conferences. The city has a variety of venues with state-of-the-art technology and amenities to meet the needs of different types of conferences.
If your event is related to academia, research, or education, Edinburgh is home to prestigious universities and research institutions. Hosting your event in proximity or with the support of these institutions can facilitate collaborations and attract relevant participants.
Edinburgh is known for its rich history and cultural heritage. The city is home to iconic landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and the Palace of Holyrood. Hosting a conference in a city with such a vibrant cultural scene can add a unique and memorable aspect to the event.
Edinburgh is renowned for its festivals, including the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe. If your event is related to arts, culture, or entertainment, being in a city with a vibrant festival atmosphere can enhance the overall experience.
KEY VENUES IN EDINBURGH
Here are a few of our favourite venues in Edinburgh that we think would suit you:
The Balmoral Hotel
The Balmoral is located in the heart of Edinburgh, at No 1 Princes Street, overlooking Edinburgh Castle. W. Hamilton Beattie and A.R. Scott won a competition to design the hotel – known then as The North British Station Hotel. The Balmoral Hotel was opened on the 15th October 1902
An Edinburgh landmark with its majestic clock tower.
- Located eight miles from Edinburgh International Airport and is adjacent to Waverley Rail Station.
- 187 bedrooms – many of which have views of Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town and the surrounding hills.
- ten private meeting and event suites, all with stunning views
- Sir Walter Scott Suite is the largest suite, taking up to 150 cabaret or 320 for a dinner.
- three dining spaces including Brasserie Prince, the Palm Court for afternoon teas and No One, a 4 AA Rosette Restaurant.
- Take part in one of the experiences the Hotel can organise for you; Choose from the Scent Butler Experience, Whisky Experience or visit Holyrood Palace and the Royal Yacht Britannia. Visit the workshop and ateliers during the Tartan & Tailors Day or why not create your own bespoke tartan design?
Bruntsfield Hotel
This boutique townhouse Hotel has been around since 1861 when William Craig, a renowned doctor and botanist, resided there. It is located within walking distance of the Castle, Royal Mile and Princes Street Garden
£5.00 from each Meeting Package will go to Invisible Cities.
We really like this initiative. Invisible Cities are a social enterprise that trains people who have experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides in their city, in this case, Edinburgh
- The Hotel has two meeting rooms
- The largest is the Cardoon Suite, which can take up to 80 theatre-style or 50 classroom. This room has its own private entrance as well as direct access to their garden terrace.
- The Blythswood can take up to 8 boardroom style
voco Edinburgh – Royal Terrace
voco Edinburgh – Royal Terrace is located at the edge of Edinburgh’s New Town. It is a 10-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverly station and a 25-minute taxi ride from Edinburgh Airport.
Expect a hotel full of character, where everything is delivered with an informal, unstuffy attitude
- This Hotel also gives £5.00 from each Meeting Package to Invisible Cities
- There are two meeting rooms – the largest is the Balmoral which can seat up to 100 theatre style or 36 cabaret style
- The other meeting room is the Duke of Edinburgh Suite seating 14 boardroom
- 103 bedrooms
- The Terrace Restaurant has a bright and airy conservatory feel and opens onto the hotel’s private Garden – such a treat in the middle of Edinburgh!
Murrayfield Stadium
As the home of Scottish international rugby, Murrayfield is one of the most prestigious stadiums in the UK. Located a mile from Edinburgh city centre
Make your event memorable with a trackside arrival whilst showing your company name on the large arena screens or arrange a tour for your delegates to the Scotland Team Changing Rooms and players tunnel.
- Having its own tram station means the connection to the stadium to Edinburgh Airport and the nearby City Centre is easy
- two main conference suites
- 16 Breakout rooms available
- Free parking for cars & coaches
- Can seat up to 600 guests Theatre Style
- Natural daylight in most suites
Dundas Castle
Set in its own 400-acre estate, yet only 12 miles from Edinburgh city centre and 5 miles from the airport, Dundas Castle offers all the comforts and high standards associated with a five-star hotel. It is hired on an exclusive use basis, so it is yours for the duration of your event.
Be the laird of your very own 15th-century castle located just outside of Edinburgh at this exclusive-use venue
- Private estate over 400 acres with a variety of activities on site, including a 9-hole golf course, clay pigeon shooting and a 4 x 4 driving course.
There are ten rooms available for you to use including:
- The Pavilion is the largest space located within the grounds and can take up to 200 theatre style, 128 cabaret style and 200 for a dinner dance
- The Croquet Room is an elegant room ideal for dining for up to 60 people or for 28 people for a boardroom style meeting
- The mediaeval setting of the Stag Chambers lends itself to whisky tasting and a Scottish themed dinner for up to 25 guests
- ten double and seven twin bedrooms.
WHAT ELSE CAN DESOUZA ASSOCIATES DO FOR YOU?
Event Management & Planning
DeSouza Associates are professional event organisers with lots of experience in managing and planning events, providing key impartial advice on venues, food and entertainment! You can find more information about how we can help you with event management and planning here.
Team Building
Team building is a vital aspect of successful organisations. We, along with our suppliers, can help create inspirational team-building exercises. Whether you’re looking for in-person or virtual team building, we can facilitate what you are looking for. Here are a few of our team-building ideas.
Virtual and Hybrid Events
We’ve all lived through unprecedented times recently when it wasn’t possible to meet up in person and everything went online. With that in mind, we can provide you with highly engaging events through our virtual events.
Alternatively, you may be looking to organise a hybrid event, a physical event but also live streamed to online delegates who can participate remotely. This can be complex and confusing. Together with our partners, we will help you simplify the process and work with you to pull off a fab event!
If you would like to learn more about all of the services we offer and how we can help you with your event needs, then please head over to our services page.
