£ 25 million renovation for the gardens of West Princes Street

Open-air cinema screenings under Edinburgh Castle are on offer as part of a £ 25 million renovation to the gardens of West Princes Street. Outdoor events were proposed for a site next to the 19th century Ross fountain in a future park plan.

The proposals emerged in consultative plans for the Quaich project before a formal planning request was made early this year. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is just closer to its 70th birthday that’s are celebrating in August 2020. Edinburgh Tattoo fans who want to join this iconic festival can buy 2020 Tattoo Tickets from our most consistent and unfailing online platform.

£ 25 million renovation for the gardens of West Princes Street

The project, supported by Hollywood star Alan Cumming and rock singer KT Tunstall, was set up by the city council and the Ross Development Trust, which was created by hotel developer Norman Springford to help with the renovation of the gardens.

Donors to the Quaich project, which launched an international fundraising campaign with Cumming and Tunstall in New York last month, say they want to "reimagine the gardens of West Princes Street as space for everyone to celebrate and enjoy new ways. "

The site, which is also reserved for potential farmers' markets in the new master plan, is located near the home of the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Lothian Road.

A weekend of free outdoor film screenings was held in St Andrew Square the weekend before the film festival started in recent years. 

However, a recent crackdown on the staging of events in the private garden has led to the closure of the city's festive skating rink. Film screenings have already taken place at Grassmarket and The Mound.

The Ross Development Trust has already stated that major sporting events could be broadcast in the gardens in the future. The producer of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Brigadier David Allfrey, also suggested showing the highlights of the event.

The Quaich consultation document suggests "we can draw inspiration from other big cities to create a family space that the Scottish capital can be proud of."

He adds: "An elevated area will provide an appropriate setting for the Ross Fountain as well as potential future uses such as outdoor film screenings or farmers' markets."

David Ellis, Managing Director of the Ross Development Trust, who is leading the Quaich project, said: “These are just suggestions that have been mentioned by groups we have spoken to.

"These are not our suggestions - these are suggestions that have been made to us. It will not be up to us to decide which events will take place in the gardens. It will be up to the council."

Only about thirty events, including a series of pop and rock concerts "Summer Sessions", the Edinburgh International Festival fireworks finale and a Hogmanay concert are currently being held in the gardens throughout the year due to the dilapidated state of the existing Ross. Music kiosk, restrictions on truck access to the gardens and lack of indoor facilities.

However, the city council has suggested that 200 new events of various sizes could be held thereafter the garden transformation is complete, including music, dance, theater, children's entertainment and comedy. American rock star Amanda Palmer launched One O’Clock Fun, a new series of lunchtime events.

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