Restricted Access - Edinburgh

[leelive]

If you know of any venue in Edinburgh that has Restricted Access could you post details here:

The Balmoral - Loading only. Parking on Regent Road (10min walk away)
Royal Overseas League - Small vehicles only can get to back. Not suitable for trailers or boxvans. No parking after unloading.

[Shaun]

Not restricted access as such but it was a nightmare all the same. Perhaps this thread could be for tricky venues in general, where we could list venues with sound limiters etc?

Tricky one for me lately was....

Botanic Gardens Edinburgh

Almost ripped the undercarriage and exhaust off the van driving into the gate as the road has a weird bevel. You have to drive in at an angle or say bye bye to your exhaust.

Parking isn't too bad for unloading, but the limited space meant I had to move the van a few times to let others out.

Access is via a small lift to the upper level, then a slalom course through the tables and chairs in the restaurant to get to the setup area.

Power was also a problem. There is only a double socket in the setup area (when I say in the setup area I mean about 15 metres from where I was to setup). Only one of the sockets on the double socket worked. I had to run another extension to an outside power point that wasn't properly shielded from the outside elements......and it started to rain so I had to unplug that.

Problems aside, the staff couldn't have been nicer. I'd left home without batteries for my radio mic and asked them where the nearest shop was. They sent one of the waiters to a shop for me and wouldn't take the money for the batteries; so I just gave the waiter a tip instead.

[leelive]

I should also add:
Barcelo Carlton Hotel - No parking before 6:30pm (though if like the Balmoral may now be no parking anytime). Lift hard to get when hotel is busy. They do have a baggage trolley but it still has to be unloaded halfway down the upstair corridor due to a series of steps before the main room.
Lee

[Nightowl Discotheques]

Traverse Theatre Bar..... Great Staff However !

[leelive]

The Scotsman Hotel

This has to be the most difficult venue for access I have ever encountered.

Next time I have to go there I am downsizing. No trailer. Just two speakers.. two lights etc... all in my car.

Unloading is restricted on North Bridge so it has to be done 4 levels below in Market Street!!

After speaking with a Blue Meanie (the affectionate term for Parking attendants in Edinburgh)... I discovered that I could unhitch my trailer and leave it in Market Street and he could do nothing about it as it didn't have an engine! I parked my car a few blocks away.

The lift from the basement is tiny and in contant useage.

I arrived a 4:45pm and was all set-up by 7:15pm. That is double the normal time. I didn't take in my bass-bins!!

Later, when I went back for my trailer it was baracaded in by the security outside a busy nightclub!! It is so dodgy down there that the Hotel reception would not allow me to keep the door open. Was told to buzz back in each time!!

I decided to move back up to North Bridge.

Took two hours to get on the road!!

Really not worth the hassle.

Lee

[Shaun]

Anyone played at the George Hotel? Apparently access is a nightmare too. Double yellow lines outside and parking 15 minutes away?

Can anyone clarify?

[Shaun]

The Balmoral - Loading only. Parking on Regent Road (10min walk away)


I was at the Balmoral last night. Never again. The worst access I've ever encountered....ANYWHERE!

[Jiggles]

I was at the Balmoral last night. Never again. The worst access I've ever encountered....ANYWHERE!

The amount of bits of trussing and flight cases i have seen hire company's bring out of there they seem to get on fine. XD. =P.

[Shaun]

Access is on North bridge which was almost gridlocked with the amount of traffic plus the traffic lights. There are double yellow lines and ram-packed bus lanes on the bridge, I had to fight my way into the bus lane and drive onto the pavement to get near the access door.....with hundreds of Christmas shoppers staring daggers at me. The other entrance (main one at the front) was totally inaccessible.

Complete nightmare. Never again!