Pleasance Cabaret Bar

Ok so if you're living in Edinburgh and haven't noticed its FESTIVAL TIME! theres something wrong with you.... Or you're one of the many Edinburgers who've hidden them self away for the month of August until all the madness and tourists subside....

Me I love the festival and spend so much time in the Pleasance Courtyard waiting for shows... Im an old timer... So the trick is to get in early say around 5pm to get a good seat for the evening preferably with shelter as its Edinburgh and we all know what happens during summer at regular intervals...

Loads of seating and bars, food stalls and a gorgeous barbecue... my tip is the £4.50 hamburger.. GOOD VALUE! Lets face it if you're sitting in the courtyard this August you will at some point buy something from the barbecue as the smell is amazing! Good toilet facilities (if the upstairs ones inside are too busy try the portoloos around the back theres like 20 of them and they are always relatively clean)

My HUGE tip for the Pleasance Courtyard is - go right down to the back past the barbecue down the stairs and there is the most amazing private beer garden away from the hustle and bustle... Lovely and just that bit nicer than the main one and really private.... Im only telling you this because Ive only got one or two shows left here and it really should be a massive secret but I like you guys and Im just that kind of sharing, caring girl.... so dont say I never give you nothing !

My I think Im up to third tips now is also, keep your eyes peeled, Bradley from EastEnders was spotted here 2 years ago and just last night I saw Matthew Horne casually strolling though, as well as the usual comedians performing.... Jack Whitehall and Tim Vine last night too.

Enjoy the Fest.

This is a sweet little student bar, hidden away from it all in the Pleasance.
Rocks its sweet little cobblestoned courtyard during the festival with the best of them, and then slows right down to hibernate for the rest of the year.
Lovely staff and perfect atmosphere.

Pretty good, cheap and quiet bar. Its a student union but often frequented by non-students as well. Does cheap food too which is a bit up n down, not a big menu and they often run out of a lot of whats on the menu.

I’ve used one of the dance studios - the Ochil Room - for teaching dance workshops recently, and although the room is good - bright and has mirrors, it could do with cleaner floors! However, it’s a great location, and has courtyard parking.

The Pleasance Cabaret Bar hosts an eclectic collection of performances, shows, musicians and artists. It is a major venue for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and is host to the Edinburgh Folk Club. Having witnessed a belly-dancing show, numerous folk music concerts and a few theatre productions at The Pleasance, it seems to be one of the most versatile venues in the city. A lowered stage with a semi circle of seats surrounding it sets the seine, and also boasts a bar to the rear and a back exit into another bar heavily populated with students. The Pleasance has a great performance atmosphere, and is recommending for both performer and audience alike.

I love this place! It's a good old-fashioned student union during term time: the cosiest and friendliest of Edinburgh Uni's establishments, and then it absolutely explodes into wonderful (immaculately controlled) chaos and exuberance during the Edinburgh Festival. Ordinarily there are two bars used - Inside Bar and Cabaret Bar - Cabaret hosts open mic nights, pub quizes and the like, while there's food service, some sports and just general drinking fun in Inside Bar. However, during the festival there are loads of theatres, seven bars, various different food areas and a beautiful courtyard for you to enjoy the summer in. The staff are renowned for being the friendliest festival staff in Edinburgh and the term-time staff are really lovely too! Love it!