Edinburgh Fringe: Cruise ship accommodation plan emerges

A cruise ship will dock in Edinburgh to provide additional accommodation during next year's Fringe Festival as part of a new partnership between the organisers of the event and a US theatre magazine.

The inaugural Playbill FringeShip, described as 'the official Floatel of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe', will be moored at the Imperial Dock in Leith from 8-15 August next year. Playbill has also been named as one of the sponsors for this year's official Edinburgh Festival Fringe app, which was controversially absent last year.

The arrangement comes amid ongoing concerns about a lack of accommodation in the city for both performers and visitors during the month-long annual event.

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Last year eight of the Fringe’s biggest producing venues issued a collective statement saying soaring accommodation costs pose a major threat to the festival’s future.  

The arrival of the FringeShip in Edinburgh will coincide with the first festival season to operate under new Scottish Government short-term lets legislation which requires hosts of short-term lets to have a licence or risk being fined.

Alleviating pressure

Playbill said the FringeShip concept will help alleviate accommodation pressures in the city during the festival.

"While AirBnBs have previously been one of the main forms of housing for the hundreds of thousands that come to the city to enjoy the festival every year, the new limitations will require all short-term rentals to reapply for permission, with many expected to be denied," it said. 

"This will likely lead to further pressures on Edinburgh’s housing capacity, which is already at the brim and a premium, during the month of August."

Playbill president and chairman, Philip S. Birsh, said: "Our goal for the seven-night residence is to bring, in the words of the Proclaimers, ‘Sunshine on Leith’; a place where people can stay and have a glorious time with joyous people who love the Fringe and theatre".

Playbill FringeShip. 

'Long-term relationship'

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society's Chief Executive Shona McCarthy said the partnership with Playbill is "timely and just makes sense".

"It is great to welcome Playbill to the 2023 Fringe and we are enormously grateful for their support in helping us deliver an all new Fringe app this year," she said.

"Their support has enabled us to develop an app, which will be a key channel for audiences exploring the range and diversity of performance available to them at this year’s Fringe.

"Playbill is rooted within the creative landscape of the U.S. and their passion and excitement for the Fringe is fantastic. We look forward to welcoming Phil and the team to Edinburgh this August and to developing a long-term relationship."

Guests staying at FringeShip will be treated to full board for the duration, with a daily coach laid on to take them into Edinburgh to experience some of the 3,000-plus shows expected in 2024.

Fringe performers will also be putting on exclusive shows in the ship's theatre during its week-long stay.