We are thrilled to be taking over a huge industrial site for our 2025 arts festival, with a venue launch party planned for this November.

We’re calling it The Paper Factory because it’s a huge former paper and cardboard box manufacturing facility, with a mix of warehouses, factory floors, offices and outhouses spread across a 15 acre site.

Hidden Door will transform the entire site for a full-scale multi arts festival in spring 2025, but in the meantime, we are planning a special launch party to give audiences a preview of some of the extraordinary spaces within. Featuring live music, visual art and performances, the event will take place on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd November.

As with previous Hidden Door events, there will be free access during the day on Saturday 23rd November.

The Paper Factory is located in the Maybury Quarter, a site occupied by the former Saica paper and cardboard manufacturing facility on the western edge of Edinburgh.

Bounded by the Edinburgh Gateway tram and rail station, there are excellent transport links to the city centre as well as to Glasgow and the west.

See details of how to get to the venue.

Hazel Johnson, Festival Director of Hidden Door, said: 

“Every new venue we take on presents unique opportunities and challenges, and this vast space is no different. We can’t wait to start work transforming the towering buildings, acres of warehouses and – in true Hidden Door style – all the nooks and crannies into one of our most ambitious arts venues yet. 

“In addition to the festival, The Paper Factory will provide a base for Hidden Door to work with artists on site specific performance and art, commission new work and take huge steps towards our sustainability goals with workshops, studios and more.

“Our Venue Launch Party in November will provide a sneak peek into what we have in store – we look forward to welcoming you to the Paper Factory!”

The property has been empty since Saica’s relocation to a purpose-built facility in Livingston. Regeneration specialists Summix Capital are now developing proposals for the future of the site, and have offered Hidden Door access until the end of 2025.

Stuart Black, Development Director for Summix Capital, said:

“We are proud to be part of Hidden Door’s story by making this unique space available to them and the creative community they have built. 

“Our vision is for Maybury Quarter Edinburgh to be one of the most exciting and best-connected development sites in Scotland. We’re really excited to see what Hidden Door’s artists can do with the space this autumn and throughout 2025.”

Photos by Chris Scott, Dan Mosley and Karen Patel. Footage by Dan Mosley, edited by Jim.