Hidden Door specialises in finding forgotten spaces for our arts festival, which can mean they’re not always immediately on your radar. If you’ve found this page, you’re a step closer to finding our festival…
Hidden Door 2023 will be taking over the former Scottish Widows complex at 15 Dalkeith Road in Edinburgh for a five-day immersive event.
From 31 May to 4 June, audiences will be invited into the building to witness its transformation from an office space into a spectacular, atmospheric festival of music, performance and art.
The iconic building, made of a series of hexagonal shapes, was designed by the architect John Hardie Glover. Since it opened in 1976 it has hosted financial institutions, with Lloyds Banking Group moving out of the site in 2020.
We’ve taken over three floors of this huge building, even making use of the old canteen, loading bay and duct-filled basement. We’ve got hundreds of signs around the site so you shouldn’t get lost, but feel free to ask one of our friendly stewards if you need directions.
The full address is: 15 Dalkeith Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5BU
Or if you prefer, our What 3 Words reference is charmingly.beyond.flops
15 Dalkeith Road provides the perfect blank canvas for our 2023 event, where we’re trying something a little different. The maze of office and utility spaces in the six-acre site will host an incredible immersive event bringing together a whole range of art forms, including visual art, music, dance, and spoken word.
A series of ambitious collaborative projects produced by Hidden Door will see artists and performers from different disciplines working together to transform the vast interior. Audiences will be invited to journey deep into the building to seek out the performances and explore the artworks.
See details of the full 2023 programme – tickets now available to buy online.
As well as a full programme of art, music and performance the venue will play host to some of Edinburgh’s tastiest street food stalls. We’ll also have bars for you to quench your thirst and a coffee stall for anyone in need of a bit of a pick-me-up.
We use derelict, undiscovered and temporary sites for our events, which means some areas may not be fully accessible. But by working with accessibility advisors, with every venue we transform, we do all we can to ensure safe access to as much of the festival as possible for anyone with disabilities.
This year’s venue is our most accessible yet, with all three floors accessible via step-free access or ramped for wheelchair access and patrons with mobility issues to explore, and our friendly stewards will be on hand to make sure you don’t miss anything – the building is a maze!
Due to the nature of the site (and its age/design), some areas are accessible via slightly longer routes around the site (or relatively steep slopes, which might not suit all wheelchairs), but if you say hello at the box office we can help you make a plan for what you want to see when you arrive.
The larger of the two music spaces has an accessible mezzanine viewing area. There will also be accessible portaloos and seating for any visitors who aren’t able to stand for long periods of time.
Quiet visiting times will also be available during the day.
The festival is free to attend during the day from 1pm (Thursday – Sunday), with the visual art free to view and the bars and food stalls open. The full ticketed programme kicks off from 5pm.
Please do contact us at hello@hiddendoorarts.org if you have any questions or would like to discuss access with a member of the team.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome to visit the outdoor areas and we just ask that they’re kept on a lead. The festival will be busy and noisy at times so please keep that in mind when planning your visit.
Support/guide dogs are of course welcome at all times and in all areas.
We are working with the local council and the community near our venue to make sure our event is a positive experience for everyone. We have designed the festival layout to ensure that noise and disruption is limited. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch you can email us at hiddendoorneighbours@gmail.com.
We know the pandemic had a massive impact on events and gatherings, and we want everyone to feel comfortable and safe when they visit our festival.
We no longer require face coverings or social distancing at our events, but we continue to follow the latest NHS, Scottish Government and Local Authority guidance carefully to ensure our events are safe.
If you have any anxiety about attending our event, we would be happy to tell you more about the format of the event and how you can ensure your own comfort and safety. Please do get in touch for a chat.
