Ex-Assembly Rooms boss attacks changes to venue

The man who ran Fringe comedy at the Assembly Rooms for three decades has hit out at the changes made to the iconic building by Edinburgh City Council.

As the Evening News reported yesterday, Salt 'n' Sauce Promotions, run by Tommy Sheppard, which runs The Stand comedy club, has been chosen by the council to run the Assembly Rooms during next year's Fringe.

Mr Burdett-Coutts said Assembly would relocate its Fringe operation permanently to the George Square area, where it moved this year: "I think it's rather tragic what's happening to the building. We did put a pitch for the two rooms but they're extremely hard to operate on their own - but I wish the council and Tommy Sheppard well.

"The festival works around hubs, and while we were operating the whole of the Assembly Rooms it was a hub. Without that, as a place to visit, it's hard to operate.