Edinburgh Fringe: Gilded Balloon promoter plans weekly programme

VETERAN Fringe promoter Karen Koren is to run shows all year-round in the capital – ten years after the demise of her  famous Old Town venue in a massive blaze.

The Gilded Balloon founder has revealed plans for a permanent new basement bar, HQ at The Third Door, on Lothian Street, just yards away from her main Fringe venue on Bristo Square.

Weekly comedy and cabaret events are to be staged every Friday and Saturday from next month at the venue, which is next to the rear entrance of the National Museum of Scotland.

Ms Koren will be teaming up with Ellis Johnston at The Third Door and music events are being masterminded by Sarah David, former general manager Cabaret Voltaire.

She said: “We used to have a lot of events on at the old Gilded Balloon throughout the year, mainly in the downstairs bar that people will remember, and occasionally upstairs for larger events that we needed a special licence for outwith the Festival.

“I was asked some time ago by Ellis to have a look at The Third Door, as we’d worked together a lot in the past, and I was very keen on us expanding into there for the Fringe this year.

“I’m very keen to do some shows outwith the Festival again and we’ll be starting them there in September when the students come back. Sarah David, who ran Cabaret Voltaire for many years, will be doing music events there.”

The Gilded Balloon, formed in 1986, used to stage regular music, comedy and cabaret events at the Cowgate base before the blaze in December 2002.

The fire also wiped out a string of other nightspots, including the Bridge Jazz Bar on South Bridge.