Promoter seeks Fringe public break

EDINBURGH would get a new public holiday under plans put forward by a leading Fringe promoter to help boost tickets sales at the end of the Festival.

William Burdett-Coutts, founder of the Assembly venue, has called for the capital to celebrate the same bank holiday as England on the last day of the Fringe. He said action was needed to prevent the current situation when the Fringe “fizzles out” because few Edinburgh residents are able to take advantage of the holiday.

The vast majority of tickets for the Fringe – which controversially moved its dates to bring them into line with the English bank holiday in 1998 – are sold within the Edinburgh area.

The city council has said it will consider the move – even though it may come with a hefty price tag for the local authority.

The council faced a £250,000 bill for giving its staff the day off for the Royal Wedding last year and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this summer.

But it is hoped that if the move was backed by a promotional campaign, the benefit of thousands of extra ticket sales would outweigh any negative impact on the city’s economy.

The Scottish Government already gives staff an extra day off to mark St Andrew’s Day.