Edinburgh's historic Assembly Rooms venue on George Street has two well-known tenants for next year, including the Fringe, following the completion of major refurbishment works.
Longtime former Fringe tenant Assembly, which fought a campaign to prevent the renovations happening, is not one of them.
In a coup for Edinburgh-based Salt ‘n’ Sauce Promotions Ltd – the company behind The Stand Comedy Clubs – it has won the tenancy of the building during the Fringe 2012, while the Grade A-listed building’s famous 'Supper Room' will play host to a restaurant by Jamie Oliver called ‘Jamie's Italian’.
This will be Jamie Oliver’s first venture in the Capital, his second in Scotland, and the new George Street establishment is predicted to be exceptionally popular with diners. The world famous chef has opened a number of “neighbourhood” restaurants across the UK since launching his first in Oxford in 2008.
Salt ‘n’ Sauce Promotions will provide a varied programme of comedy, music and theatre in August.
Founder, Tommy Sheppard, is currently a director on the board of the Festival Fringe Society.
The news was given to members of the Council's Culture and Leisure Committee earlier today (28 June) and, said Edinburgh City Council, "follows a rigorous tendering process".
Tenants for the long-term
Councillor Deidre Brock, Convenor of Edinburgh’s Culture and Leisure Committee said: “The successful companies will help to revitalise this wonderful building, restoring it to its rightful place as the beating heart of George Street.
“Salt ‘n’ Sauce Promotions have put forward some very exciting plans for their use of the Assembly Rooms during the summer festival period, and we look forward to working with them in the years ahead.
“Jamie’s Italian, meanwhile, will bring an exciting contemporary feel to this beautiful and historic venue, exactly as he has done with his restaurant in Cambridge, itself a listed building.
“This urgently needed refurbishment has been made possible in part through the creation of these highly sought-after new retail and restaurant opportunities on the ground floor, whose occupancy will help the Council in borrowing the majority of the money required for the project.”
The Council says the aim of the £9.3m works, which began earlier this year, is to fully upgrade the venue throughout, "restoring the building to its original grandeur and blueprint", with retail spaces and a restaurant on the ground floor and with four elegant public rooms on the first floor.
The identity of the tenants to take up residence in the two retail units flanking the main entrance will be announced once lease agreements have been finalised.