Scottish Storytelling Centre — Attraction in City of Edinburgh

Depending on how you approach this building you may have a very different impression of it. Coming down the hill you enter the shop and the access to John Knox's House; coming upwards you enter by the cafe, which has the storytelling court behind it. These are connected, of course, and lead down to the Netherbow Theatre as well - a many splendoured space indeed.

The cafe is simple and pleasant; many people in the area use it as an extra meeting space so don't be surprised if you can't find a seat - although if there's nothing else happening in the court behind the cafe you can often sit there, possibly taking in the current exhibition. The shop has a remarkable selection of books, considering its size, although they are necessarily targeted mostly at passing tourists.

The Netherbow Theatre and Storytelling Court are much used for events, which vary in tone. Sometimes it might be a piece of actual theatre, sometimes a comedic storytelling night, perhaps an open mic style evening of stories - the theme does tend to be storytelling. There's usually a good calendar of events on...

Avoid- unaccommodating of circumstances & rude staff Our train was late and the streets mobbed with street performers and consequently we arrived at the venue 7 minutes late (not 8 minutes). The girl on the ticket desk refused us entry and wouldn’t listen to why we were late. She was quite obnoxious and seemed rather smug about refusing us entry. She was keen to point out that Technically she was in the right according to terms and conditions, however she could have been a little more amenable and willing to listen to our reasons. The festival web site says venue have discretion to allow entry - this person just gave a black and white view of the world answer and was very unpleasant. I’m so so disappointed having wanted to see the play for years.

Can you please do something about the venue’s very uncustomer friendly approach , it really was out of order. We travelled an hour each way at not insignificant cost and I’m left feeling very unhappy and resentful of how we we appallingly...

Visiting the Scottish Storytelling Centre was a highlight in our weekend trip to Edinburgh! We popped in for breakfast at the cafe. We had the two different types of haggis, which were both absolutely delicious - my partner enjoyed the classic version and I loved the one with red wine sauce. The man working the counter was very friendly and welcoming, and the space itself was relaxed and comforting. I especially enjoyed seeing the art exhibition by Hester Aspland. We then explored the bookstore and purchased a beautifully illustrated and autographed witch compendium - perfect for fall and spooky season! Unfortunately we could not attend any of the events, but they all sound absolutely incredible - everything from examining mental health in incarcerated populations to diving deeper into Scottish myths and legends. In short, it's a comforting place with delicious food, fascinating art and talks, and a lovely bookshop staffed by kind and welcoming people - what's...