Capital’s Hogmanay party axed

EDINBURGH’S celebrated Hogmanay street party has been scrapped and festival chiefs have confirmed tickets will be pulled from sale and refunds issued.

Event producer Underbelly, which has an £800,000 contract to produce the festival for the city council, said it was ‘clear’ the street party could not take place.

The 75,000 capacity event has put the city on the international map for New Year celebrations since it was first staged in the mid-1990s.

It is the centrepiece of the capital’s three-day Hogmanay event and the cancellation will be a blow to the city’s economy after summer events fell victim to coronavirus.

Around a quarter of partygoers travelled from overseas in recent years, with 31 per cent from Scotland and 44 per cent from elsewhere in the UK.

Proposals for a new-look Hogmanay celebration are expected to be revealed next month. Senior councillors said there will be ‘significant requirements’ for the festivities to meet the latest public health guidelines.

They have insisted the winter events should be spread out more across the city and support businesses which have been affected by the prolonged lockdown period.

A spokesman for Underbelly said: ‘Tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party have been on sale since January 1st 2020.

‘As has been reported, exciting and positive discussions are taking place between City of Edinburgh Council and Underbelly in relation to the Hogmanay programme for 2020.

‘However, it is clear to all parties that the famous street party cannot take place in its current form in 2020 and tickets are being taken off sale.

‘Customers who have booked tickets will be contacted in the next 14 days to be offered a full refund.’