Boss of Fringe in warning over costs in capital

A “strategic approach” to dealing with rising accommodation costs in Scotland’s capital is needed, the boss of the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe has insisted, branding soaring bills in the city as being like the “grim reaper”.

Shona McCarthy, the chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, complained about the “dreaded rising cost of accommodation in Edinburgh”.

Ms McCarthy spoke out as she told MPs on Westminster’s Scottish affairs committee that artists and venues involved with the Fringe were still suffering financially as a result of the Covid pandemic.

The event boss said: “There is no one across the Fringe landscape who is not still in a recovery position, not still carrying debts and deficits from just surviving Covid.”

Speaking about the rising costs that performers and others have to pay for accommodation in the city, Ms McCarthy said: “That is definitely my ‘grim reaper’ at the moment, and I think we need an Olympic response.”

Earlier this year, Festivals Edinburgh, which brings together the bosses of the city’s festivals, warned they were facing an “economic shock” as a result of new shortterm letting regulations.

Ms McCarthy said while they were “very supportive of the shortterm lets legislation” which involves new licences having to be awarded for properties rented out on a shortterm basis – she added it had “unintended consequences particularly for artists”.

She said: “It is something where we need a strategic approach to address it in a real way if we are to continue to host such a major event every year.”