Reviews of Scottish Storytelling Centre. (Association) in Edinburgh (Edinburgh).

Scottish Storytelling Centre

432 Reviews

204 Comments

Association

Arts organization

43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Scottish Storytelling Centre, Association in Edinburgh (Edinburgh)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of Scottish Storytelling Centre

Reviews of Scottish Storytelling Centre

J. B.

Absolutely gorgeous place, full of wonderful, very reasonably-priced events for families! Thrilled to have discovered it! We saw the brilliant 'It's In the Bag's 'Rosie & Sam's Christmas Journey', and got tickets for the forthcoming Panto and other wonderful shows, around £6 to £12/ticket, so fab pricing 💝 Highly recommended. The café here is lovely, too, with fancy Christmas coffees, hot meals and sarnies/cakes/snacks, and the facilities are great. 10/10 👏🏼

K. H.

Welcoming. Lovely cafe with affordable food and drinks. Nice place to sit and unwind. You can find out What's On at their theatre.

m.

Stopped by because I was going to the John Knox House Museum which is in the same building. So the centre hosts theatre, music, exhibitions, workshops and festivals etc, and has an attached bookshop and cafe. I only used the bookshop and cafe on the way into the aforementioned museum. So the collections of books are all very Scottish and British centric, which is not a bad thing and I did buy a book on Norse History. Overall an enjoyable quick visit.

N. B.

Great theatre, saw a children's fringe festival show here. The theatre was a good size, not too big and staff were really friendly. It's part of a cafe, museum and bookshop complex that is good to visit as well.

A. L.

I will only talk about the café here, named "The Haggis Box". If you run away from crowded terraces, tourist traps, overpriced menus, formatted food franchises, look no further. Improbable haven of peace in the very center of Edinburgh, you will find here a warm and relaxing setting, well-spaced tables, a short menu sufficient for a quick bite (I recommend the vegetarian haggis!), excellent customer service. During my last visit, I met a family, a couple and a writer who was working there looking out the window from time to time ... I hope that the road works in progress will not put off customers, but otherwise, I shall selfishly take advantage of this hidden gem :)

S. R.

Wonderful place to visit with high quality, unique performances at very reasonable prices! Highly recommend.

V. G.

One of the best shows I have seen in a long time. Thunderstruck is an absolute must-see. Can't wait to return to venue to see what else is on offer.

R. M.

Fabulous place for having book-launches, story-telling, and having coffee and snacks while doing writing work.

H. B.

Great space for events with friendly and helpful staff.

D.

Nice space,cafe has great selection of food and drink.

R. R.

First time visit to this venue for a fringe show, and what a pleasant surprise especially for somewhere I have passed many times without realising what was there. On the first level is a cafe and and no nicely appointed open area which I assume can be used for various events. Upstairs we were in an smaller room laid out as a performance space again simply and cleanly decorated. The whole building is welcoming and feels calm and relaxed compared to the busy High St outside. We will certainly go back and try the cafe.

S. L. M.

I recently went to Loud Poets at the Scottish Storytelling center. The show was brilliant. But you want to know about the Centre. The cafe bar is lovely and has a great selection. The space is quite airy and less cramped than other cultural spaces I've visited. The performance area was fab air conditioned with great sound.

D. Q.

Great food and environment. Scones and brisket are really good. Tea and Baking section is a great combo.

M. R.

A really interesting community resource in the heart of the city. I know it used for a lot of activities but this time we just stopped to use the excellent cafe. A round of coffees and some biscuits set us up for the journey home. Worth a visit!

K. P.

Lovely old building, just popped in for a coffee and soak up the ambiance.

O. C.

This is where you would spend a whole week feeding yourself with scottish culture and entertainment... and more!! Plus you can purchase ‘Lapin Is Hungry’ picture book there!

A. T.

Fabulous venue and great coffee shop. We found this by accident but are delighted at what we found. Decent WiFi connection and cakes were to absolutely die for. Incredible. The venue itself was fantastic and the staff were great. Couldn’t fault the place. Definitely somewhere great to stumble across. Who would of thought Edinburgh had so so much to offer. Fabulous place and thank you very much to the staff and managment who clearly work so hard. Also thank you to the cook or whoever makes the cakes. Mandy

J. C.

Lovely venue, super storytelling event tonight. Very popular and sold out. Have also visited during the festival and the theatre here is very good. Comfortable seating & good acoustics to hear the performer(s)

M.

Incredible venue and space. Visited for a full moon storytelling night in late October, comprised of 7 women telling folk tales of the moon from around the world. Welcoming atmosphere, and a very nice selection of books on storytelling (as discipline), mythology, and collections of yarns in their boutique. Quite something to gather for tales, watching the wind in the courtyard from a stage window as each performer speaks, and then walk back out into the blustery night of Edinburgh with a warm head full of new thoughts.

R. L.

So much to see and do. Fantastic programme. Good shop. Simple, hearty cafe with good coffee run by separate local charity. Lots of space for young kids to roam and toys for them to play with. A haven for parents and carers in the heart of the old town.

I. O.

Wonderful place to visit right at the heart of Edinburgh with a wide range of events for all ages and a great wee cafe. Fully accessible with wheelchair or other mobility challenges, accessible toilet, lift to other floors. Very helpful and friendly staff.

J. P.

The Centre presented a lot of storytellers during the August Festival.i was fortunate to attend two remarkable events in two wonderful performing venues on-site. From the literature available in the Centre's reception area/gift shop it was clear there is a lot going on all year long, as well. I'm glad to have seen what I was able to on my first visit to Edinburgh. I hope to return someday to attend more great storytelling.

J. B.

The cafe is wonderful. Family friendly, wholesome, imaginative dishes run by the amazing COMAS organisation which supports those in recovery. The main room has interactive doors and panels for young visitors to enjoy. There are nooks and crannys to explore. The building overlooks a beautiful garden which is accessed down the side of the building. I haven't been to a storytelling session so can't comment on that aspect but they have a full and varied programme of entertainment and teaching. The centre is also a great place to find out about other events in Edinburgh as they have a well stocked and regularly updated information desk.

N. H.

This is a wonderful space.... a hidden gem. I came to a function organised by " Real Talk" It's a really intimate venue and the staff are so very lovely. They serve a range of alcohol and soft drinks... hot drinks and snacks.

K. C.

An amazing resource and some very talented acts perform regularly. Provides information on spoken word storytelling, not jackanory, actual stories performed live in front of an audience. Well worth the ticket price if your looking for something different.

S. T.

We went to Cafe inside the centre as it was miserable outside, it was so relaxing with hot cup of coffee and amazing haggis lunch. Well worth a visit.

T. P.

We just popped in here to get out of the rain and to see what this unique building was. We didn't participate in any of the pay activities (tour and story telling) but we bought a book or two from the gift shop and used their rest rooms. They also have a cafè here. Super friendly staff.

O. H.

Dog friendly and lots of space for big dogs too, and delicious food for the humans :)

M. W.

I'll start by saying I have only been in the Storytelling Cafe (run by Glenfinlas). Yes it is pricey but that is expected on the Royal Mile and in a tourist spot. Thankfully the quality of the food makes it worthwhile. I had coffee, soup (Scotch broth) and a sandwich (Mediterranean special). The menu is small but the diversity of options is big. There is table service and the cafe is also licensed. A good spot for some peace and quiet.

C. :.

Went to see a fringe show there, about Macbeth really informative and well performed.

L. S.

Arts centre, with a focus on stories (the name gives it away!). Has a main theatre space that seats maybe 200(?) - events are listed on their website, and are usually well priced (save on booking fee by ordering in person). Highlights include the annual Storytelling Festival and the monthly Speakeasy. It has a nice little cafe for tea & cake (either pre-show or just if you are passing.) They also usually have a small exhibition on in the space behind the cafe. Their bookshop is a real gem, with a good selection of Scottish literature, including children's books - great if you are looking for something a bit unusual.

T. M.

Looked like a really nice place. We came to see a show but the tickets ran out because of unexpected high demand (it had the word Brexit in it...). Hope to stop by again someday, Scotland was AMAZING!

R. M.

Fascinating spot. The Knox House is worth a visit. Oddly, the house exhibits do a poor job of telling the intertwined stories of Protestant John Knox and the Catholic goldsmith who built and lived in the house most of his life. But if you read up on the basic history first, the house and exhibits are quite fascinating. Bonus is a large, bright, comfy "storytelling" cafe. The whole enterprise is the brainchild of a storyteller (didn't experience that part of it, but you can get in-character storytelling tours of the house and environs). Owned by the Church of Scotland.

D. C.

This is a lovely place which attracts lovely people. It's not just stories you hear here, but music - song and traditional instrumental music - fine art and Scottish literature as well. Good cafe too!

e. K.

Just stopped in for a quick bite, but while I was there looked at their events calendar. It looks really cool. The chips(fries) were good.

M. G.

We recently held a strategic development day for our company, a philanthropic organisation in Edinburgh. One of the people from the Scottish storytelling centre’s team, Ben came along to help us with a section of the day… Creating the story for our organisation. Ben did an absolutely brilliant job, he was engaging, full of beans and had a bit of magic about him. I would highly recommend The Scottish storytelling centre to any company or group that wants to develop their own story and bring their team together.

R. A.

Took a storycrafting class. It was great. Very interactive. Lots of people in the class. Throughout the class we kept switching partners to get insight from others. It was great. I'll be using the tips and tricks i learned there in future works for years to come. 10/10 highly recommend

C. S.

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 their website.

C. M.

A great place to sit and get a drink. It's not as busy as other place on the mile probably because people don't know they sell drinks. Very friendly staff.

C. K.

One of my favourite places in the city. Beautiful building, very diverse programme of events and performances for all ages, a lovely book shop, good and cheap cafe, and the building itself is quite stunning as well.

j. l.

Great venue. Good cafe and easy access from waverley station. Show was great. Trilogy of Horrors. Go and listen!

M. L.

Cosy little place for coffe and some light food or pastry. Friendly staff and a good atmosphere. The cafe could however use a little more space, gets a little bit crowded.

J. B.

Lovely venue in heart of the old Edinburgh. Modern theatre and cafe attached to John Knox house. A gem. Visit!

F. M.

An excellent venue. A theatre with a great view and a varied programme. Friendly staff. Lovely cafe. And a book shop.

G. S.

Great venue serving excellent haggis, neeps & tatties.

m. p.

Good food, especially the baking. Great collection of Duplo in the toy corner. Open outlook onto the Royal Mile. Loads of events going on in the Centre.

R. H.

Good food, free wi-fi that actually works! Unlike Starbucks where you wait 5 mins to connect then wait another 5 mins to get a web page up. Food is decent and staff a good laugh.

G. G.

Saw Mairi Campbell's 'Auld Lang Syne' in the Fringe. Outstanding!! Such a great story, so well told. Beautiful music and such an engaging performer. Hankies are strongly recommended! 😢

G. I.

Lovely atmosphere, great little venue for shows. Prices are a bit high for what you get but coffee and food quality is fair.

E. P.

Beautiful place with very interesting performances. Nice cafe and bookstore 😊

R. G.

Fantastic performance area which offers unique events....I've not used cafe much so don't know about meals.

R. A.

Nice place to stop for tea and cake. Good selection of soft drinks including Fentemans and Bundaberg. Great scones.

K. M. (.

Great meeting place/studio/cafe in modern facility but traditional friendly service with wide range of drinks/soup/cakes etc whilst access to plenty of STORIES

D. H.

Stopped for lunch to which my friend and I enjoyed. Great location. Went to see her artwork and others. Nice place

J. R.

Nice cafe just off the Royal Mile, good place for a quiet lunch as many people aren't aware it exists.

P. C.

A gem of a place, lively space and really good events. Staff are great and very well run.

A. K.

So many things happening in this place ! It is a library, a museum, a cafe, a venue...such a nice, friendly and creative atmosphere ! I highly recommend to visit it, as a tourist or as a local

N. M.

This is a sadly underutilised facility in the old house of John Knox. Fabulous for artistic talent in Edinburgh. This is where to go outside the festival period. It has a very warm unpretentious atmosphere.

B. H.

Fantastic night at Scottish Storytelling Centre and Loud Poets event. Amazingly talented people, from the organisers to the poets. Outstanding

T. A.

Lovely venue for the festival. We went to see feast of fools which was brilliant and very entertaining

J. J. P.

My childhood friend, Svende, now 60 years old, is an amazing storyteller. He moved to Scotland to tell stories about Vikings and giants. Edinburgh and the Storytelling Centre is lucky to have him.

V. T.

Great facilities- hope they keep their services open to everyone, as here in Oxford, the council and many obvious related local organisations completely lack imagination how to be inclusive and present activities and services of local Oxford story tellers like myself.

C. M.

Another must visit on the Royal Mile. If you sit at the window you get a lovely overview onto the Royal Mile a stones through from Holyrood Palace.

S. S.

Lovely friendly cafe, fascinating exhibition in John Knox house & interesting performance space in the garden.

J. H.

Lots of interesting things going on, free wifi & a very impressive veggie friendly cafe - though not the biggest!

C. M.

Nice place to sit on the royal mile and watch the world go by. Free wifi, decent selection of cakes, and friendly staff.

R. S.

Been a few times and always liked it. This last time there were too few staff though for the number of customers. Hopefully just a one off and I would recommend trying it.

O. P.

Good place. Good cafe. Good staff.

M. “. Z.

Prices are amazing, staff members even better. Especially Ewelina and Teo if I'm spelling it right. They deserve a raise

R. V.

I've only been to the shop and cafe but very nice atmosphere, will come back for an event if I can!

R. N.

They do a good coffee and there is a selection of cakes. The vegan cake is, 'to die for'.

K. W.

This is a terrific venue for spoken word performances, talks and plays. There's always something going on and the café, bookshop and museum are terrific.

K. W.

Went to see Leaf by Niggle (Tolkien) told by @PuppetStateThtr. Was amazing. Great little theatre and friendly staff too.

A. S.

Great coffee shop. The staff are very friendly and the food excellent.

A. R. (.

Lovely setting for conferences, we held one here a couple of months ago and it was absolutely amazing.

m. d.

We stopped in for a quick bite with our small children and it was fantastic. The food was great and the staff were very friendly.

C. S.

I went here for a sensory storytelling course. The course was amazing the venue was magical and the cafe is delicious xx

M. O. T. F. T.

Great venue and café really like the atmosphere

K. M.

Awesome cafe and quite reasonably priced. I love the storytelling too.

D. M.

Was attending a social event here, and impressed by its space and nice atmosphere. Recommend.

S. H.

Nice and mellow atmosphere, great for getting away from the bustle of the city and to submerge in the world of storytelling.

L. S.

Lovely place with interesting programme, gift shop and very nice cafe

J. Z.

Very interesting. A lot of minute details about the living time of the epoca. Don't miss this Scottish Storytelling Centre.

A. D.

Storytelling very interesting all good for family's in Guest in fun too cafe there too good food and welcomed all around 👍❤

P. D.

This is a fantastic resource for keeping the skill of storytelling alive it also houses fringe venues as many storytellers like to try stand up to hone their skills

c.

If you want to have s really joyful time, go there. Amazing storytellers, stories that capture your attention.

S. K.

Always a great Fringe venue. They put on the best family based shows.

R. S.

Very atmospheric, good events line-up and great food.

J. F.

Nice folk behind the counter, great soup at reasonable price, terrific exhibition

K. J. C.

Tremendous venue with regular events and a neat little bookshop on the Royal Mile

A. m.

Lovely friendly place nice cafe nice staff nice glass of wine

J. T.

Excellent venue and truly friendly staff in cafe.

S. E.

Wonderful place. Very kind staff. Recommended!

J. R.

Outstanding historical building & architecture Toilets, cafe, Souvenir gift shop, Regular event's

V. F.

Saw a performance about giants. Great place, comfortable seating and a nice little cafe.

R. W.

Intimate space, nice food, and true cultural exchange in a very welcoming environment.

M. P.

A niche environment with a great environment for the family. The cafe' is also good!

C. A.

Good selection of books, even for kids. Just wish they had kid story telling more often.

R. W.

We loved it, fab place to visit and have a quiet lunch.

A. A.

very nice place large glass windows wooden decorated nice staff very kind i liked it

R. B.

Great event tonight on Isobel Gunn as part of Beyond Words Tracs festival

M. L.

Great space, nice coffee, friendly staff.

C. M.

Friendly staff and a quiet setting with no hint of a national coffee chain!

S. W.

Great venue. Lovely staff. Always worth a visit when in Edinburgh.

E. A. P.

Nice And Quiet Great Place To Have Something To Eat And Just Relax

A. L.

Great place to relive toys and times of your past, and free entry

C. B.

A lovely addition to our family Christmas tradition, beautiful storytelling for adults and children.

Y. A. G.

Nice modern facilities we enjoyed the interactive and inclusive entertainment

R. _.

Lovely space that always has great shows and events.

S. C.

Great place to visit in great location. Daughter loved it.

S. Y.

Nice venue, good location, cafe inside

S.

Nice food, good ambiance. Not expensive for city centre.

H. C. H.

It just oozes character. Also has a great wee cafe and bar.

G. K.

Good venue, good coffee, friendly atmosphere

R. D.

Lovely venue, great shows, yummy cafe!

J. O.

Fascinating, welcoming and a great cafe too.

E. S.

Excellent event space very welcoming staff

S. R.

Lovely building in the old town of Edinburgh, found within the Royal Mile.

l. e.

The building on it's own is gorgeous, fantastic architecture 👌

R. I.

Had an awesome time here during the story telling festival!

p. p.

Very interesting place with a great weekend cafe

A. C.

Excellent food and a nice relaxed environment.

M. R.

Lovely small theatre with interesting productions

B. M.

Nice venue but no parking nearby

J. H.

Great night out. Lovely staff.

H. N.

Lovely venue. Friendly staff.

T. M.

Brilliant place. Keeping the Scottish ceilidh culture alive.

g. h.

Great place for good coffee and home baking

A. R.

Café was good, staff were friendly

C. K.

A cultural touchstone.

K. P.

Very welcoming spot to investigate Scottish heritage.

D. J.

Cafe reasonable. Theatre good

E. G.

Lovely venue with a great cafe

P. P.

Fantastic venue and unique events

g. g.

Good place for a quite sit down

p. p.

It’s a nice place to know the story of the town

J. S.

It was wonderful, we have a great time there

j. W.

Excellent venue outstanding performers

R. W.

Just stopped for coffee and buy our grandson a book

G. H.

Nice lunch, next to John Knox house.

C. C. D. (. D.

Very intresting place to visit & to gain knowledge etc.

E. A.

Great atmosphere and really friendly staff!

L. G.

Great coffee shop loved it

A. A.

What a grand idea and good food too

O. M.

Super space and super-friendly staff

D. C.

great food- excellent social enterprise

M. S.

Staff were very helpful and friendly.

E. A.

Great atmosphere and really friendly staff!

W. P.

Theatre very warm.

j. W.

Excellent venue outstanding performers

Y. C. F. (.

Super and fantastic place.

R. D.

Lovely venue, great shows, yummy cafe!

J. S.

It was wonderful, we have a great time there

M. M.

Great cafe and centre☺

M. R.

A brilliant place with a brilliant purpose.

P. P.

Fantastic venue and unique events

R. W.

Just stopped for coffee and buy our grandson a book

M. R.

A brilliant place with a brilliant purpose.

Y. C. F. (.

Super and fantastic place.

L. G.

Nice cake and coffee

s. m.

Very interesting must visit

S.

a lady told me a story I liked it :D :D: D:D :D:D:D:D:D:D I died inside

M. K.

Great service in cafe

P. A.

Nice food

D. i.

Friendly staff in cafe.

P. M.

Good conference venue

M. S.

Nice friendly little centre

S. K.

The reason we visit Edinburgh...!

C. H.

Lovely little place

M. D.

Brilliant venue!!

P. L.

Had lovely coffee

T. O.

Amazing story all around...

G. M. M.

This is a great afternoon out

M. S.

Great afternoon here

y. o. d. u.

Very interesting place

D. H.

Great coffee.

n. s.

Great venue

M. J.

Great events.

A. M.

Loved it!

_. b. _.

I didn't go

R. G.

Most enjoyable.

R. H.

Interesting venue.

E.

Cosy

K. P.

Cafe.

P. O. T.

Nice

s. l.

Inspiring, wonderful

P. M.

Great

r. m.

Fantastic place

M. ..

Love the place

S. K.

(Translated) The hot chocolate was very sweet, but I was tired during the tour and it was perfect to supplement the party. (Original) 핫초코 엄청 달았지만 관광 중 피곤해서 떨어진 당을 보충하기 안성맞춤이었어요.

M. P. A.

(Translated) Theater, bookshop, cafe and exhibition hall together in the place that brings together the storytellers or storytellers of Scotland. It is the headquarters of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, in which I was fortunate to participate as an international guest in the 2016 edition. Do not miss the desserts of your cafeteria, they are delicious! (Original) Teatro, librería, café y sala de exposiciones juntos en el lugar que reúne a los cuenteros (cuentacuentos) o "storytellers" de Escocia. Es la sede del Scottish International Storytelling Festival, en el que tuve la fortuna de participar como invitado internacional en la edición 2016. No se pierdan los postres de su cafetería, ¡son deliciosos!

D. A.

(Translated) Do not imagine the wonderful atmosphere of the evenings where everyone can tell a story of Scotland or sing a song in the company of maybe even a beer (Original) Non immaginate la meravigliosa atmosfera delle serate dove tutti possono raccontare una storia della Scozia o cantare una canzone in compagnia magari anche di una birra

J. T.

(Translated) Very nice boho place where you can eat vegan, gluten-free and, which does not spoil anything when you travel, vegetables! (Original) Très chouette endroit bobo où on peut manger vegan, sans gluten et, ce qui ne gâche rien quand on voyage, des légumes !

B. O.

(Translated) Nice quiet place to get some food run by charity volunteers (Original) Leuk rustige plek om wat te eten wordt gerund door vrijwilligers voor het goede doel

l.

(Translated) In the cafeteria it lacks a little variety. Otherwise Ok. (Original) En la cafeteria le falta un poco de variedad. Por lo demas Ok.

C. “. L. F.

(Translated) Very nice at night, all illuminated (Original) Muy lindo de noche, todo iluminado

P. D.

(Translated) It's worth visiting on a trip to Edinburgh (Original) Ça vaut le détour lors d'un voyage à Edimbourg

B. R.

(Translated) I collect tons of stories of various content😉 (Original) Zbieram tony opowieści różnej treści😉

I. U.

(Translated) A curious place to learn about the history of the people of the city. (Original) Un sitio curioso donde conocer la historia de la gente de la ciudad.

A. O.

T. M.

(Translated) Practical (Original) Praktisch

E. W.

(Translated) Interesting (Original) Interesante

D. M.

M. V.

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