The Pleasance Courtyard

Name: The Pleasance Courtyard
Brand: Euan's Guide
Rating: 3.8 (20 reviews)

Overall rating

3.8

20 reviews

Review this place

About

Pleasance Edinburgh opened as part of the 1985 Festival Fringe with two theatres facing onto a deserted courtyard-come-car-park at an unfashionable eastern end of Edinburgh’s Old Town. 36 years later the Pleasance has become one of the biggest and most highly respected venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with an international profile and a network of alumni that reads like a who’s who of contemporary comedy, drama and entertainment. The Pleasance Courtyard is located in the Southside of Edinburgh and is home to 18 performance spaces during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, these are: •Above (First Floor) •Below (Basement Floor) •Pleasance One (First Floor) •Attic (Second Floor) •Cellar (Basement) •The Green (Temporary Structure - Kidzone) •Beside (Temporary Structure - Front Courtyard) •Pleasance Two (Ground Floor) •Cabaret Bar (Ground Floor) •Beneath (Basement Floor) •Upstairs (Second Floor) •Beyond (First Floor) •Forth (Third Floor) •The Grand (Ground Floor) •Baby Grand (Temporary Structure - Grand Corridor) •Bunker One (Ground Floor) •Bunker Two (Ground Floor) •Bunker Three (Ground Floor)

Reviews

Overall rating

3.8

(20 reviews)

Overall rating breakdown

5 4
4 9
3 5
2 1
1 1

Access (avg.)

3.61

Parking (avg.)

3.18

Toilets (avg.)

2.21

Staff (avg.)

4.52

WalkingWithWheels

Aug 2026

A steep push getting there—great front-row spot in the venue

Edinburgh Fringe, 2026 - Venue 33 The Pleasance Courtyard is on the Pleasance road, close to the Royal Mile. For a manual wheelchair, it is a steep rise up from Cowgate/Holyrood Road to reach the venue (quite an effort for my carer to push). Once there, the venue itself was level. The staff allowed us priority entry and I was positioned in the centre of the front row of the audience. Unfortunately, just prior to the show starting there was a fire alarm and subsequent evacuation. Frustrating though it was, the evacuation was handled well by the staff. We were allowed back in after 30-40 minutes. Unfortunately other audience members didn’t heed the staff request for people to return to their original seats and took the opportunity to ‘improve their view’. We therefore had to move position but were able to see the show fine.

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Hollydolly

Aug 2026

'Accessible' fringe venue - exclusionary and unapologetic

I was shocked and disappointed with the poor access training that the staff at the pleasance courtyard had during the fringe. We were told the venue was accessible which it was not for a member of our group as it involved a 5 minute walk for an able bodied person, which he was not able to do. Communication from multiple staff and security was vague and unapologetic. For a well established venue in 2026 this is absolutely not ok. My friend had to miss the show as a result of the poor and inaccuarate information. Do better!

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toilet_warriors

May 2026

Pleasance Theatre - Main building accessible toilet

The accessible toilet is clean with clear floor space and a freely hanging emergency cord. Bins are positioned close to the toilet and should be kept out of the transfer area. The hand dryer is wall-mounted away from the sink. The venue entrance has wide open doors and a threshold into the building. There are 4 accessible toilets in total on site, all of a similar standard.

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Disabled Access Information Provided by The Pleasance Courtyard

Disabled Access at The Pleasance Courtyard

If you need to make an access booking or require a wheelchair user ticket, please email access@pleasance.co.uk so we can organise tickets for you. We offer free Carer or Personal Assistant tickets - please email us on access@pleasance.co.uk or call on 020 7609 1800 to organise your booking with a complimentary ticket in advance. We welcome calls from customers using Typetalk. You will receive an email confirmation which contains a QR code. This is your ticket. You can show this on your phone or print it out. On the day of your show you will receive an email from us providing more information about your visit. Our Front of House team will be ready to greet you and scan your QR code from one hour before your show. Your group will then be shown to your table or seats. Please note that latecomers may not be admitted. There is a matted route diagonally across the cobblestones in the front courtyard area. The Pleasance Courtyard has four lifts, these are located in non-public areas. To access these please report to the Info Point (on the left as you come through the main archway) on arrival and a member of Pleasance staff will be able to assist you with accessing your venue: •In the Pleasance One bar, this will allow you to access Pleasance One, Above & Below. •Next to the Box Office, this will allow you to access Attic & Cellar. •Next to Beneath, this will allow you to access Beneath, Beyond & Upstairs. •Behind the toilets between The Grand and Forth, this will allow you to access Forth. All of our lifts are in back of house areas and require a member of staff to access. Please approach a member of our guest services team (wearing yellow Pleasance t-shirts) or our security team when you arrive. They will be able to accompany you to the venue. We have lowered counters for various facilities & concessions throughout the Pleasance Courtyard. These include: •Box Office •Arts Industry Reception •Pleasance One Bar There are hearing loop systems available. Please let us know by email in advance if you would like to use the hearing loop system and approach our Front of House on arrival at the venue - they are wearing yellow Pleasance t-shirts & lanyards.

Accessible parking at The Pleasance Courtyard

Finding parking space in Edinburgh at the best of times can be a challenge, and this is never more evident than during the Festival. Public transport is recommended wherever possible, and Edinburgh City Council run a number car parks servicing the City Centre). There are numerous car-parks around Edinburgh city centre - the most convenient for the Pleasance Courtyard is the NCP Holyrood Road (EH8 9UL) with 297 spaces including 4 disabled bays. Telephone 0845 050 7080.

Dedicated on site parking

Toilets features at The Pleasance Courtyard

We have three accessible toilets on site, these are located: •Left as you enter through the main archway in the Pleasance One building foyer. •In the foyer to The Grand. •Opposite the lift by the entrance to the Attic

Accessible toilet

A designated accessible toilet designed for wheelchair users and others with visible and non-visible accessibility requirements is available within the main public areas.