This is the first year the Free Festival has run the Beehive as a venue. The Beehive has previously been a paid-for venue and a free venue operated by another promoter in the last couple of years. We will be utilising two indoor performance spaces, The 2nd floor meeting room that has been used previously, and also adding a second brand new space on the 1st floor - The Dining Room. Both spaces will have full PA and sound systems installed and will be upgraded significantly from what has been previously available during the Fringe. The venue will also benefit from much improved signage on the highly visible front of the building, and with the Free Festival working hand-in-hand with Fit O'The Giggles promotions who have been the resident comedy supplier through the year at the Beehive for several years.

As well as the indoor performance spaces, the venue benefits from one of Edinburgh's best beer gardens - a hidden gem at the rear of the venue. The Beehive is very close to Dancebase, The Lot and the Underbelly, and also our other Free Venues at Espionage, Finnegan's Wake and The Three Sisters and is a fantastic addition to out list of venues. This venue is run in association with the Beehive's resident comedy company Fit O'The Giggles.

Stage - 6ft x 3ft raised Stage, end on, 4 inches high. No Wing space or backstage space.

Seating - Capacity is 65 seated theatre style, plus a further 15-20 standing.

Lighting - 2xpar Cans flood light the stage. Additional Lighting can be supplied by companies and added using temporary T-bars (supplied by company). No more lighting can be fitted to walls/ceiling.

Sound - The room is supplied with an 8 channel mixer (4xXLR, 2xJack). The room has 2xCD Players, 2xMicrophones and 2xmic stands.

Audio Visual - There is a Plasma screen at the Rear of the room, to utilise performers will need to switch the seating around 180 degrees, and return to the original set-up after their performance. The room has excellent sight lines and can be used with screens and projectors supplied by the performance group.

Storage - There is a small shared and unlocked storage area on the 2nd floor, and a very small shared secure area in the venues office.

Bar - There is no bar in the room

Stage - 6ft x 3ft raised Stage, end on, 4 inches high. No Wing space or backstage space.The very small PA area could be used as a very small off stage space.

Seating - Capacity is 60 seated cabaret style, plus a further 15-20 standing.

Lighting - 2xlights flood light the stage. Additional Lighting can be supplied by companies and added using temporary T-bars (supplied by company). No more lighting can be fitted to walls/ceiling.

Sound - The room is supplied with a 4 channel mixer (2xXLR, 2xJack/Phono). The room has 2xCD Players, 2xMicrophones and 2xmic stands.

Audio Visual - There is no AV equipment in this room.  The room can be used with screens and projectors supplied by the performance group.

Storage - There is a small shared and unlocked storage area on the 2nd floor, and a very small shared secure area in the venues office.

Bar - There is bar on this floor but not in the performance space - this bar will be opened at busy times, and will be to serve people coming to shows in the first floor room only - the main bar is on the ground floor.