Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Gail Porter pulls plug on show after being 'priced out' of accommodation

The Edinburgh-born actress, broadcaster and stand-up comic took to social media to say that she had been "priced out" of the event.

Porter, who suggested the "greed" of property landlords was to blame for the cost of appearing at the Fringe, said she had been unable to find any suitable accommodation in the city centre under £2,000 for a ten-day run.

The 53-year-old, who made her stand-up debut at the festival last year, said she was “incredibly gutted” at having to pull the plug on her show because she could not afford the accommodation costs.

Stand-up comic Jason Manford has described the cost of staying in the city during the Fringe as an “absolute joke”.

He tweeted: “No idea how anyone starting out is managing to get up there and showcase their talents! I’ve just priced up a week up there and even if every show sells out, I’m still operating at a loss.”

Porter, who was brought up in Portobello and currently lives in London, said she was "so sorry" for young performers who will not be able to afford to stay in the city, adding "greed is awful".

However, the Fringe Society, the arts charity that oversees the 77-year-old festival, told The Scotsman that self-catering accommodation was still available in the city during the festival at Edinburgh, Queen Margaret and Heriot-Watt universities.

The Fringe Society admitted last year that artists and audiences were facing a “perfect storm” over the cost and availability of accommodation during the event, citing the growing popularity of Edinburgh as a tourism destination and new legislation affecting properties which have traditionally been let out during the Fringe.

Porter, who won widespread acclaim from critics at last year's Fringe, said she had been able to perform as she was house-sitting for friends who were out of the city on holiday.

Posting on Instagram, Porter said: “Edinburgh...you have priced me out the market. I can’t afford to do a gig at the festival.

"All these new lovely hopeful humans that want to perform, make people think, smile, cry, laugh… they can’t afford to stay in my home town.

“I’m so so incredibly gutted. Greed is never nice."

She also tweeted: “I was so excited to go to the Fringe this year. But I have been priced out by the soaring costs.

“I feel so sorry for new young performers that won’t be able to afford accommodation. I’m gutted Edinburgh has done this. Greed is awful.”

She told The Scotsman: “I was quoted just under £2,000 for ten days. It was the cheapest I could find in town.”

Posting on social media, Manford said: “If Edinburgh Festival had cost this much back in the day, just think of the performers who might never have been spotted!

"Peter Kay, Catherine Tate, Sarah Millican, Steve Coogan, Romesh Ranganathan, Paul O Grady, Lee Evans...hundreds!

"There’s got to be a way where a festival can make enough money that not only does it support itself it can also support new performers coming through. If you’re medium/low income, a parent or an amateur you’ve no chance.”

The Fringe Society encourages artists and performers to use a dedicated “accommodation portal" on its website to access the most affordable rooms and rates it has been able to negotiate in student accommodation in the city.

It will be running an official ‘Festival Village’ for the first time at Queen Margaret University’s campus in Musselburgh, which will offer around 500 rooms in self-catering flats for under £270 a week.

Responding to Porter on social media, the Fringe Society said: “Totally understand your frustration, Gail. Please know we're doing what we can to find solutions, be it through discussions with government or negotiating affordable options for artists. Please give our team a shout and they'll do what they can to help.”

The Fringe Society told Manford: “You're not wrong, Jason, it's a real issue. We're doing what we can to provide affordable accommodation and other support for artists, including our new Kepp It Fringe Fund. Would be great if you could spread the word.”

A Fringe Society spokeswoman said: “We continue to lobby local government, universities and student accommodation providers to set aside affordable rooms for our artists.

"We work with a range of universities and colleges across Edinburgh, to signpost affordable accommodation to artists performing at the Fringe.

"There is an online accommodation portal which signposts availability across these organisations, and our artist services team are on hand throughout the year to help with any specific queries.

"In addition to the 500 rooms at Queen Margaret University – where there is still availability – there is also availability at the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University.”