The Scottish Poetry Library hires out its meeting rooms and the whole building for small meetings, workshops, talks and drinks receptions of up to 100 guests. It stands in Crichton's Close, off the Canongate in Edinburgh, a short walk from Waverley Station.
Seminars and company events
The two meeting rooms suit board meetings, interviews, training sessions and hybrid calls. Both come with a large screen, a flip chart and free Wi-Fi, and hybrid meetings on Zoom or Teams are supported. Meeting rooms are available Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 4 pm, with later times open for discussion.
For a larger session, the whole building holds up to 50 people seated in theatre style on the Mezzanine, with both meeting rooms included in the hire.
Weddings and receptions
The venue page does not describe weddings. Drinks receptions are listed: the building takes up to 100 guests standing, normally outside the library's opening hours, with evenings available on request and Friday hires depending on staff availability.
Rooms and capacities
Meeting Room 1 is on the ground floor. It seats 12 in boardroom style or 20 in theatre style, with a screen and lectern. Meeting Room 2 is on the Mezzanine and takes up to 8 people in a similar set-up. The Mezzanine events area, with the rest of the building, holds 50 seated or 100 standing.
The building has three floors, a ground-floor entrance and a lift serving every level.
Catering
The library has no kitchen to cook in. It offers a large catering fridge and a microwave, and organisers may bring their own caterer, who can use their own hot plates. A basic tea and coffee service can be ordered, water is free, and a donation bar with wine, beer and soft drinks is available. Discuss alcohol with the team through the hire form.
Hire requests go through the venue hire form on the site, and a deposit is usually required to confirm a date.
Accessibility
The building is fully accessible, with one adapted toilet on the basement floor. Guide and hearing dogs are welcome, and portable audio loops are available, with fixed loops at Reception and in the Mezzanine events area.
Getting there
Crichton's Close is off the Canongate, on the Royal Mile side of Edinburgh. Waverley Station is about a 10-minute walk. The nearest parking is at Dynamic Earth, and Blue Badge holders can park directly outside.
