The Caves hosts seated dinners for 60 to 250 guests, receptions for 150 to 400 and weddings of up to 150 by day, in a run of restored vaults beneath the South Bridge in Edinburgh's Old Town. Corporate events, private parties and live music nights all take place under the same stone arches.
Seminars and company events
The venue takes corporate events of most kinds, from a dinner after a conference to a drinks reception for several hundred people or a party with a band. Minimum and maximum numbers vary with the day of the week: seated dinners run from 60 to 250 guests, and receptions from 150 to 400, with a minimum food spend for receptions. For music, hirers can use a set background playlist or book their own band or DJ, and limited balcony seating may be available for standing gigs. Its Old Town address puts it within walking distance of many city center hotels, which helps when delegates are staying across town.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings can hold both the ceremony and the wedding breakfast in the vaults. A minimum of 70 adults applies for the day, with a daytime maximum of 150 guests. The evening reception can grow to 200 or more. The stone setting needs little decoration, and the venue's kitchen handles the wedding meal.
Rooms and capacities
Capacities depend on the day booked: seated dinners up to 250 and receptions up to 400. The space keeps its original terracotta floor tiles under the vaulted ceilings. On access, there is a small lip at the front door, the ground floor is mostly wheelchair accessible, and two steps lead down to the bar, which is worth checking for guests with reduced mobility.
Catering
The venue refers to its own kitchen, chef and food service for dinners, receptions and weddings, and receptions carry a minimum spend on food. Menus are discussed at booking.
History and setting
The vaults form the substructure of the South Bridge, built in the 18th century to carry traffic over the Cowgate. Over time they served as stables and as a store for large quantities of whisky, which earned the stretch the name Whisky Row. The remains of houses older than the bridge can still be seen inside. The vaults were lost for more than a hundred years before being found again and restored under the direction of Norman Rowan junior, managing director of Unusual Venues Edinburgh, which runs the venue today. The site lies within the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh UNESCO World Heritage area.
Getting there
The address is 8-10 Niddry Street South, Edinburgh EH1 1NS, just off the Royal Mile and the Cowgate. Edinburgh Waverley station is a short walk away, and Edinburgh Airport is linked to the city center by tram.
