A Double Celebration For The Edinburgh Playhouse
The Edinburgh Playhouse has announced the launch of neighbouring all-day bar and café, Little Picardy, officially opened on Monday 12th August as the theatre marked its 95th birthday.
Article Source: ATG
Last Updated: 13 August 2024 14:46
The Edinburgh Playhouse has announced the launch of neighbouring all-day bar and café, Little Picardy, which is now officially open, as of Monday 12th August 2024. The official launch fell on the theatre’s 95th birthday, bringing the building together for the first time since 1929.
Although originally designed as one building, since opening in 1929, the lower part of the venue has had various uses through the decades, from Astra Radio shop in the 70s, to Chapps Bar in the 80s - establishing itself as a home for the LGBTQ+ community, which was continued by its successors Fusion and Café Kudos. Lastly, Café Habana, a thriving LGBTQ+ bar and entertainment venue,
operated there from 1999 to 2023.
In October of last year, it was announced that the Edinburgh Playhouse had purchased this part of the venue, and regained this part of its history, following the retirement of Café Habana owner, Lorraine Rourke. The Edinburgh Playhouse subsequently announced the plans to open Little Picardy.
In a dual-celebration, Little Picardy officially opened on Monday 12th August as the theatre marked its 95th birthday. The venue, which has offered Edinburgh audiences the chance to see the likes of Laurel and Hardy, Tina Turner, Dame Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Paul O’Grady and Diana Ross up on their stage over the years, now boasts an all-day bar and café offering to delight Edinburgh locals, visitors and stars of the stage alike.
Little Picardy will serve up artisan coffee and pastries in the morning followed expertly crafted cocktails, local and international beers and wines, and bar snacks in the latter half of the day. A full food offering will launch in autumn of this year. The sleek and sophisticated new venue is a welcome dog-friendly spot for locals, opening onto outdoor summer seating for enjoying when Edinburgh weather permits. Audiences can enjoy pre and post-show drinks before heading through the internal Little Picardy doors, straight to their seats in the theatre.
This landmark birthday falls in the middle of a busy Edinburgh Festival period where the theatre is set to welcome international comedy, music, and dance acts such as Jimmy Carr, Fern Brady, Declan McKenna, Grupo Corpo and Cat Power to their iconic stage. Being the UK’s largest all-seated theatre, the Edinburgh Playhouse is known to have been a favourite venue for many of the famous faces who have tread its boards as well as for the critically acclaimed musical productions who have wowed Edinburgh audiences over the years. In its 96th year, the theatre is set for another stand out 12 months, welcoming Donny Osmond in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as well as opening the first ever world tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
Gordon Millar, Theatre Director at the Edinburgh Playhouse says, “Our 95th birthday felt like the perfect moment to launch Little Picardy. As a venue that’s welcomed tens of millions of audiences and endless memorable shows, Edinburgh Playhouse has had lots to celebrate over years, but Little Picardy is extra special. It is a completely new and exciting venture for us that we are delighted to finally welcome our community into. We hope that the opening of Little Picardy marks the beginning of another 95 years of unforgettable experiences for Edinburgh locals, tourists, and theatregoers alike.”
Image credit: Rob McDougall
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