Description
Collective is a charity and centre for contemporary art on Calton Hill, Edinburgh. We offer a private dry hire of our historic City Observatory site for unique hilltop weddings. Our home is central to Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. This special place, rich in history and architecture old and new, offers versatile, intimate spaces for weddings, elopements and receptions – all set against a backdrop of panoramic views for a unique ceremony and stunning photographs.
Set in beautiful grounds, featuring sustainable wildflower gardens and four-hundred year old heritage buildings, the City Observatory was once home to Scotland's Royal Observatory. The building is currently home to Collective, a hub for contemporary art in Scotland. To the north of the Observatory is our Viewing Platform which boasts views from the Forth Rail-Bridge to Bass Rock. For more intimate weddings, the City Observatory features a smaller Library Room with intact heritage features and beautiful furnishings for ceremonies of up to twelve people.
Collective Galleries will provide each couple with a dedicated Wedding Coordinator who will help to organise suppliers and ensure your event runs smoothly.
Onsite accommodation is available, subject to availability, in the oldest building on the site; Observatory House. Enquiries for bookings here can be made via our holiday rental partner, Joivy.
We are proud to work with a selection of pre-approved caterers, including our onsite partner Cafe Calton. A full list of these can be found on our supplier list. Please note we only allow preapproved operators to ensure we deliver the best service to our guests.
For smaller weddings, we have a small selection of furniture available for use, including chairs and tables. For larger weddings or for any specific requests, we will coordinate the hire of furniture on your behalf to suit the event’s requirements.
Message from the team
Experience
Overview of Collective Galleries
Wedding Ceremony & Reception
Wedding Venue Details
Wedding Catering
Pricing for Collective Galleries
Location & Contact Details for Collective Galleries
Travel Notes
Nearest Town
Nearest Motorway & Junction
Nearest Train Station
Nearest Airport
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Are all of your venues accessible?
All of our paths are accessible to wheelchair and mobility scooter users. All of our new buildings are fully wheelchair accessible, however a number of buildings at Collective are hundreds of years old and there are limitations to their accessibility.
The City Observatory has a 10cm step at the entrance which is ramped but may require assistance for wheelchair access.
Where are the accessible toilets located?
An accessible toilet and baby changing facilities are available in the Observatory, and we will provide access to these facilities for events in the City Dome and elsewhere around the site.
Can I hire the whole site?
If you have an idea for a bespoke private event that utilises the whole of our walled site, we’d be delighted to discuss options with you. Price upon application.
Can I hire a combination of buildings and outdoor spaces?
Yes!
Can I hire Cafe Calton?
Yes. Cafe Calton can be hired for exclusive private use and special events. The restaurant seats up to 40 people. If you are interested in hiring Cafe Calton in conjunction with another building, we will coordinate availability. If you would like to hire Cafe Calton only, our team will put you in touch with them. Please note that hiring Cafe Calton only includes use of the cafe and their terrace space. For use of the wider grounds, please contact Collective.
Can I bring my own catering?
Due to health and safety regulations, only caterers we have existing relationships with are permitted to cater events at our venue. Wedding cakes are an exception to this.
Do you offer BYOB?
Yes, but for a glass of fizz only. Glass flutes are included in the additional BYOB fee, and will be available for your party to set up and pour. Please note that this is self service only; we do not provide waiting staff. Due to our alcohol policy this option is only available for up to 1 hour, and for sparkling fizz only. No other alcohol can be self served. Please ask us for more information.
Do you provide glassware and linen?
We can organise the hire of glassware and linen on your behalf. We charge a 20% admin fee for this which will be added to your final invoice.
Does Collective decorate the venue?
No. All decorations need to be organised by the client and set-up within the duration of the hire. Once the event is finished, the area should be returned to the state it was found in. We welcome clients to organise for florists to drop off and decorate on the day of the event.
Can I drop things off or set-up the night before?
As our buildings are open to the public on a daily basis, all set-up and take-down is required to happen on the day of the event and should fall within the duration of your hire. If either is likely to require longer than your allotted time, it is possible to extend the hire time for an additional fee. We have minimal storage on site. If you wish to drop things off during opening hours the day before, the equivalent of two shoeboxes is permitted. If you would like to arrange access to drop off more than this, or drop things off after 5pm, then we can arrange access for an additional fee. Collective is not liable for anything left at the venue overnight.
