This year’s Beatles Marathon will take place at the Portobello Town Hall to the east of Edinburgh, with doors set to open at 11:45 AM on Saturday 30th November 2024. Here’s everything you need to know about the venue, along with useful travel information to help you join us for a fantastic afternoon and evening of music.
Getting to the Venue
Those familiar with Portobello know how well connected it is. But if you’re venturing from further afield, we have done the mental gymnastics for you! Select the tab below most suitable to your needs, and we’ll help you get to us in November!
Click here for a Google Maps link to Portobello Town Hall.
Parking nearby
There are a couple of parking spaces immediately outside of the Town Hall. If you find they’re taken, there is ample on-street parking down nearby residential roads, as well as a small car park on Bridge Street – a five minute walk away (click here for Google Maps).
Most areas do not have parking restrictions. However, there are some restrictions immediately outside of the Town Hall – please make sure you check the signage before leaving your vehicle.
Accessibility
There are two bays immediately outside the Town Hall marked ‘Disabled’. We recommend contacting the venue in advance if you require assistance. You can reach them via email at bookings@portobellotownhall.org, or over the phone via +44 7934 911849.
There is an accessible entrance to the Main Hall where the event is being hosted. If you require any further assistance please let the staff know on arrival.
Google Maps
Nearest rail connections
Unfortunately there are no trains which will get you to the Town Hall directly. However, there are two stations nearby:
- Brunstane Railway Station is just over 1 mile away, to the south of Portobello Town Hall.
- Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station is just over 3 miles away, and is well connected by bus. Check the current times here for buses including numbers 26, 19, 49.
Using the tram
The closest tram stop is Balfour Street – around an hour’s walk away from Portobello Town Hall (see Google Maps here). Instead, you can hop on a number of buses – the most direct of which is the 49, departing near the Balfour Street stop (stop name: Pilrig Street).
See the tab for travelling by bus for all of the routes.
Travelling by bus
Buses that run past Portobello Town Hall include: 12, 19, 26 (and N26), 49.
Recommended routes
- 26 (Most Frequent): Departs from the centre of Edinburgh through Princes Street every 15 minutes. Its route spans from the West of Edinburgh near East Craigs, North Gyle, and Costorphine to the East of Edinburgh – Seton Sands or Tranent.
Lothian Buses Timetable // Live Maps - N26: For those intending on staying in the area after hours, the N26 provides a semi-regular service throughout the early hours towards East Craigs / North Gyle / Corstorphine in the west, or Seton in the east.
Lothian Buses Timetable // Live Maps
Other routes
- 12: Connects the Gyle Shopping Centre in the south west to Leith in the north. It generally operates once every 30 minutes, becoming less regular after 4:30pm.
Lothian Buses Timetable // Live Maps - 19: From Granton in the north west of Edinburgh, to Eastfield in the east.
Lothian Bus Timetable // Live Maps - 21: From the Gyle Shopping Centre in the south west to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
Lothian Bus Timetable // Live Maps - 49: From the Royal Infirmary in the south west of Edinburgh, through the city centre, past Portobello Town Hall to Fort Kinnaird.
Lothian Bus Timetable // Live Maps
Food, Drink, and Entertainment
Kid’s entertainment, as well as a well-stocked bar and food venders will be available on the night. They will be card only, so please don’t bring cash!
Enjoy a range of drinks at the bar
We will be serving Cold Town Doddie Beir and Cold Town Baltic IPA, as well as Angus Alchemy Banoffee Pie Moonshine and Angus Alchemy Prickly Gin. For those with a sweeter tooth, we will also be serving Angus Alchemy Cocktails. Red, rose, and white wine will be available, along with a range of soft drinks. Diluting juice and tap water will be freely available!
Alcohol will only be served to those aged 18 or over. You may be asked for ID if you look under 25.
Grab a bite to eat between albums
We have paired up with a range of vendors serving hot and cold food. More information about these vendors will be available very soon, but make sure to bring a card as cash payments may not be accepted.
Children’s entertainment available
From 1pm until 5pm, Cygnets Art School, enjoy mini-art classes using pastels, paints and inks – fun for all ages! Find out more about the art school on their website here.
Event Buddies Scotland will also be in attendance with a face painter and glitter bar, glitter tattoos, balloon modelling and more. Find out more about Event Buddies Scotland on their website here.
