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Out of the Blue Drill Hall

26 September 2026 (10:00 - 17:00)

Edinburgh

In Person

2026 Theme

Out of the Blue Arts & Education Trust’s mission is to provide affordable and appropriate spaces, resources, projects and opportunities for the residents of Edinburgh. Since 2004 Out of the Blue’s headquarters have been the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, a building of considerable historical and architectural significance to the Leith community. The Drill Hall was built in 1901 for the Royal Scots Regiment, designed by the renowned architect Sir Rowand Anderson, who also designed the National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street and the McEwan Hall at Edinburgh University. Following Out of the Blue’s 2015 “Gretna 100’ project, which marked the centenary of the Gretna rail disaster, and the impact it had on the Leith community, the Out of the Blue Drill Hall as reclassified from ‘B’ to ‘A’ listed. Careful, sustained restoration and regeneration has transformed this former military building into a participatory and inclusive arts and cultural centre, exhibition space and a well-reviewed cafe. The Out of the Blue Drill Hall is a vibrant, fun and inclusive place where people can experience all kinds of innovative, contemporary arts, enjoy the creative atmosphere, meet, discuss, eat, relax and learn.

Guided tours: free tours of the building (typically around 40 minutes). This will also include the opportunity to see inside some of our working studios and offices.

Tours will take place on the hour: ● 11am ● 12noon ● 1pm

This year’s Doors Open Days theme is Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine.

Revived: The hall played a leading role during the Gretna Rail Disaster in 1915 which saw over 200 soldiers from the Leith Battalion killed. The Drill Hall was where many of the families congregated to find out news about their loved ones. We revived this piece of heritage in 2015 when we commemorated the crash in 1915 with the “Gretna 100” project.

Reimagined: Careful, sustained restoration and regeneration has transformed this former military building into a participatory and inclusive arts and cultural centre, exhibition space and a well-reviewed cafe.