edinburgh this sunday till tuesday 30 July 2013 at 12:35PM in Scotland 6 replies 1.4K views

nutty1

how do you get free tickets to shows please, and thinking of a pub crawl eg most haunted pub, smallest pub, oldest pub any ideas please

pogofish

Its been a few years since I was last a seasoned EF blagger but...

Things may have changed a bit this year with the streamlined booking system/collection points but the Fringe office on the High St used to do free ticket releases for some shows at specific times - often very limited/or very early in the day.

The Scotsman publish a daily supplement that usually includes details of a number of free shows and where/when to get them - sometimes from the aforementioned office, sometimes from their own counter, sometimes elsewhere. Again, you often don't get long to collect them.

Some of the characters plugging shows on the High St are open to haggling, others not. Some will actually bung you a couple of free tix if you can give as good as you get but overall, I've never got as many freebees from them compared to the Pleasance.

The Pleasance and its courtyard is a major hub of Festival activity and a lot of the Media tend to base themselves there, so free entry to review shows, recordings, panels etc and sometimes even a journo offloading their excess tickets in the caf!/bar.

I believe there is a new courtyard space at the Former Royal !!!!!! College this year, which also looks like a promising new hub of activity, so might be worth checking out and the White Horse reopened as a festival venue a couple of years ago after a period of inactivity - Although I don't know if it will ever regain its position as the beating heart of Fesitval blaggerdom/debauchery. You never knew who you would bump into there - or in what state!

As for pubs - Tons of them, all with a story. Way too many to list or even remember!

nutty1

where abouts is the pleasance please, where staying in the travelodge near worlds end pub

pogofish

Very near - Just come out the Travelodge, turn right, down the hill, straight across at the lights and the pleasance is that low older building in front of you a bit up the hill and on the other side of the road. Courtyard is through the arch.

Sometimes the free shows/recording etc are announced over the tannoy, other times they are up on fliers/posters - take a little time to read them as they are often not that obvious (there are usually lots!). If they still have a ticket office there this year, that's also a good place to check.

Hunter Square can also be quite a good hangout and I believe the Tron Kirk is refurbished as a proper venue now - Again good for outdoor demo shows etc in daytime. That's left out of the Travelodge, left up the High St and you come to the Tron just after the second set of traffic lights IIRC (just above North Bridge)

pogofish

Now I'm wanting to take-off to Edinburgh again.

The spirit is willing but sadly the flesh is just not up-to it!

sweetme

Their Facebook page Edinburgh International Festival you really need to check it regularly though as the freebies go fast.

lou--b

Not a freebie but a recommendation. If you want to pay for a show and you like comedy, go see Paul Zerdin. Ive just got back and will highly recommend it. Brilliant, funny entertaining just dont sit too near the front!!