Community Access to Rooms

Community Access to Rooms offers local community groups and organisations the opportunity to use University rooms free-of-charge during evenings and weekends.

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40 & 50 George Square
40 & 50 George Square

This is a commitment in the University’s Community Plan 2020 – 2025 and a Scottish Government Social Impact Pledge.

From 2022 to 2024 we have provided 3,000 hours of room bookings to over 100 local community organisations.

Our spaces 

Various spaces are offered across our locations, ranging from small meeting rooms to spacious lecture theatres. 

Our rooms can be used for a variety of purposes, including workshops, study groups, meetings, rehearsals, community events and more. 

Frequently asked questions

Rooms are available Monday to Friday, from 6pm to 9pm, and on weekends from 10am to 4pm (Nucleus only). You can book rooms up to three months in advance. 


Community access to rooms is open to local community groups and not-for-profit organisations with an annual income of less than £1 million.   

Groups, organisations or events solely aimed at promoting religious or political beliefs are not eligible to book a room.   

If you are a student organisation or society, please contact EUSA to book a room. 


We aim to respond to your enquiry within five working days and will do our best to accommodate all requests, subject to space availability. Please note that we cannot fulfil requests with less than 48 hours notice.


Yes, we can accommodate recurring bookings subject to space availability.


Yes, bookings are available all year round. However, we have reduced availability during the summer (May to September), and the University is closed for two weeks over the winter break.


We are unable to accommodate under-18s in 50 George Square and Paterson’s Land.  Under-18s are welcome at Nucleus, where the booking is for a group or organisation willing to complete a risk assessment linking to their safeguarding and child protection policies.


Yes, if audio-visual equipment is available in a room, you are welcome to use it. However, we cannot guarantee AV equipment in every room, and IT support will not be provided. Visitor WiFi may be available.


Yes, please be mindful of disposing your waste appropriately. Alcohol consumption is not permitted.


How to request a room

1. Check you can comply with the Terms and Conditions 

2. Complete the Booking Request Form:

Questions?

If you have a question not answered in the FAQs, email us at local@ed.ac.uk or leave a message at 0131 651 5000 and we will call you back.

Related Links

Free hire of rooms opens doors for community

Free to flourish: Community groups thrive in University spaces | Edinburgh Impact