Venue hire

The SPL is available to hire at very reasonable rates. We can accommodate meetings, presentations, events, book launches, press conferences and many other options. Talk to us about your requirements using our Venue Hire form.

Friends of the SPL are entitled to a 10% discount on venue hire. Find out how to join here.

NB: Bookings are subject to the latest COVID-19 guidance. Please complete the Venue Hire form and we’ll endeavour to do our best.

Venue hire form

Meeting Room 1 and 2

Full day: £200 per room

By the hour: £30 per room

Meeting Room 1 is our workshop/meeting room/break-out space located on the ground floor of the Library. The room is usually set boardroom style and can accommodate up to 14 people.

Meeting Room 2 is on the Mezzanine level and can accommodate up to 10 people.

Our meeting rooms can meet your audio-visual and online needs via our free WiFi and 65” LCD screen. Please note the configurations above are a guide only; please discuss capacity and your event’s individual needs in the Venue Hire form or with staff at the time of booking.

The Mezzanine

Evening weekday: £175

Friday/Saturday evening event: £250

The Mezzanine is our large events space on the first floor of the Library. Our rolling stacks can easily be moved to provide a theatre-style space. With chairs in rows,The Mezzanine can accommodate up to 60 audience members. Seating for smaller groups can also be arranged in different formations (we have flexible-use desks available). We have a 65″ LCD screen, as well as a lectern, microphones, amplification and audio recording. A hearing loop is fitted around the space. The Mezzanine is perfect for poetry readings, book launches or live music events.

As the SPL is an open plan venue, this space is subject to low ambient noise e.g. people chatting, when used during our regular opening hours.

Full Building or Full Day

Prices available on request.

You may have a larger event in mind, for example a multi-space training day, book launch, seminar or corporate event. We are happy to discuss creative ways to use the Library, including the terrace and ground floor: could you be the first couple to get married here? Our maximum capacity for full building events is 150.

food and drink at the SPL — Catering-ground floor

white meeting room with table and chairs — Catering-ground floor

Venue Hire FAQs

Where is the SPL?

We are located centrally in Edinburgh just off the Canongate in Crichton’s Close. Nearby places of interest include Holyrood Palace, the Scottish Parliament, Dynamic Earth and Arthur’s Seat.

Waverley Station is about 10 minutes’ walk from the Library (via Market St and New St).

The nearest parking is at Dynamic Earth. Blue Badge holders may park directly outside our building.

The Scottish Poetry Library is the only purpose-built, independently constituted poetry library in the world. The building was opened in 1999, then extended and refurbished in 2015. It houses lending and reference collections of Scottish, UK and international poetry; borrowing is free. The SPL runs a lively events programme and its website is a major resource for Scottish poetry in particular. It works with schools and in community settings.

Scottish charity no: SCO23311

Is the building accessible?

The SPL is fully accessible, has a ground-floor entrance and a lift that accesses all three floors. There is one adapted toilet on the basement floor.

Guide and hearing dogs are welcome. A portable audio loop is available for single users as well as fixed loops at our Reception desk and the events area on the Mezzanine. If you need a multi-user loop system, please let us know as far as possible in advance. For more about our accessibility, please click here.

Are any Friends or charity discounts available?

SPL Friends receive a 10% discount on all hire costs.

The SPL is a fully accessible venue, which aims to host a diverse range of events. Hire costs may be negotiable in line with these aims. Please drop us an email if you’d like to discuss this further: reception@spl.org.uk

Can the SPL provide staff for an evening event?

All evening hire events will normally be staffed by one member of SPL staff. We will ensure that the Library is set up as you require before your event, and we will return it to its normal configuration after your event. The staff member on duty will look after the Library during your event and will do their best to assist you as required, however their main job is to manage the reception desk and lock up when you are finished.

If the event is open to the public, we provide one member of SPL staff. Our volunteers are usually also keen to lend a hand.

Can the SPL help promote my event?

The SPL has over 35,000 Twitter followers and a vibrant presence on Facebook and other social media outlets. If your event is poetry-related, we can discuss supporting your own promotional activities via our social media upon receipt of details of your event.

What about catering?

In our meeting rooms, tea and coffee is available for up to 14 people at £1 per person. We can provide a donation bar of wine, beer and/or soft drinks for any of your events. If you require more complex catering, we can advise on various suppliers or nearby venues which offer meals for large parties. We can accommodate the needs of most caterers if they’re able to bring their own e.g. hot plates.