TV stars priced out of their own gigs: Jason Manford and Gail Porter lead backlash as cost of cheapest hotel rooms in Edinburgh during Fringe Festival hit more than £1,000-a-week - leaving lesser known comics unable to perform

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Comics have been forced to pull out of Edinburgh Festival Fringe or accept they will ‘operate at a loss’ after being priced out of the Scottish capital – with the cheapest hotels charging more than £1,000-a-week for a room.

Television presenter and actress Gail Porter has said she is unable to perform at this year’s festival because of the ‘soaring costs of B&Bs’ in her home town.

Meanwhile comedian and presenter Jason Manford branded the price of accommodation in Edinburgh an ‘absolute joke’, admitting that he will be making a financial loss.

Edinburgh Fringe, which takes place from August 2-26, is in its 77th year with over 1,600 shows confirmed.

MailOnline analysis has found that the cheapest hotel room for one adult between August 2-9 via Booking.com is Edinburgh 37, where performers and visitors can expect to pay £1,115 for a week – £159 per night.

It then jumps up to £1,341 to stay at the Corstorphine Lodge Hotel, which works out at £191 per night despite being situated 3.8 miles outside of the centre.

The next cheapest hotel is the Toby Carvery Edinburgh West by Innkeeper’s Collection, which will set hard-pressed Brits back £1,371 for a week (£196-a-night), while the Northumberland Hotel is a staggering £1,495 (£214-a-night).

The cheapest hotels for a week are around £1,115 in Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival. The various locations where artists will perform are also on the map

Gail Porter

Mandford described the situation in Edinburgh as ‘pure greed’ and fears the costs are prohibitive to new artists

Venues can cost up to £10,000 per week and artists must also find money for Fringe registration fees, ticket commission, marketing and advertising, equipment hire and transportation, public liability insurance, and accommodation for themselves.

It is estimated total costs for a theatre show in a 150-capacity space could be £25,000 for 23 performances, while a comedy show in a 30-capacity venue for 23 afternoon performances may be £2,000.

READ MORE: Gail Porter hits out at Edinburgh Fringe Festival bosses as she claims she can’t perform this year after venue and accommodation prices skyrocket  

Mandford described the situation in Edinburgh as ‘pure greed’ and fears the costs are prohibitive to new artists.

He wrote on X:  ‘Edinburgh Festival prices especially for accommodation are an absolute joke! No idea how anyone starting out is managing to get up there and showcase their talents!

‘I’ve just priced up a week up there and even if every show sells out, I’m still operating at a loss.

‘Part of me thinks is it fair after years of doing it for nowt/at a loss, shouldn’t you be able to come up and smash it and finally make some dosh there?

‘Personally I only do one week, mid afternoon in a smallish venue as a working progress (sic) for my tour.’

A spokesperson for the Fringe replied to his tweet: ‘It’s a real issue. We’re doing what we can to provide affordable accommodation and other support for artists, including our new Keep it Fringe fund.’

Gail Porter says she is unable to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year as it is too expensive (pictured in the city)

The television presenter, 53, has put on a number of sold-out stand-up comedy shows at the festival held in her home town in the past but this year claims she has been ‘priced out’

A festival handbook for new artists says performers may need to invest some of their own money to fund their shows, adding ‘very few artists and companies are able to fundraise the full cost of a Fringe run from external sources’.’

Manford was speaking out after Porter, who made her Fringe debut in 2023, said she was ‘gutted’ to be priced out of performing this year.

She said: ‘Was so excited to go the edfringe this year. But I have been priced out by the soaring costs of B&Bs.

‘My home town. I feel so sorry for new young performers that won’t be able to afford accommodation.

‘I’m gutted Edinburgh has done this. Greed is awful.’

A response from the festival’s official Twitter account read: ‘Totally understand your frustration, Gail – please know we’re doing what we can to find solutions, be it through discussions with govt or negotiating affordable options for artists.’

Gail replied: ‘Thank you for your response. I just feel for so many people I know that are not coming to my home. Just really upsetting x x.’

During the second week of the Fringe (August 10-17), the cheapest option is to stay at the same Toby Carvery, which is £1,407 for the week – £201 per night.

A street performer on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile during the city’s Festival Fringe last year

Tjimurdance theatre perform in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the Royal Mile on August 14, 2014 in Edinburgh

Social media users have also been critical of the cost of attending the festival this year

The second cheapest option is to stay at the Britannia Edinburgh Hotel which will set performers back £1,449 for a week – £207 per night. And the third cheapest is the Ibis Budget Hotel Edinburgh Park which is £1,494 (£213 per night).

In the final week of the fringe (August 18-25), the Edinburgh House Hotel is the second cheapest option at £1,038 for a week – £148 per night. The second best option is the Corstorphine Lodge Hotel at £1,341 for the week – £191.50-per-night.

While the third cheapest is the Toby Carvery again, this time at £1,362 for the week – £194.50 per night.

Those hoping to attend the festival have also hit out at the cost of travelling up and staying in Edinburgh on social media.

Laurence Josephson said: ‘The ridiculous prices are obviously an issue for artists, and that needs addressing. But it also prices out visitors, and it’s a real shame that so many people who would want to experience the Fringe just can’t.’

Gareth Bird said: ‘Accommodation in the city, across the board, is stopping me from returning. Every aspect of the Fringe is now much too expensive to actually enjoy.’

And Jill O’Halloran fumed: ‘It’s just a playground for rich kids now.’

MailOnline analysed the cheapest hotels – not including hostels and student accommodation – on Booking.com during the three weeks of Edinburgh Fringe for one adult.

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