Royal Highland Centre
The Royal Highland Centre (also known as the Royal Highland Showground) is an exhibition centre and showground located in Ingliston in the west of Edinburgh, Scotland, adjacent to Edinburgh Airport and the A8.
History
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) purchased the land in 1958 for £55,000, and after 2 years of infrastructure work including a new roadway and improved electrical supplies, the 300 acres (1.2 km2) site was formally opened in 1960.
During the 1970s and 1980s, more facilitates were built, including the Highland Hall and Countryside Area.
The Royal Highland Centre now welcomes over 1 million visitors annually to a wide range of events. The largest event is the Royal Highland Show, which attracts over 200,000 visitors each year.
In the 1990s, the Royal Highland Centre became the home of rave events organised by North East based Rezerection. There were monthly events in the Royal Highland Centre and each summer a much larger event called The Event staged at the centre, where 25,000 people danced the night away in numerous tents and arenas. DJs included Bass Generator, Scott Brown, Tom Wilson, Mikey B, Seduction, and DJ Rap.
Future
The future of the Centre was threatened by the proposed expansion of Edinburgh Airport in 2006 under a UK government white paper, which foresees the need for the Royal Highland Centre site to be used for airport use by 2013.
By 2008 the plans were killed off and leaving the Centre where it is. This resulted in RHASS decide to spend £75million upgrade of the site and refurbishment, with work starting just after the 2010 Royal Highland Show.
References
External links
Coordinates: 55°56′27.59″N 3°22′26.44″W / 55.9409972°N 3.3740111°W