HUBBLE BUBBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE HALLOWEEN BREAKS IN EDINBURGH’S GRASSMARKET
If you’re looking for a frightfully good time this Halloween, look no further than Edinburgh’s Grassmarket. The Grassmarket Area, known throughout the world for its haunting place in history as a popular hangout for 17th Century body snatchers Burke and Hare, continues to be one of Scotland’s most exciting Halloween destinations.
[UKPRwire, Tue Oct 09 2007] If you’re looking for a frightfully good time this Halloween, look no further than Edinburgh’s Grassmarket. The Grassmarket Area, known throughout the world for its haunting place in history as a popular hangout for 17th Century body snatchers Burke and Hare, continues to be one of Scotland’s most exciting Halloween destinations. And with Halloween Breaks at the Grassmarket’s four star Apex Hotels, experiencing all the ghoulish excitement has never been easier!
Something for everyone.
With over 50 traders in the Grassmarket Area, it is no surprise that the area holds something for everyone. Specialist shops such as Costume Ha Ha and vintage clothing boutique Armstrongs are favourites for finding the perfect Halloween costumes. From zombie brides to Victorian gentry to Chicago mobsters to 60s hipsters, and just about everything in between, the Grassmarket area shops hold an exciting array of Halloween costume solutions.
Costume Ha Ha, 88 Grassmarket, 0131 225 3388; www.novelty.org
Armstrongs, 83 Grassmarket, 0131 220 5557; www.armstrongsvintage.co.uk
Something to scare you to bits.
What could be scarier than being lead around Edinburgh’s cobbled closes by a dead man? The Cadies and Witchery Tours do just that. Adam Lyle (deceased) leads two tours that will scare even the most cynical with true stories of Edinburgh’s gruesome past. The Murder and Mystery Tour and the Ghosts and Gore Tour both take place after dark ensuring that you’ll always meet a truly terrible bunch of ghouls lurking in the shadows.
The Cadies & Witchery Tours, 84 West Bow, 0131 225 6745; www.witcherytours.com
Something for the kids.
If the Cadies and Witchery Tours sound like they might be too much for your little ones, the Halloween Party at the Apex International Hotel might be just the ticket. Held on Sunday 28th October, 2007 from 2 to 4 pm, the Halloween Party will feature a story telling hour from Edinburgh’s Mercat Tours, ‘dooking’ for apples, fancy dress and screeeeaaaaaming competition, along with pin the wart on the witch and trick or treating!
Halloween Party @ Apex International, £5 per child (age 5-10)
31-35 Grassmarket, 0131 666 5046 www.apexhotels.co.uk/kids
Something for the faint of heart.
If all this ghoulishness is making you feel weak-kneed, why not stop into the White Hart Inn. Dating back to 1740, it is the Grassmarket’s oldest pub with a rich history of famous patrons, including Robert Burns, and the infamous 'grave robbers', Burke and Hare. Nowadays you’re more likely to encounter a folk music session than a grave robber. The pub’s eerie history has a way of leading to ghostly stories – so you’ll have to decide for yourself if they’re true!
The White Hart Inn, 34 Grassmarket, Edinburgh 0131 226 2806
Somewhere to lay your head.
The Apex International Hotel and Apex City Hotel both offer four star accommodation and award-winning dining right in the heart of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket. Halloween Weekend Breaks have never been easier. Breaks start from £52 per person per night, bed and breakfast included. For more information or to make a booking, contact:
Apex International Hotel, 31-35 Grassmarket, 0131 300 3456; www.apexhotels.co.uk
Apex City Hotel, 61 Grassmarket, 0131 243 3456; www.apexhotels.co.uk
-Ends-
For further press images, photos or logos, or to arrange a media visit, please contact Fiona Vernon or Sara McMillan on 0131 669 0333 or sara@nicheworks.co.uk / fiona@nicheworks.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Grassmarket Area Traders Association
The Grassmarket Area Traders Association formed on 25 March 1997 in order to work for the economic well-being of the area by marketing, organising activities and liaising with public bodies, such as the City of Edinburgh Council as well as other stakeholders in the area, such as the local resident associations.
Visit Scotland Challenge Funding
In July 2007, the Grassmarket Area Traders Association was awarded £15,000 from the VisitScotland Challenge Fund. The funding is designed to bring new or repeat visitors to Scotland. It also aims to create year round tourism activity and promote quality visitor experiences. Funds are given for marketing activity that complement how Scotland is promoted at national and local level and encourages groups of tourism businesses to work together.
The VisitScotland Challenge Fund is a project part-financed by the European Union, designed to encourage innovative and collaborative marketing activity that attracts more visitors to Scotland and makes it easier for them to book their visit.
Since its launch in November 2004, the VisitScotland Challenge Fund has approved 100 successful applications and awarded almost £1.35 million to groups. This has involved working with over 3,000 tourism businesses in tourism groups.
VisitScotland has three key roles: to attract visitors to Scotland, to engage with partners in the industry and to add value to the visitor experience.
VisitScotland is working with the tourism industry and other partners to achieve a 50 per cent growth in tourism revenues for Scotland by 2015.
The organisation employs over 1,000 people and has 15 Network offices from London to Lerwick.
For every £1 VisitScotland spends on UK marketing, £32 was generated for the Scottish economy and for every £1 VisitScotland spends on International marketing, £23 was generated for the Scottish economy.
Tourism employs 204,000 people in Scotland. The industry generates £4.3billion revenue (5 per cent of GDP).
Tourism supports around 9 per cent of employment in Scotland (11% in Dumfries & Galloway).
VisitScotland’s press releases can be found on www.visitscotland.org
For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
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