£11M BOOST FROM FRINGE BY THE SEA TO EAST LOTHIAN ECONOMY

Festival-goers celebrate creativity, connection & community 

Fringe by the Sea has delivered its most successful festival to date, with an independent survey of visitors to East Lothian’s multi-arts festival revealing a significant cultural and economic impact for the local community.

The report highlights the festival’s continued growth, with attendance increasing 20% to 103,000 visitors this year. 

The economic impact also showed strong gains, with the event contributing over £11 million to the local economy and supporting 147 tourism-related jobs throughout the county. Findings reveal a significant boost in new visitors to East Lothian, many of whom explored nearby attractions such as the Scottish Seabird Centre, local museums, and points of interest across North Berwick, Dunbar, and East Linton. 

The research also highlights a 20% year-on-year increase in the use of accommodation, cafés, and restaurants during the Fringe by the Sea period, demonstrating that visitors are staying longer and taking the time to discover more of what the county has to offer. 

Key highlights from this year’s festival include:

• 56% of attendees came from outside East Lothian (up from 44% in 2024)
• 96% of visitors came to North Berwick specifically because of FBTS
• 88% of attendees would “definitely” attend future FBTS events
• 95% rated their experience as “Excellent” or “Very Good”

The findings reflect not only the growing popularity of the festival, but also its power to bring people together through a shared celebration of creativity, connection and community.

Cultural Highlights and Big-Name Acts

The 2025 lineup featured exclusive performances from French duo Air, the Mercury Prize-winning Ezra Collective, and comedian Alan Davies, in a diverse programme of music, arts and culture.  Festival-goers enjoyed events across four venues, around town and in a buzzing central hub, with local food vendors, creative Maker’s Market and family activities.

Sustainability and Community at the heart of the Festival

Fringe by the Sea continues to prioritise key sustainability measures in 2025, including the use of John Clark Volvo electric cars for talent transportation and the installation of a biophilic garden by Lynn Hill to encourage and educate visitors on the importance of connecting with nature.  Additional bike racks were available in The Lodge to promote travel without the use of cars while public transport options included a special midnight train service from Scotrail and additional bus services.

All festival waste is meticulously hand-sorted by partner Caledonia Horticulture, ensuring that 99% of waste is recycled, or converted into energy. Daily ‘Rubbish Chats’ were hosted for free for visitors to show the work undertaken by the team and the importance of waste sorting to avoid the use of landfill.  This year also saw the launch of a reusable cup Initiative, reducing single use wastage and raising over £7k for Scottish Coastal Clean-Up charity. 

Fundraising efforts continued with close to a total of £13k raised for local charities including Leuchie House and RNLI, through events over the 10 days. 

With over 50+ events focusing on climate, environment and sustainability including Nature Day with Scottish Seabird Centre, Coastal Walks, Nature Animation Workshops, E-Bike Tours and Natural Art Workshops, Fringe by the Sea ensured that sustainability is at the core of the festival. 

Accessibility action

Following funding from the North Berwick Community Area Partnership, Fringe by the Sea introduced new and improved accessible seating platforms in the main big top and lodge stages.  The funding also allowed for two passenger buggies to help those with restricted mobility access the main festival site from blue badge parking, enhancing comfort and inclusion for all.

Commenting on the success of this year’s event, Fringe By The Sea Festival Director Rory Steel said:

“With more visitors than ever before coming to enjoy our community-led festival, the team at Fringe By The Sea has been truly humbled by fabulous feedback we’ve received. 

“Whether it was Ezra Collective hanging out with our local youth club, the epic artistry of AIR bringing their global tour to North Berwick, Dunbar’s Racecar playing a magical, intimate gig or any one of our amazing local artists performing on the Lighthouse Live stage, this year had so many memorable moments we can rightly be proud of sharing throughout East Lothian.  Bringing people together to share in these moments is what it is all about.  

“The uplift to the local economy is another important part of delivering Fringe By The Sea, and we’re immensely grateful to all our partners, suppliers, traders and festival-goers for their commitment to making our wonderful wee festival such a special part of Scotland’s cultural summer scene.”

Fringe By The Sea 2026 will take place on 31st July to 9th August.

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For further information, please contact Fiona Duffy email: fiona@duffpublicity.com Tel: 07710 419762 

Fringe by the Tee returns to the Genesis Scottish Open with Star-Studded Summer Line-Up

Fringe by the Tee is back and bigger than ever as it returns to the Genesis Scottish Open, bringing a vibrant mix of music, comedy, and family fun to the East Lothian coast this July.

Leading the charge are two crowd favourites – comedian Fred MacAulay and legendary author-turned-DJ Irvine Welsh.

Fred MacAulay will once again host his much-loved daily slots, entertaining fans with sharp wit, warm conversation, and the occasional surprise guest. Always a hit, Fred’s return promises laughter and spontaneous moments across the week.

On Friday 11th, Irvine Welsh hits the decks with a DJ set that’s bound to get the weekend started in style. Known for his iconic writing and now an international DJ, Irvine blends beats with attitude, creating sets that get people moving.

KT Tunstall has already been announced to headline on Saturday 12th, bringing her high-energy performance and unmistakable voice to the stage. Expect big hits, festival vibes, and singalongs under the Scottish summer sky.

Also joining the line-up:

JoJe – All the way from Seoul, South Korea, JoJe brings his indie-electronic-rock-pop fusion to the festival. With a globe-trotting spirit and heartfelt lyrics, his music is a celebration of life and love, fresh from the release of his latest album 아지랑이 (Shimmer).

Grace & The Flat Boys – Edinburgh’s very own jazz/rock/fusion five-piece, fronted by the effortlessly cool Grace, are set to deliver a groove-filled set full of rhythm and soul.

Jazzmain – A returning Fringe by the Tee favourite, expect slick arrangements and jazz classics from this polished ensemble.

Ali Affleck – American vocalist and percussionist breathing new life into 1920s–40s New Orleans jazz with her spirited band, the Gin Mill Genies, and their infectious, vintage mayhem.

Viper Swing – Edinburgh-based hot string jazz band channeling the joyful spirit of the 1920s–40s with infectious rhythms, gravelly vocals, and toe-tapping swing.

DJ sets from Wayne Dickson, Kaiser Matt, and Miss Mixtape will keep the party going, spinning everything from retro anthems to dancefloor fillers.

And it’s not just for grown-ups! Families can catch the always-popular Alexander the Great – an award-winning entertainer delivering circus skills, party games, disco dancing, and plenty of magic for the kids (and grown-up kids too).

With something for everyone – from toe-tapping tunes to side-splitting comedy and magical moments – Fringe by the Tee offers the perfect festival atmosphere to enjoy between golf rounds or simply soak up the fun all day long.

Fringe by the Tee Director, Rory Steel “We’re excited to return to the Genesis Scottish Open with our strongest line-up yet. From live music and comedy to family entertainment, Fringe by the Tee is all about adding value to what is already a world class event. Whether you’re here for the golf or just enjoying the day out, we look forward to welcoming everyone back to East Lothian this July.”

A range of ticket options for the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open, including daily general admission tickets, season tickets, Ticket+ and Green on 18 premium hospitality packages, are available to purchase at etg.golf/GSO25Tickets

For more information visit: www.fringebythesea.com/fringebythetee

Media pack can be found HERE

KT Tunstall to Headline Fringe by the Tee at The Genesis Scottish Open

KT Tunstall, the Grammy-nominated, Brit Award-winning artist, will bring her electrifying live show to The Genesis Scottish Open on Saturday, 12th July. Known for her soulful voice, dynamic stage presence, and pioneering loop pedal performances, Tunstall has captivated audiences worldwide with hits like Black Horse and the Cherry Tree and Suddenly I See. A true trailblazer, she has spent two decades evolving her sound, seamlessly blending folk, rock, and pop, while remaining one of the most compelling live performers of her generation. Her headline set marks a major milestone for the tournament, as a performer of her stature takes centre stage at the event for the first time, adding an exciting new dimension to Scotland’s national open.

Following the success of 2024, the collaboration between The Genesis Scottish Open and Fringe by the Sea returns for its second year, with the Fringe by the Tee pop-up stage at the Renaissance Club in East Lothian once again enhancing the fan experience at the global sporting event, which blends world-class golf and entertainment. Set to be the highlight of the Fan Zone at Scotland’s national open from 9-13 July, Fringe by the Tee creates a family-friendly atmosphere, complementing the tournament with live music and cultural programming.

KT Tunstall’s headline slot is  just the beginning – from Wednesday, 9th July to Sunday, 13th July, there’s a packed lineup of exciting entertainment still to be revealed, featuring a mix of live music, comedy, and family-friendly shows. With something for everyone, this year’s Fringe by the Tee promises non-stop fun for fans of all ages.

This partnership unites two award-winning events, with The Genesis Scottish Open and Fringe by the Sea earning Outstanding Sporting Event and Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival accolades at the 2023 Scottish Thistle Awards.

The 2025 Genesis Scottish Open – co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR – will see some of the world’s best golfers join Scottish star and defending champion Robert MacIntyre.

Rory Colville, Genesis Scottish Open Championship Director, said: “We’re thrilled to showcase an artist of KT’s calibre at The Genesis Scottish Open this summer. Known for world-class golf, the tournament will be further elevated with acts like KT Tunstall on the Fringe by the Tee stage, offering fans of all ages an unforgettable experience. It’s a pleasure to partner with another award-winning local event to highlight the best North Berwick, East Lothian and Scotland has to offer.”

Rory Steel, Festival Director of Fringe by the Sea, said: “the booking of Scottish legend KT Tunstall for Fringe By The Tee takes our partnership with The Genesis Scottish Open to the next level and gives both golf and music fans an awesome day out to relish.  We’ve got more exciting announcements to make in the coming months.  Whether you’re here for the world-class golf or incredible entertainment, East Lothian is the place to be this summer – there’s something for everyone.”

A range of ticket options for the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open, including daily general admission tickets, season tickets, Ticket+ and Green on 18 premium hospitality packages, are available to purchase HERE

For more information visit: www.fringebythesea.com/fringebythetee

Media pack can be found HERE

ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT CONCLUDES THAT NET ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT VISITOR SPEND AS A RESULT OF FESTIVAL ALMOST £10M

 

The Economic Impact Report undertaken by MKA Economics for Fringe By The Sea 2024 has concluded that the net additional economic impact of visitor spend as a result of the festival is in the region of £9,923,100.  This is a 36% increase on the 2023 figure.

The 17^th Fringe by the Sea was held in North Berwick between the 2^nd and 11^th August 2024, attracting a total number of 86,130, 15% up on the 2023 level (74,750 visitors).  The event has grown year on year since it started in 2008.

2024 can be seen to have been another success in attracting a significant number of people from outside East Lothian, 44% were from outside the area compared to 38% in 2023. There were more people from elsewhere in Edinburgh and Scotland, the UK and overseas. The event continues to bring more people into North Berwick and East Lothian each year, and acts as an important draw for bringing people into Scotland.

In order to ascertain the role of Fringe by the Sea in attracting visitors to North Berwick in 2024, non-local survey respondents were asked about their motivation in visiting the area. 38% (37% in 2023) of respondents noted that Fringe by the Sea was ‘only reason’ they were visiting North Berwick.  Although many of the festival goers from outside the area travelled by car (48%) this was down from 50% in 2023; public transport to North Berwick is good with both the festival putting on extra late night buses and ScotRail providing extra late night trains during the 10 days of the festival.

Fringe By The Sea prides itself in being one of the greenest festivals in Scotland with 99+% of the rubbish generated went on to have another life through recycling, composting or creating energy from waste.   Non-travel CO2 emissions have been reduced by around two thirds thanksto a grant from Tyne & Esk Rural Development fund enabling us to use HVO fuel and battery packs to power the site. With almost 9 out of ten of respondents noted that it was important that it continues to be planned in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Feedback is always important for event organisers and some of the many comments collated are “All the sessions I attended were excellent. The staff and volunteers were friendly and helpful. North Berwick is a lovely place”, “All the sessions I attended were excellent. The staff and volunteers were friendly and helpful. North Berwick is a lovely place”, “I attend every year and never fail to love the vibrant and bustling scene with fantastic entertainment”, “excellent day out with our family – son, daughter in law and grandchildren” and “It is a great way of seeing shows and musical acts without the huge crowds in Edinburgh”.

Director of Fringe By The Sea, Rory Steel, says “This report has blown us away – we know that our festival is enjoyed by so many of the residents of North Berwick and East Lothian but to see that we are attracting so many people to the town is fantastic.  It is a year round job organising all the events and can only be done with our great team and all the wonderful volunteers.  In a time of uncertainty for so many in the arts, this report shows that live events give back to the economy so much more than they take in public funding, as well as the unquantifiable enjoyment to the public. I can only ask that the Scottish Government and funding bodies continue to ensure that these grants continue to exist.”

 

For further information contact

Fiona Duff – 07710 419762

Fiona@duffpublicity.com