McEwan Hall
A GIFT TO EDINBURGH, A TREAT FOR DELEGATES
The McEwan Hall was presented to the University in 1897 by William McEwan as a ceremonial hall for graduations and as a gift to the people of Edinburgh.
This iconic Grade A listed building was designed by Sir Rowand Anderson, with lavish interiors by William Palin. Construction was completed in 1894, but it took another three years to complete the interior designs, the centrepiece being the 15 beautifully painted mural panels that make up the vast dome.
A painstaking multi-million pound refurbishment has restored much of the intricacy to its original beauty and created a modern, superbly equipped space, with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment and accessible facilities.
Available as an exclusive-use venue only, McEwan Hall’s tiered auditorium can seat up to 1,139 delegates, while the new expansive basement provides capacity for 433 people. There are additional five fully equipped seminar rooms.
Please note: Additional charges may apply for certain seating arrangements.
We know everyone's accessibility needs are different, which is why having detailed, accurate information is so important. For this reason, we use AccessAble's trained surveyors to check out every single place in person. All information collected has been decided by their user community.
1139 Delegates
At the heart of the Old Town Campus
State of the Art Audio Visual Facilities
Tiered Auditorium
5 Seminar RoomsLocation
Approx walking times 
Room Capacities
| Theatre | Cabaret | Classroom | Boardroom | U - no tables | U - with tables | Reception | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Hall (flat) | 444 | 144 | - | - | - | - | 250 | 180 |
| Main Hall (tiered ground floor) | 332 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Main Hall (tiered first floor) | 363 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Main Hall (TOTAL) | 1139 | 144 | - | - | - | - | 250 | 180 |
| Robing Room | 129 | - | - | - | - | - | 150 | 60 |
| Foyer 1 | 50 | 16 | - | 16 | - | - | 50 | 20 |
| Foyer 2 | 87 | 24 | - | 24 | - | - | 80 | 30 |
| Foyer 3 | 87 | 24 | - | 24 | - | - | 80 | 30 |
| Foyer 4 | 122 | 40 | - | 28 | - | - | 120 | 50 |
| Foyer 5 | 87 | 24 | - | 24 | - | - | 80 | 30 |
| Foyers 1 - 4 (TOTAL) | 346 | 104 | - | 92 | - | - | 330 | 160 |
| Foyers 1 - 5 (TOTAL) | 433 | 128 | - | 116 | - | - | 410 | 190 |
Technical Information
| Room Size sqm | Ceiling Height | Stage Area | Blackout Possible | Wifi | Power | Disabled Access | Induction Loop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Hall: Ground Floor | 226 | 2.5m | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Main Hall: First Tier | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Main Hall: Second Tier | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Foyer 1 | 66 | 2.5m | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foyer 2 | 99 | 2.5m | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foyer 3 | 99 | 2.5m | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foyer 4 | 131 | 2.5m | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foyer 5 | 98 | 2.5m | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Robing | 157 | 2.6m | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |