The Royal Highland Centre has unveiled an ambitious five-year strategy to become a year-round destination for events, conferences, exhibitions and live entertainment. The venue is operated by Highland Centre Ltd (HCL), the commercial arm of RHASS (the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland).
While firmly rooted in the heritage and success of the Royal Highland Show, which took place at the venue last weekend, the strategy outlines a vision for the Royal Highland Centre to become a world-class events and entertainment campus by 2045.
Beyond the initial five-year strategy, the longer-term ambitions for the site include the creation of a new boulevard connecting the venue to Edinburgh’s tram network, alongside the potential for restaurants, bars, cafés, retail developments and hotels that are already in development, that would help transform the area into a thriving destination in west Edinburgh.
The strategy sets out a clear roadmap for sustainable growth of the 280-acre Ingliston site with significant investment planned in infrastructure, customer experience, sustainability and commercial development, with a focus on expanding large-scale concerts, attracting new exhibitions and conferences, and developing immersive cultural experiences that bring visitors to the venue throughout the year.
The Royal Highland Centre already welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and hosts over 150 events each year. It is also home to Edinburgh Summer Sessions, with recent sell-out concerts of 30,000 people for Chappell Roan and Sam Fender. This summer’s programme will feature acts including Biffy Clyro, Florence and the Machine, Lorde, The Cure, The Prodigy and Deftones.
Under the new strategy, the venue aims to build on its success by creating a more diversified and resilient business model that generates increased income to support RHASS’s charitable and agricultural objectives.
Among the key ambitions set out in the strategy are:
- Establishing a recurring programme of major outdoor concerts, growing to five or six headline shows annually
- Expanding year-round indoor and outdoor exhibitions and trade events
- Introducing immersive arts, culture and entertainment experiences to increase off-season activity
- Delivering a phased programme of infrastructure upgrades across the estate
- Investing in security, accessibility, digital systems and sustainability initiatives
- Enhancing premium hospitality and visitor experiences
- Strengthening agricultural education, innovation and community engagement programmes
Mark Currie, Managing Director of Royal Highland Centre, said: “We are reimagining what Ingliston can be for Edinburgh and for Scotland. The Royal Highland Show will always remain at the heart of the site, but we now have an opportunity to create something much bigger – a destination that people visit throughout the year for music, culture, food, entertainment and unforgettable shared experiences.
“Over recent years, we have transformed the venue by significantly expanding both the scale and variety of events we host. Alongside welcoming some of the UK’s leading live music artists, we have strengthened our conference and exhibition portfolio and introduced a range of operational and commercial improvements across the business.
“A key achievement has been establishing the venue as a vibrant, year-round destination while continuing to protect and celebrate the heritage and significance of the Royal Highland Show. At the same time, we have invested in raising standards, enhancing infrastructure and building stronger partnerships to support the venue’s long-term success.
“Our aspirations for the Royal Highland Centre are ambitious. We are working to establish the venue as one of the UK’s premier event campuses and a destination of choice for live entertainment, business events and large-scale cultural experiences.
“Edinburgh has a unique opportunity to further enhance its reputation as a world-class events city, and we see the Royal Highland Centre playing a central role in that growth. Our focus is on delivering sustainable long-term development through continued investment in infrastructure, innovation and an exceptional experience for visitors, organisers and partners alike.”
The strategy is built around five core pillars: Commercial Growth & Market Development; Estates, Infrastructure & Capital Investment; Governance, Structure & People; Customer Experience & Brand Positioning; and RHASS Alignment, Agriculture & Community.
Supporting the strategy is a strengthened governance structure introduced by RHASS, including the appointment of four experienced Non-Executive Directors to the HCL Board. Roger Hooker, David Laing, Graeme Davies and Robin Miller bring extensive expertise spanning major events, venue operations, commercial growth, strategic development and visitor attractions with their appointments forming part of a broader governance transformation designed to provide specialist oversight and support the delivery of the Royal Highland Centre’s long-term ambitions.
Roger Hooker, owner of Hooked On Events and Non-Executive Director of Highland Centre Ltd, said: “Few venues in the UK can match the Royal Highland Centre’s combination of space, accessibility and flexibility. The opportunity now is to build on those strengths and establish the venue as a year-round destination capable of attracting major national and international events.
“The foundations are already in place. This strategy provides a clear framework for growth, and I am excited to support the team as they deliver a vision that will benefit visitors, event organisers, RHASS and the wider Scottish economy.”
The strategy also includes a commitment to delivering year-round agricultural education and demonstration activity, supporting RHASS’s mission to promote Scotland’s farming and rural industries while ensuring commercial growth remains aligned with community and charitable objectives.
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