THE TOWER | PORTOBELLO
Film Venue Hire in Edinburgh
Discover one of Scotland’s most atmospheric filming locations. The Tower is a historic coastal venue in Edinburgh offering character, natural light and full privacy for commercials, interviews, brand films and short narrative projects.
Set in Portobello, Edinburgh’s creative seaside neighbourhood, The Tower is a restored eighteenth to nineteenth century landmark designed for visual storytelling. From the outside it appears as a gothic stone tower. Inside, it opens into a sequence of cinematic rooms with soft light, textured walls and a sense of calm that reads beautifully on camera.
Each level has its own feel. The ground floor offers warm textures and shadowed tones. Middle floors bring clean, bright spaces with controlled natural light. The rooftop terrace opens onto sea and skyline views across Arthur’s Seat, East Lothian and the Firth of Forth. Even the staircase, with its curves and sandstone walls, adds atmosphere that filmmakers love.
Whether you are filming an intimate interview, a founder story, a product commercial or a short narrative scene, The Tower provides a self contained film venue hire in Edinburgh with strong visuals, flexible layouts and coastal calm.
Ideal for Small and Mid Scale Productions
The Tower works for a wide range of film projects, including:
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Interviews and brand storytelling
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Short form content, Reels and social campaigns
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Independent film scenes
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Commercials and product films
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Documentary cutaways and segments
Each booking includes exclusive use of the building, one production per day and a dedicated on site host who understands the space and the flow of a shoot. The location sits on a quiet residential street, making it suitable for controlled dialogue or MOS recording. Its compact scale means you can get a lot of variety without moving unit base across Edinburgh.
Film Hire Packages
Short Social Session
Ideal for interviews, founders’ pieces or short format content.
Price on Request
half day
Perfect for commercial teams, brand shoots or simple narrative setups.
Price on Request
Full Day
Suitable for full filming schedules or narrative projects
Price on Request
Optional Add Ons
Rooftop access
Location manager (on-site liaison)
Runner / PA
Rails, steamers or simple props
Catering
Overtime
All hires include house power, Wi-Fi, holding space and pre/post clean – making The Tower a simple, flexible base for professional filming days.
Technical Information
Crew Limits
Up to 12 crew for film productions
Up to 15 for stills photography
Up to 5 for short-form or founder sessions
Lighting
Soft north/east light on main floors
Golden-hour glow and open sky on the rooftop
Controlled conditions suitable for natural light or supplementary kit
Sound
Quiet residential street, good for controlled dialogue
Best for MOS or low-interference setups
Minimal ambient disruption outside local school hours
Access
Ground-floor load-in
Stairs only between floors (no lift)
Not wheelchair accessible
We’re always happy to talk through your specific technical needs in advance so you know exactly what to expect on the day.
Insurance and Compliance
For professional filming, we ask for standard documentation to keep everyone safe and covered:
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Public Liability Insurance for all productions
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RAMS for lighting setups, any build work or complex rigging
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Licensed drone operators only (CAA certified) for aerial shots
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Alcohol for prop use only, unless supplied by a licensed caterer
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Low sound levels after 21:30, with all productions wrapped by 22:00
We provide clear access details, straightforward house guidelines and a flexible, collaborative approach so your filming day runs smoothly from call time to wrap.
Why Choose The Tower for Filming
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Distinctive, design-led location ideal for storytelling
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Natural light and cinematic architecture across multiple floors
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Private, contained environment with no shared spaces or public access
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Multiple visual zones – interior rooms, staircase, courtyard, rooftop and beach moments nearby
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Experienced, on-site host to support setup, flow and logistics
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Central Edinburgh location with easy logistics and parking close by
From lifestyle ads to narrative shorts, The Tower provides the texture, tone and intimacy modern filmmakers are looking for.
Discover why filmmakers choose The Tower Portobello as one of the most inspiring filming locations in Scotland. Share your preferred dates, crew size, project type and any requirements, and we will reply with availability, a tailored quote and all technical details needed.
Address
The Tower | Portobello
Beach Lane
Edinburgh
EH15 1HJ