Dance event at Edinburgh bunker postponed amid licensing dispute and 'emu attack' claims
The sold-out electronic music event has been postponed following a licensing dispute
A sold-out electronic music event at a former underground bunker in Edinburgh has been postponed amid a licensing dispute and claims that authorities raised concerns over an alleged emu attack.
Subterranean Sound was due to host its event at Barnton Bunker next Saturday, but announced on Instagram that it could no longer go ahead after being told a temporary Public Entertainment Licence was required.
The organisers said they spent months preparing for the event, including investing in artists, sound, lighting, staffing, transport, toilets and safety.
They said the City of Edinburgh Council had appeared receptive to granting the necessary licence, but concerns subsequently raised by Police Scotland left insufficient time to resolve them before next weekend.
A council spokesperson said: "This event required two licences to go ahead which the organisers did not complete, deciding instead to postpone their event."
According to Subterranean Sound, those concerns included fire doors, event lighting and queues outside the venue.
The organisers said the bunker has fire doors as well as professional lighting included in their production plans and all arrivals were due to be managed within the venue's gated courtyard on private land.
They also claimed concerns referenced a previous incident in which somebody was “apparently bitten by an emu”.
Subterranean Sound stressed that no exotic animals were a part of its event, adding that it was difficult not to find “some humour” in a sold-out electronic music event being postponed against such an "extraordinary backdrop”.
However, Barnton Bunker Preservation Society SCIO has disputed the account surrounding the emu and stressed that they were not the organiser or promoter of the event, and had only recently been made aware of the circumstances.
According to a statement provided to the Evening News, a third-party events company working with Barnton Bunker told the charity that Subterranean organisers originally approached them about what was presented as a private event.
The charity said the event was subsequently publicly advertised and tickets were sold online, meaning it could no longer be treated as a private event and the appropriate licensing requirements had to be addressed.
Bunker also said it had seen Police Scotland’s written objection to the occasional alcohol licence application connected to the event.
The charity said there was “no reference whatsoever to an emu or an alleged emu attack” in the objection.
It said it was “extremely surprised” to see its two emus, Kevin and Joyce, cited publicly in connection with the event’s difficulties.
The animals are kept in a designated area of the wider site and, according to the charity, help volunteers manage vegetation. The charity added that it had no knowledge of the alleged incident involving an emu.
Police Scotland’s objection reportedly also refers to a previous dance event at the venue which it states operated without a licence. The charity said the objection does not identify the event or provide enough information to establish the circumstances.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “As part of the licensing process, we reviewed the occasional licence application as a statutory consultee, and after due consideration, we submitted a letter of objection in line with the licensing objectives set out in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to the City of Edinburgh Council relating to this event.
“The decision on whether to grant a licence is a matter for the Council Licensing Board."
Police Scotland also stated that their letter did not include any mention of an emu or any incident involving an emu.
Barnton Bunker said it supports properly regulated events and public safety, but also raised concerns over the cost of licensing for smaller independent promoters.
Subterranean Sound said it expects the Barnton Bunker event to be rescheduled around November and existing tickets will remain valid, while refunds can be requested through Resident Advisor.
The organisers also said affected ticket holders can receive complimentary entry to a Pleasure party at the Liquid Room on September 19.