the HIGH street.

"Offbeat... by the way, the Highest studio in the World" 
- Singer and actor Tam White

STUDIO LOCATION

Offbeat is located on the entire top floor of 1 Bailie Fyfes Close, a tenement building just down from the Tron Kirk. Once the stairs have been traversed, because unfortunately there is no elevator.
And, once you get to the top there is plenty of oxygen available for the breathless where you can enjoy wonderful views across the Old Town and out to the North Sea.
offbeat royal mile - offbeat images
heave awa

OUR BUILDING'S HISTORY

The Bailie Fyfe's Close collapse was a catastrophic tenement collapse in Edinburgh on November 24, 1861, where the previous seven-story building on the High Street gave way, killing 35 residents and injuring many more. Caused by rotten timbers and structural failures, the disaster highlighted the appalling living conditions in the Old Town and spurred public health reform. The rebuild over compensated with a heavily overbuilt replacement building so you will be quite safe.

UNESCO CITY OF LITERATURE

During the pandemic we were commissioned to record extracts of the novel The Way Of All Flesh with a cast of narrators for Literature House which is within the John Knox House on the same block of the High Street as Offbeat. This was an interactive experience for visitors based around our recordings which created sound effects from Victorian Britain which were triggered by GPS. When Covid was over, as people wandered around the house with open backed headphones, sound effects like fires burning in the grate, carriages going past windows and other realistic sounds of the era were triggered as they listened to the story.
john knox house - offbeat images
  • royal mile 2
  • canongate kirk
  • the turd
  • fringe 3

YOUR APARTMENT SPACE

Included in our Creative Retreats, which will become available in 2026)  is a lovely cosy space with lovely views over Calton Hill and the famous Golden Turd! A comfy corner suite, a pull down Murphy double bed, a large ensuite bathroom and a Voice booth with natural daylight looking over the Old Town. There are no kitchen facilities except for a kettle and a fridge freezer but you are only minutes away from cafes and restaurants.

THE VIEWS FROM OUR ROOFTOP

Back in 2015 we recorded a video from our roof which shows un-paralled unique Northern and Eastern views over the City as well as far South to the Sutra Hills and North Berwick.
Studio manager, Electric Violinist and Vocalist Kirsty  McKinna defied the scary heights with this performance of our song Drifting Around. 

Bang in the Centre

The Old Town is where we have house all of our brand New Tech!

No Transport Necessary

When you visit our studio you can explore all of the Old Town on foot. It's all just outside our door
5 Minutes from Waverley Station
Halfway between the Castle and the Palace
5 minutes from St James Centre
5 minutes from Princes Street
Right in the middle of The Royal Mile
  • Victoria Street 5 mins from Offbeat Studio
    cockburn street 5 mins from Offbeat Studio
    the turd
  • st giles
    castle
    canongate kirk
  • fringe 1
    fringe 2
    fringe 3
tilda swinton
"I always use Offbeat when I'm recording in Edinburgh".

TILDA SWINTON

ACTOR
OUR CLIENTS

Creative Recording Studio Experiences

Experience the world of a pro recording studio in Edinburgh's Famous Royal Mile
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