Out Of The Blue Arts & Education Trust
ENTRY
from £2
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
Drop into a sewing, cyanotype or gong workshop, then grab soup or breakfast at the on-site café.
This is a working arts building in Leith with a packed timetable of adult workshops rather than a single fixed attraction. On any given week you might find a drop-in sewing workshop at £28, a sound and gong session for £18, or a cyanotype printing workshop at £44.04. There's also a jewellery workshop listed at £155, and a separate full-day jewellery session at £150, so it's worth being clear which one you're booking onto since the prices sit close together. If you want to learn an overlocker properly, that's a dedicated £51 workshop rather than something bolted onto a general sewing class.
Beyond the workshops there's yoga, qi gong, aerial classes on trapeze and silks, and theatre devising sessions, plus dance and music classes for very young children and baby and toddler music and sign language sessions from two months old. It's an unusual mix under one roof, and the two ends of the age range mean the building serves both parents with a two-month-old and adults booking an evening aerial class.
The Drill Hall Arts Café is open the same hours as the building, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Expect daily soups from £5.40, pasta pesto at £7, breakfast items like French toast or porridge, and fish and chips specifically on Fridays. Cakes start at £3.20 and a small espresso is £3.
Getting there by car is the one bit of friction. Parking on Dalmeny Street runs on paid RingGo during weekdays, though it's free from 5:30pm and all day at weekends, and on-street spaces are limited even then. The tram stop at Balfour Street is a short walk away, and there are private car parks within about 25 minutes on foot if you'd rather not chase a space nearby.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Paid parking via RingGo on weekdays
- Food
- Drill Hall Arts Cafe serving locally sourced, seasonal food
- Wheelchairs
- Level access during regular opening hours
- Getting there by bus or train
- Tram: Balfour Street stop (7-minute walk)
- The two jewellery workshops are priced differently (£155 and £150 for the full day), so check which one you're signing up for
- Fish and chips at the café is a Friday-only menu item
- Weekday parking needs RingGo payment; it's free after 5:30pm and all weekend
- Out-of-hours access is by buzzer at number 36, not the main entrance
Plan your visit
What does the café serve?
Daily soups, pasta pesto, cakes from £3.20 and breakfast items like porridge or French toast. Fish and chips is a Friday-only thing.
How much do the workshops cost?
It varies a lot by session. Sewing drop-in is £28, sound and gong is £18, cyanotype is £44.04, and the jewellery workshops run £150 to £155 depending which one you pick.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, for both the building and the café.
Is there parking?
Paid RingGo parking on Dalmeny Street during weekdays, free from 5:30pm and all day weekends. Spaces on the street are limited, so there are private car parks within about a 25 minute walk if needed.
Can I get there without a car?
Trams stop at Balfour Street at the end of Dalmeny Street, running every 7 minutes from Newhaven and the airport. Edinburgh Waverley is the nearest train station, and several Lothian buses run along Leith Walk.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, level access during regular opening hours and an accessible toilet with an extra-wide door and pull-cord alarm. Outside those hours entry is via a buzzer system, so it's worth planning ahead if you need a personal evacuation plan.
Are there classes for babies or toddlers?
There are baby and toddler music and sign language classes from two months up to two years, and separate dance and music classes for ages 2 to 4.
Do I need to book workshops in advance?
The listing doesn't set out a booking process beyond the workshop prices themselves, so turning up on the day for the drop-in sewing session is the sort of thing you'd want to confirm suits your plans.
How do I get in outside normal hours?
There's a buzzer entry system at number 36 Dalmeny Street, just left of the big blue double doors. Buzz 041 for reception.
Is there a market or event on?
The Funk Fair market has £2 entry, and there's a PoTS UK Community Connect event at £5. An exhibition called 10 Years runs 18 September to 31 October 2026, closed on Sundays, with an opening event on 17 September from 6pm to 8pm.
What sort of classes are on for adults?
Yoga, qi gong, aerial classes on static trapeze and silks, theatre devising, plus the textile and art workshops. It's a proper mix rather than one single class type.
See all Adult Workshops & Evening Classes in Edinburgh · Things to do in Edinburgh
MAKE A DAY OF IT
