Edinburgh Corn Exchange

The first location where merchants could trade in agricultural products in Edinburgh was on the High Street. Cattle, horse, and grain markets moved to the Grassmarket in the 15th century, and it was at the corn exchange in the Grassmarket, which was designed by David Cousin and completed in the mid-19th century,{{cite web|url=http://vipauk.org/enter/muse/scot/s87.html|title=Dalkeith Corn Exchange Museum|publisher=Visually Impaired Person Awareness| access-date=20 April 2023}} that the Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone, made a speech in 1884.{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=oT_YcQAACAAJ|title= Speech by the Right Hon. W.E. Gladstone in the Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, on Monday, 1 September 1884}} In the late 19th century civic officials sought to relocate the markets out of the city centre: the site they selected was in the Chesser area of the city some {{convert|2.5|miles}} southwest of the city centre.{{cite web|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst11729.html |title=Corn Exchange and New Markets|publisher= Gazetteer for Scotland| access-date=20 April 2023}}

The new building was designed by the City Superintendent of Works, James A. Williamson, in the neoclassical style, built in ashlar stone and was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian, Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, on 23 June 1910. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of eleven bays facing northeast onto New Market Road, with the end sections projected forward as pavilions. The central section of five bays featured a loggia formed by four Doric order columns supporting an entablature, a cornice and a parapet. At the back of the loggia was a central doorway with an architrave flanked by two single windows on either side. The end sections of three bays each were fenestrated with sash windows and surmounted by an entablature, a cornice, a parapet, and a small central pediment on each side.

The use of the building as a corn exchange declined significantly in the wake of the Great Depression of British Agriculture.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=obn5AQAAQBAJ|first=T. W. |last=Fletcher|title= 'The Great Depression of English Agriculture 1873-1896' in British Agriculture 1875-1914 |location=London|publisher= Methuen|year= 1973|isbn=978-1136581182|page= 31}} After a long period of disuse, it was acquired by Marco's Leisure in 1992 and, after a major refurbishment, re-opened as an events and concert venue in 1999.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19546727.corn-exchange-historic-venue-becomes-o2-academy-edinburgh/ |title=Corn Exchange: Historic venue becomes O2 Academy Edinburgh|date=30 August 2021|newspaper=The National| access-date=20 April 2023}} Meanwhile, the area to the southwest of the building, i.e. behind the building, was developed as the Corn Exchange Village with facilities such as ten pin bowling, an indoor mini golf course, 5-a-side and 7-a-side football pitches, and a sports bar.{{cite web|url=https://www.groupon.co.uk/biz/edinburgh/world-of-football |title=World of Football|publisher=Groupon| access-date=20 April 2023}}

Performers at the corn exchange have included the rock band, Blur, in 1999,{{cite news|url= https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/corn-exchange-renamed-o2-academy-21431140 |title= Corn Exchange renamed O2 Academy Edinburgh after huge deal for historic venue|date=29 August 2021|newspaper=Edinburgh Live| access-date=20 April 2023}} the rock band, Manic Street Preachers, in 2007{{cite web|url=https://www.manicstreetpreachers.com/cat-news/new-tour-presale/|title=New Tour Pressale|publisher=Manic Street Preachers| access-date=20 April 2023}} and the Indie rock band, Kaiser Chiefs, in 2009.{{cite web|url= https://www.nme.com/news/music/kaiser-chiefs-129-1335873 |title= Kaiser Chiefs announce 2009 arena tour|date=29 September 2008|publisher=NME| access-date=20 April 2023}} There were protests outside the corn exchange when the UK Independence Party leader, Nigel Farage, arrived to give a speech in May 2014.{{cite news|url= https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/gallery/pictures-protesters-gather-edinburgh-ukip-3521922 |title= In pictures: Protesters gather in Edinburgh as UKIP leader Nigel Farage delivers speech|date=10 May 2014|newspaper=The Daily Record| access-date=20 April 2023}} The venue was acquired by the Academy Music Group in August 2021 and renamed O2 Academy Edinburgh.{{cite news|url= https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/music-industry-giants-snap-up-historic-edinburgh-concert-venue-3363160 |title= Music industry giants snap up historic Edinburgh concert venue|date=29 August 2021|newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News| access-date=20 April 2023}}

In April 2025, the building underwent a rebrand and returned to its original name of Edinburgh Corn Exchange. It remained under the ownership of Academy Music Group.{{cite news|url=https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2025/04/01/o2-academy-edinburgh-changes-name-back-to-edinburgh-corn-exchange-after-four-years/ |title=O2 Academy Edinburgh changes name back to Edinburgh Corn Exchange after four years |date=1 April 2025|newspaper=Deadline News|access-date=2 April 2025}}

• List of Edinburgh music venues

{{reflist}}

{{Culture and leisure facilities in Edinburgh}}

{{Academy Music Group venues}}

Category:Music venues in Edinburgh

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1910

Category:Category B listed buildings in Edinburgh

Category:Badminton in Scotland

Category:Badminton venues

Category:Corn exchanges in Scotland