Bristo Square & George Square, Edinburgh

Jobs in Bristo Square & George Square

The university quarter transforms into a major festival hub every August. Bristo Square is home to Underbelly's flagship outdoor venue — the one with the upside-down purple cow — with bars, food stalls, and performance spaces around the perimeter. George Square, a short walk south, hosts both Underbelly and Assembly spaces surrounded by university buildings.

Working in this area

This area is one of the biggest employers during the Fringe. The outdoor bars in Bristo Square are among the busiest in Edinburgh, and the turnaround between shows across multiple spaces means there's always work to do. Expect a younger, student-heavy crowd and a late-night atmosphere.

Bar Staff Events Front of House Site Crew Technical

Current openings

Marketing & PR

5 days ago

Queer Flyerers Wanted!

justinsayre · Bristo Square/Pleasance

20 per hour Part-time

Marketing & PR

8 days ago

Freelance Fringe Flyerer for Don’t Flush Me Yet

1990georgewilliams · Bristo Square, George Square and nearby Fringe venues

£16/hour, freelance/casual, approx. 6–8 hours total Temporary

Venues in this area

Assembly Festival

One of the largest and most established Fringe venue operators, running over 200 shows across multiple spaces every August. Assembly's venues include Assembly Hall on the Mound (a 750-seat converted church and one of the Fringe's most prestigious stages), Assembly George Square (studios and gardens in the university quarter), Assembly Checkpoint (a converted warehouse on Bristo Place), and Assembly Rooms on George Street. Assembly hires a large seasonal team each year covering bar, front of house, box office, technical, and venue management roles. They pay at least the real Living Wage, with rates typically ranging from £13.45 to £15.25/hour. Recruitment usually opens in March/April via their teamdetails page, with a second wave of hiring in June/July. It's one of the most popular Fringe employers — apply early.

Programme details updating soon

Bar Staff Front of House Technical Box Office

View venue profile

Underbelly

One of the Fringe's biggest venue operators, running multiple sites across the city. Underbelly's Edinburgh venues include the Cowgate (the original underground space), Bristo Square (the open-air hub with the famous upside-down purple cow), George Square, and Iron Belly in the Old Town. They hire one of the largest seasonal teams of any Fringe employer, covering bar, front of house, technical, events, and site crew roles. The pace is fast and the hours are long — most roles run six days a week through August, with bar and front-of-house shifts often starting late morning and finishing well after midnight. Underbelly pays at least the UK National Minimum Wage and most roles sit a little above it, with experienced staff and supervisors paid more. Site setup begins in mid-July, so early-July starts are possible if you're flexible. The venue has a reputation for being well-organised and for treating its seasonal team well — many people return year on year.

Programme details updating soon

Bar Staff Front of House Technical Events