Hogmanay popularity 'hit by washouts'

THOUSANDS of tickets are still available for the world's biggest Hogmanay party, amid fears that Edinburgh's annual influx of revellers may be more muted than in previous years.

Although all of the 60,000 passes to the event have been taken up, £20 visitor packs, which include access to the event and Hogmanay survival necessities, are still available. Tickets are also still available for the live music and ceilidh events in Princes Street Gardens.

Businesses fear that last year's weather-related cancellation of the event – the second such disappointment in four years – has contributed to a drop in visitor numbers.

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said it was expecting a drop in business this year in the wake of the washouts. Its spokesman, Graham Bell, said: "It's inevitable there's some ground to be made up to get back to where we were. That there hasn't been the same demand for tickets hasn't been surprising.

"I think businesses will be very happy if they do as well as they have in the last few years."

Robin Worsnop, the managing director of Rabbie's Trail Burners on the High Street, said: "There is a real sense it's not as busy this year.

"I believe there are tickets still available much later than everyone thought. We have certainly seen bookings for tickets being a bit softer than in the past."

He added: "I think it's almost inevitable that the reason is the cancellations."

But a spokeswoman for VisitScotland insisted the capital's celebrations would be "as popular as ever", with "accommodation booking up fast".

She added: "While some accommodation is still available in the city over the New Year period, hoteliers and guest houses are reporting increases in sales recently and the Edinburgh and Scotland Information Centre in Princes Street has been very busy over the last few days."

A spokesman for the British Airports Authority said 55,000 travellers were expected to pass through Edinburgh Airport between today and Monday, although many of these would be on their way out of the country.

Emergency workers are also bracing themselves for the key event in the capital's calendar. Hundreds of police officers will take to the streets and a special hospital unit will remain open around the clock.

Yesterday, organisers called on revellers to take precautions to ensure they do not get into difficulties at the street party or at the Concert in the Gardens, where Kasabian, Calvin Harris and Idlewild will take to the stage.

They also said security had been stepped up since Leon Jackson, the X Factor winner, had been added to the line-up.

Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh's festival and events champion, and the deputy leader of the city council, said: "The safety of party-goers is always our paramount concern.

"We ask people to listen to the advice from the police and stewards on the night – they are there to ensure you see in the New Year safe, warm and happy."

He said about 350 officers would police the event, and numerous first-aid points would be staffed by doctors and nurses from Lothian Medicover and voluntary first aiders from St Andrew's Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross.

The Minor Injuries Unit at the Western General Hospital will be open from 8am on Monday until 9pm the next day. Forecasters said the weather was likely to be cold and dry with light winds and would not interrupt the celebrations, which begin today.

Stuart Brooks, a Met Office forecaster, said: "We have a band of rain which is going to spread from the west during the day on Hogmanay.

"By the time it gets to Edinburgh it should be fairly weak, and current timings have that over by the early afternoon."

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats yesterday accused the Scottish Government of failing to fully capitalise on the country's new Winter Festival.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, launched the programme for the inaugural two-month long celebration last month. But Jo Swinson, a Lib Dem MP, said ministers had not allocated enough money for the event, which runs from St Andrew's Day on 30 November to Burns Night on 25 January.

She said a recent spending review had seen £300,000 a year allocated for St Andrew's Day celebrations, but it was not clear how much more cash – if any – had been earmarked for the rest of the Winter Festival.

Bruce Crawford, the minister for parliamentary business, hit back at the suggestion, branding the Liberal Democrats "the party poopers of Scottish politics".

And if you're outside the capital, here's the best of what's available

TOP Scots bands old and new are headlining street parties outside the capital.

Dundee's the View and local girl Amy Macdonald are playing the sold-out George Square in Glasgow, where 15,000 revellers are expected to congregate.

They will also be entertained by Suspiciously Elvis and the Strathclyde Pipe Band, but organisers are promising "a few surprises" too. The event will run from 9pm-1:30am.

In Aberdeen, Travis and Sandi Thom will entertain the crowds at the city's historic Castlegate.

Celtic rockers Albannach will also be on hand to lend support to Scotland's biggest free Hogmanay bash.

Entry to the event is on a first-come-first-served basis via gates at the junction of Union Street and Market Street.

Gates open at 8pm, bands are on stage from 9pm and the event finishes at about 12:30am.

Stirling's Hogmanay celebrations are set against Stirling Castle, where the gates open at 10pm and the show on the esplanade begins at 10:30pm. The Proclaimers will provide the headline entertainment, with bagpiping by the Royal Burgh of Stirling Pipe Band, and a firework display high above the castle at midnight.

In Biggar, a torchlight procession piped through the town is followed by the lighting of the massive bonfire at the Corn Exchange at 9:30pm.

Highland celebrations centre around Drumnadrochit and an open-air ceilidh.

A torchlight procession sets off from Drumnadrochit Bridge at 10pm and revellers can follow the Zurich Pipe Band to the main car park where the party gets under way.

Dundee city centre will be turned into a fairground between tomorrow and Tuesday for the annual carnival, with free entry.

And in Stonehaven, there will be the usual fireball-swinging, where more than 8,000 hardy souls are expected to line the streets of the town for the spectacle.

COUNTDOWN BEGINS

EDINBURGH'S Hogmanay celebrations start tonight with a free torchlight procession. Up-Helly-Aa vikings will march from Parliament Square, at 6:30pm, to Calton Hill.

Tomorrow sees a free 'Night Afore' monster ceilidh in George Street, with theatre, music and dancing from 8pm.

On Hogmanay, as well as the ceilidh, concert and street party, there is a candlelit concert in St Giles' Cathedral from 7:30pm, priced £16. There is also a new party event at the Assembly Rooms called The Hoog and one at the Queen's Hall called Hoog Royal. Both begin at 7:30pm and tickets are £50 and £60.

There will be a free bus service to various city locations after the street party. Parking restrictions and road closures will be in place from tonight.