The charity which runs Summerhall in Edinburgh said a lease could be secured. 

A major Edinburgh arts venue looks set to be saved from closure at the eleventh hour after being put up for sale earlier this year. 

The charity which operates Summerhall says it is close to securing a three-year lease for the site. 

The site, which hosts businesses alongside hundreds of performances every year, was listed for sale with a suggestion that it could be converted into a hotel or student accommodation. 

The independent charity, Summerhall Arts, was set up in October 2023 "in order to deliver an ambitious programme of professional development and artist support for the sector". 

The charity’s chief executive, Sam Gough, told BBC Scotland work was ongoing to ensure the venue remained open. 

He told the BBC: “Whilst the Fringe and other events for this year are safe, we have been conscious that a longer-term future for the management of the building and the delivery of the arts has been less certain.”

A spokesperson for the venue's owners told the BBC: "We have always understood the importance of Summerhall for the culture sector and the city.

"This arrangement will allow Summerhall Arts the opportunity to keep the legacy alive and give them the time needed to secure a much longer future with any prospective new owners."