Edinburgh Festival to offer dinner in the sky

Daring diners at this year's Edinburgh Festival are being invited to eat at a table suspended 100ft above the city.

The Festival in the Sky will see a 22-seat dinner table hoisted into the air by a huge crane in West Princes Street Gardens.

Each of the guests will be fastened into their chairs, which will rotate to allow diners to look out over the castle and Princes Street.

The Festival in the Sky will run throughout August.

The unique dining experience has already visited more than 30 other countries, but has never been held in Scotland.

Each sitting will last for half an hour, and guests can book in for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner as well as a range of speciality events including Burns suppers.

Oli Norman, managing director of organisers Dada Ventures, said he believed the Festival in the Sky would be one of the most popular attractions in this year's Edinburgh line-up.

"This is a global attraction which will draw visitors from far and wide and make headlines around the world," he said.

Councillor Steve Cardownie, festivals and events champion for the City of Edinburgh, said: "It's been a huge hit in more than 30 cities all over the world so it's very exciting for us to be giving the event its Scottish debut right here in West Princes Street Gardens during our peak festivals period.

"Dining in the sky will be memorable enough, but, with the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, our World Heritage Site and the views across the River Forth, this will surely be an unforgettable experience."