Royal Highland Show in record turnover

The Highland Show has the best of farming, food and the countryside

The society which runs the Royal Highland Show on the outskirts of Edinburgh made a record turnover of £6.35m in 2010.

The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, in Ingliston, has had a 1.8% growth in turnover.

Last year it invested £1m in renovating the Lowland Hall and increased its prize fund by £50,000 to more than £428,000.

It got the results without increasing its membership fees or ticket prices.

Clark Stewart, RHASS chairman, said: "In the year that we held our 170th Royal Highland Show, and the 50th on the grounds at Ingliston, we are proud to have had such a successful 12 months in challenging circumstances.

"It has been a groundbreaking year in a number of ways.

"In 2010 we broke our attendance record at the Royal Highland Show, with almost 190,000 people attending, of which nearly 30,000 were children under 16 who received free admission."

He added: "Our events business, which lets our grounds and halls for the 51 weeks of the year outside the show staged 240 events with 656 event days over the year, including the Scottish Motorcycle Show, Gardening Scotland and AgriScot.

"The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) continued to grow and contribute to children's understanding of Scottish farming and food production."

Plans for a redevelopment of the Ingliston site are up before councillors later this month.

The plans include the redevelopment of the east of the showground, a new members' pavilion, a food centre of excellence, new offices and hotels.