Get to Know Our Hearings Venue
The Eljamel Inquiry will hold its hearings at Waverley Gate.
If you will be attending hearings, as a visitor or as a witness, this page gives you a chance to familiarise yourself with our premises before you arrive.
Please note that requests to attend hearings must be made in advance. It will not be possible to access the building unless you are on the confirmed list of attendees.
When the Inquiry announces dates for hearings, it will invite applications from members of the public and media who wish to attend in person.
The main entrance at Waverley Gate
Welcome to the Eljamel Inquiry’s hearings venue
Waverley Gate is located in central Edinburgh, in Waterloo Place.
It is a short walk from Waverley railway station and can be approached from Princes Street or North Bridge.
There is no car park at the venue. Parking is available nearby, at the Edinburgh Waverley Station car park in New Street.
The car park has accessible spaces available.
The main reception at Waverley Gate and its security barrier
When you arrive, you should report to the building’s main reception.
There you will pass through security barriers.
The main atrium at Waverley Gate
This takes you into the building’s main atrium.
Here you can find a café selling hot drinks and refreshments, sandwiches, snacks and cakes.
The lifts down to the Inquiry's hearing suite
Make your way past the café to the lifts.
The Inquiry’s hearing suite is located on Lower Ground 2.
The main entrance to the Inquiry's hearing suite
Toilets can be found on either side of the lifts as you exit into Lower Ground 2.
An accessible toilet is located at the far end of the corridor.
Turn right as you exit the lifts. You will see a sign for the hearings suite.
The reception area inside the Inquiry's hearing suite
Visitors are asked to sign in at the Inquiry’s hearing suite reception on arrival. As a security precaution bags may be inspected.
Attendees will be issued with a coloured lanyard, indicating whether they are a visitor, media or legal professional.
These should be worn at all times while in the building and returned when leaving.
Members of the Inquiry staff will be wearing navy blue lanyards.
Please approach them if you require any assistance while at the hearing.
Witness rooms are located in a secure corridor within the hearing suite
The hearing suite has private rooms for the media and for witnesses.
Refreshments will be provided for witnesses.
The hearing suite has a kitchen where visitors can help themselves to water
There is a kitchen next to the hearing suite reception. Visitors can help themselves to cups and water here.
A QR code is also available at the hearing suite reception for anyone who wishes to pre-order food and drink from the ground floor café.
The hearing room at the Eljamel Inquiry
Please note, no food and drink – except water – can be taken into the hearing room.
We kindly ask that only small bags are taken into the hearing room.
If you have larger items, you can request to store these securely in the hearing suite’s lockers.
Once inside the hearing room, mobile phones and other electronic devices must be switched to ‘silent’.
The public gallery in the hearing room
On entering the hearing room, you will find rows of pink chairs to your right. This is the public gallery area.
Television screens can be used to display items of evidence – such as emails, witness statements or expert reports - as they are presented during proceedings.
These screens are located throughout the hearing room, including in the public gallery.
Lord Weir will sit at the front of the hearing room
Lord Weir, Chair of the Inquiry, will sit at the front of the hearing room.
Key members of the Inquiry team, including Counsel to the Inquiry, will sit to the right of the Chair.
On the opposite side of the room is the witness box.
The seating area for Core Participants' legal teams
Legal representatives for the Core Participants will sit in the benches behind the witness box on the left-hand side of the hearing room.
Seated at these desks, they can view evidence on smaller display screens.
The hearings will be broadcast on the Inquiry’s YouTube channel, subject to a short broadcast delay.
These will also be available to watch again on the Inquiry’s website.
The Eljamel Inquiry will be based at Waverley Gate
We hope this gives you an idea of what to expect during your time at a hearing.
For any enquiries prior to attending, please contact enquiries@eljamelinquiry.scot
An Attendee Guide is also available to download on the Inquiry's website.
This provides some more information about what can, and cannot, be done when visiting the Waverley Gate premises, including restrictions relating to filming, recording, and media interviews.