The organisers of a dance music event in a disused military bunker appear to have been caught up in a bizarre emu attack dispute with the council.
Subterranean Sound were forced to postpone a sold-out dance event in the Second World War-era Barnton Bunker, in west Edinburgh after issues arose with the event’s licensing.
The organisers claimed that police had outlined a number of concerns with their applications for events and alcohol licences, including concerns about an alleged attack by an emu at a previous event.
Their tale was quickly disputed by Police Scotland, The City of Edinburgh Council, and the Barnton Bunker, who said that no emu-related concerns had come up.
Police, in their role as statutory consultee, did object to the event’s application, but insisted there was no mention of the emu threat.
The council later added that they never even received the formal alcohol and events licence applications from the organisers.
Instead, it appears organisers opted to postpone the event in anticipation of the licence applications being rejected.
In a statement on Saturday, a week before the event was due to take place, Subterranean Sound said “after months of planning” they were informed “at a very late stage that the venue requires a temporary public entertainment licence”.
“Since learning this, we and the venue have spent the past several days working urgently with the City of Edinburgh Council to find a solution,” they continued.
“The Council appeared receptive to granting the necessary licence; however, concerns subsequently raised by Police Scotland left insufficient time for them to be resolved through the proper process before next weekend.”
“The concerns reportedly included fire doors, event lighting and queues outside,” they added.
“More unexpectedly, we were also told that the concerns referenced an incident at a previous event in which somebody was apparently bitten by an emu.
“For clarity: the inclusion of an emu, or any other exotic animal for that matter, was not part of our production plan or line-up.”
The owners of the Barnton Bunker, which has been restored as an events space, tourist attraction, and community garden, keep two emus on site as well as a small number of other animals.
When approached, a spokesperson for the Barnton Bunker said: “Our emus are very friendly and accustomed to people, and regularly interact with their trained carers.
“They are kept within their own secure, fenced area, separate from the areas used for public and private events.”
On the alleged emu bite, they added: “We have no knowledge of the alleged incident referred to in the organisers’ statement involving somebody being bitten by an emu.
“This allegation is as much news to us as it is to you, and we have not previously been approached about any such incident.
“Given that the emus are securely contained away from event areas, we are not aware of any basis for suggesting that they would pose a risk to people attending an event at the Bunker.”
In January this year, the BBC reported that volunteers assisting with the site’s restoration were “worried that somebody will be seriously hurt” unless health and safety failings were addressed.
They claimed that workers have been attacked by the site’s two emus, while the bunker dismissed these allegations as “inaccurate, misleading, historic or lacking wider context”.
When approached about their alleged emu concerns, Police Scotland said: “As part of the licensing process, we reviewed the occasional licence application as a statutory consultee, and after due consideration, we submitted a letter of objection in line with the licensing objectives set out in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to the City of Edinburgh Council relating to this event.
“The decision on whether to grant a licence is a matter for the Council Licensing Board.”
This objection was in relation to the event’s occasional licence – which governs the sale of alcohol – but organisers were also required to apply for a Public Entertainment Licence.
This is required for a venue, event or land use offering public recreation, music performances, theatrical shows, or rides where people are admitted for entertainment.
A City of Edinburgh Council spokesperson said: “This event required two licences to go ahead which the organisers did not complete, deciding instead to postpone their event.”
Organisers, however, assured that they have “no intention of abandoning the project” and expect the rescheduled event to take place “around November”.
All ticket holders have been offered a refund or a complimentary ticket to an alternative club night on Saturday 19 September – when the bunker event was due to take place.
Subterranean Sound have been approached for comment.
In Scotland, it is legal to keep emus without a Dangerous Wild Animals licence, as they are not classified on the statutory dangerous list, but owners must comply with strict animal welfare laws to ensure their physical and behavioural needs are fully met.
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