The Cape Controversy


Experience an immersive dining experience beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, complete with live performances by characters inspired by real historical figures.

4 men in old fashioned dress, standing in an underground space. One of them is passing a sealed envelope to another.
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Venue Key Features

Wifi

Venue Accessibility

Accessible toilets

British Sign Language

Beneath the cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, a hidden gathering once took place, and this February, The Real Mary King’s Close invite you inside this real secret society. Step inside the clandestine world of the Cape Club, an exclusive Enlightenment-era society whose members met in secret taverns and closes across Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Cloaked and sworn in, you will journey through candlelit underground spaces, encountering immersive storytelling inspired by real historical figures. As the evening unfolds, a lavish multi-course feast is served, woven seamlessly into the story. Food arrives with intent, conversation carries weight, and not every truth is shared equally. Some are offered freely. Others demand discretion.

The experience culminates in a ceremonial finale, where each guest is asked to make a personal choice. What you decide, and what you choose to keep quiet, is entirely your own.

3 women, in old fashioned dress, in an underground space. One of them is holding a sealed envelope behind her back.

Atmospheric, indulgent and rooted in real Edinburgh history, The Cape Controversy is an ultra-limited opportunity to experience the Close after hours, as few ever have.

Priced at £285.00 per person, this event is suitable for adults only and is limited to 40 guests per night. The event space involves stairs, uneven surfaces and movement through historic underground spaces.

For full details and booking information go to The Cape Controversy.