ONE of the Fringe's leading venues has been forced to reassure performers they will be paid after being taken to court over some £200,000 in unpaid taxes.

The company, which runs the Summerhall venue at the former Royal Dick Vet School, has moved to allay any fears over payment from performers and companies at this year's Fringe after The Herald revealed the tussle between the company that runs the site and Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Run by Summerhall ­Management Ltd, the arts complex had a hugely successful Fringe, selling more than 36,000 tickets.

However, on August 9 HMRC petitioned Edinburgh Sheriff Court for a winding-up order and the appointment of a liquidator.

In a letter, Rupert Thomson, the venue's programme director, said the report was correct and the company was in dispute with the taxman over "the amount of tax we are due to pay".

He wrote: "According to ­Scottish law, when disputes like this reach a certain stage, the information is made public as described in the [Herald] article.

"We expect to resolve the issue in the next few days, and, with regards to all of you, have been advised by the finance department that this situation will not affect box office payouts."

The HMRC petition, which has been seen by The Herald, states that Summerhall Management Ltd was told by letter on July 11 that it owed a total of £202,848, and that unless this was paid within seven days, the taxman would seek to have the company wound up.

The petition said that, despite the written warning, the company had failed to pay "any part of the sum" by August 9. Summerhall now has to reach an agreement over the unpaid taxes or HMRC could further press the issue.

A spokesman for HMRC said he could not comment on specific cases or the amounts involved. The petitions used in this way are often seen as a final chance for companies to pay their bills.

This year the venue and its shows were among the brightest stars of the Fringe, with its ticket sales up 275% on the 2012 festival.

Mr Thomson says in his letter to companies and artists: "Thank you to you all once again for being part of our festival here: your brilliant works and generous spirits are essential to our Festival, and it was an honour and pleasure working with all of you."

Summerhall opened in 2011, and made its name on the Fringe with Hotel Medea that year.