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Nobody would argue that Edinburgh's Usher Hall was not in need of a makeover.

Not least Tony Bennett, whose 1986 concert ended rather spectacularly with a piece of ceiling plaster plummeting into the auditorium. Talk about bringing the house down.

The Usher Hall was built in 1914 - with a generous donation from the whisky distiller Andrew Usher (a retort to his rival, the brewer William McEwan, who funded Edinburgh University's McEwan Hall).

It took almost 20 years from that first offer to the opening night concert - Usher himself was long dead - thanks to local politics and the trickiness of building on a site rich in volcanic rock.

Current developments seem to be just as troublesome. Having spent almost £10m on the interior, the dig into the exterior foundations has hit a number of obstacles which have pushed the schedule back by almost six months.

According to architect Colin Ross, they've been able to combine the original plans and modern technology but that still couldn't prepare them for problems as they dug deeper into the foundations.

"Ground conditions were not as we expected," he says, "we did do lots of studies but inevitably things were not as expected so we had to do much more reinforcement, dig carefully, go gently and add more concrete or the whole thing could have fallen down."

Add to that the pressure of shutting down the site to allow the Edinburgh International Festival to move back in.

They did it last year, and having never missed a year in the Usher Hall, they're determined to do so this year too.

Joanna Baker, the EIF's managing director says she doesn't believe the hoardings will keep patrons away.

"They're used to it from last year. It may not look as pristine as it will when it's finished, but the auditorium is as good as it ever was, and at least it will give people an idea of the shape of the new building."

But stopping work for the festival - for the best part of two months, will push the project even later.

The opening was scheduled for winter 2008 but now looks like being spring 2009. that means both the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will have to relocate their autumn seasons in Edinburgh.

Both orchestras will receive compensation from the council - although the exact sum has to be decided.

Still, both orchestras argue it's worth a winter of discontent.

And even if you don't listen to classical music, there are some benefits.

One of the biggest limitations on pop concerts is the lack of toilet facilities (pop concerts being unseated and therefore having bigger audiences than classical concerts).

If that is sorted out, the Usher Hall can stage more concerts, and other events besides.

You can also see for yourself the ongoing work beneath the Usher Hall - general manager Karl Chapman is .