In August 2012 The Forest reopened at 141 Lauriston Place, Tollcross[4] where it continued its activity as a volunteer-run vegetarian cafe with regular free events and workshops, assuming a pivotal role in the revival of the independent community development in central Edinburgh.

In 2022 the physical space closed citing difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, despite arts activities continuing decentrally.

The building at 3 Bristo Place was constructed during 1899–1900 to a design by Sydney Mitchell and Wilson for the Evangelical Union[7] on the site of a former Baptist Chapel.

The working groups were run using consensus decision-making process featuring facilitation and hand signals, with minutes saved to an online forum called the "BB".

Free events were held throughout the building regularly, including workshops and skill-shares, music, film, poetry, theatre and readings.

The Edinburgh University Settlement - the charity that owned the Bristo Place building - went bankrupt in October 2010, and it was announced that the premises were to be sold.

[13][14] The upper floors of the Bristo Place building are the former church, the centre piece of which is a Gray & Davison-built pipe organ.

During the week-long event, sufficient repairs were made by Tore Sinding Bekkedal and others to enable the organ to function again[16][17] at which point it was played by Keith Packard.

The Forest maintained close relationships with other alternative community spaces and socially oriented projects in the local area such as the Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative, and the Swap and Reuse Hub (SHRUB).