Traders check out of Royal Mile amid tartan tat fear
Ralph Hepburn
Two independent traders are to shut up shop on the Royal Mile, sparking fears of yet more tartan tat and complaints over soaring rent.
Bagpipes Galore, which has been on the Canongate for 18 years, has moved away from the historic thoroughfare after owner Ralph Hepburn was told by the city council his rent was to rise from £8000 a year to £13,500.
Scottish Soap Works, which was hit with a 25 per cent rent increase, is also leaving the Canongate after eight years.
Both stores will relocate to other parts of the city instead, but the news has sparked criticism of the council, which has set up a new strategy for the Royal Mile that aims to encourage more independent firms to set up on the street instead of more tourist souvenir shops.
The council is the biggest property owner on the street, with 45 different properties.
Mr Hepburn, who is today relocating his Bagpipes Galore shop to Haymarket Terrace, said the rise was a “massive blow” after he had already spent three years cutting his costs.
He said: “Obviously the council has got to maximise its revenue but a lot of people I’ve spoken to say getting rid of shops like this won’t help in the long term because the diversity is going to be eradicated.”
He said he felt the council had used the fact that he had built up a customer base over 18 years as a tool to force him to accept the new rent rates.
However, council officials said that they did offer an alternative location for his shop in the Pleasance area before he decided to move to Haymarket Terrace instead, while the rent for the Canongate store had not increased since 2003.
Social enterprise Scottish Soap Works, also on the Canongate, is to relocate to Duddingston Yards.
Owner Mike Finlayson said: “We were faced with a 25 per cent rent hike this year, and so that was not the final straw but a factor.
“That said, the council aren’t any different from any other landlord insofar as they have to get the market rate.”
Council economic officials have drawn up a strategy for the Royal Mile that includes a proposal to charge lower rents in shops it owns if traders agree not to sell tartan tat.
Councillor Jason Rust, economic development spokesman for the Tory group, said: “This seems at odds with the council’s policy drive to attract independent retailers to the Old Town and will put off independent retailers.”
Cllr Tom Buchanan, economic development leader, said: “The council is keen to encourage a large mix of occupiers in the Old Town.”
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Comments
There are 28 comments to this article
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Iain in Spain
Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 04:42 PM#25. Oh dear, sorry. I was just quoting from the local press here in Spain. How shall I express the problem? Suffice to say that the foreign owners of the Spanish tat Group complained but it was held that there were just too many tat shops and that they could not be economic enough to pay the rates. The foreign made tat (may I say foreign?) reflects Mexican and Spanish culture not Catalan culture and the shops were caught selling fake Barcelona football shirts which is a mortal sin here. It can be done if local people wish to help local business and industry. It has worked here in Barcelona , so you have only yourselves to blame.
Jake The Muss
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 10:02 AM#24 - Don't be daft, that would be deemed as racist. Anything to deter the mighty Singh clan would be seen as racist.
Iain in Spain
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 08:45 AMAn afterthought. A couple of municipal food markets like the Borough market in London would be a good idea too!
Iain in Spain
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 08:40 AMComment removed by moderator
C4miles
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 07:58 AMWhy dont the council offer the the proprietors who are interested in selling authentic made in Scotland garments etc a way of standing out from the tat shops, A simple and easily identifiable piece of signage which could be highlighted on every piece of literature produced to advertise anything of interest to visitors, We should not be allowing our heritage to disappear form the high street to be replaced by cheap replicas while the tat sellers rely on the tourists gullibility.
Willie Boy
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 01:39 AMJust the fat cat dead hand council screwing up rents and destroying businesses to keep their bums in well pensioned non delivering jobs. Rent rises of between 25% and nearly 70% - you couldn't make up. But hey, look at what the council did with the tram, and look at the building and works ongoing corruption investigation' Yes, that's council public service for you brothers.
Iain in Spain
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 08:06 PMHere in Barcelona, the City Council is now refusing to allow any more of the Spanish equivalent of tartan tat shops, sombrero and straw donkey shops, to open. The council has been accused of racial prejudice by the promotors, but has said that the shops do not respect local Catalan culture and traditions and make the city centre look tawdry. Now interesting speciality shops, eateries and bars are springing up. It's great for the locals too and mades the City centre much more interesting.
AULD REEKY
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 06:45 PM#16 They do not even have to bring granny in to sit in the back shop - as any parking attendendant officially has to see the vehicle arrive and also depart without the blue badge holder being present to be able to justify fraud - so this rarely ever happens - just check some of the Commonwealth cousins stores around town - especially around Stockbridge, where they pass the blue badge around the families like confetti - even the parking attendants use these shops for their papers, cigarettes, etc. in full knowledge of what is going on and never is anything done - not even ask to see if the person is in the shop, etc. this incompetent Council turn a blind eye to anything illegal - roll on May 2012 when we can be rid of them all !!!!
Craigie Boy
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 06:02 PMThe very notion that this council could ever successfully oversee the city centre retail sector is borne out by the city's lamentable position in the UK best places to shop league, where we sit at something like 14th (Glasgow is number 2).
Tartancult
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 05:49 PMI am Scottish and I am a tourist. I was not born in Edinburgh. When I visit I spend money. I used to visit a lot (because I loved Edinburgh). I do not visit Edinburgh now because it is tacky, smelly, noisy and sells garbage disguised as "Scottish" goods. Plain enough for you?
Jingsitsme
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 05:24 PMAll Councillor Buchanan is encouraging is more and more tat shops which are more in keeping with a market in places like Islamabad than Edinburgh. Drove down there last Sunday and shocked to see the state of the these shops no wonder people are moving out. Wouldn't reccommend any tourists to shop there. First class street, second class or less majority of shops which bring down the few 'real' shops in the mile. Interesting many of the people who rent them don't serve behind the counter - it's as if we are not supposed to know they are tat shops!!
Lachie Mhor
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 05:19 PMBenito now has a golden opportunity to set up a business selling Scottish memorabilia and curios such as the SNP manifesto, energy policy, defence policy, finance policy - all the things that we have never seen. He could model tartan trews and offer genuine Scottish pies. A great opportunity for the great leader.
grumpyscot
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 05:14 PM#13 - what parking regulations? Didn't you know its legal for them to bring granny in using her blue badge and just get her to sit at the back of the shop all day?
Logie88
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 01:26 PMI presume the rent increase is based on a professional valuation and rents have increased since 2003 even allowing for a drop in the last couple of years. Not to impose a rent increase would mean that council taxpayers were subsidising private businesses. Neither of these shops cater for local residents so if they can find cheaper premises elsewhere, good luck to them.
01.01.73
Friday, January 6, 2012 at 01:22 PMBelzebub, you got it right The social engineering that had gone on over the years cleansing the canongate, grassmarket, west port areas of the working class communities.Many of the former council houses in these areas are now in the hands of private landlords Such a shame And buiding the wee parly didnae help either Grassmarket born and bred..
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