Royal Mile wrapped up in tartan tat

Published on Wednesday 26 May 2010 09:52

YET another Scottish souvenir shop has opened up on the Royal Mile amid a growing battle between budget tartan retailers.

The Singh Landa family has converted the former Wine Rack off-licence on the High Street into The Best of Scottish Discount Souvenir Factory Outlet, selling the same cheap kilts, sportswear and souvenirs that can be found in dozens of similar shops up and down the Mile.

Owner Gino Landa admitted that his shop was not offering anything new, but said the ongoing success of his family's existing shops and those of his rivals – chiefly the Gold Brothers – proved that the tourist appetite for budget souvenirs currently knows no bounds.

The Singh Landas' conversion of the shop, which closed last year following the collapse of the First Quench chain of off-licences, comes just months after the Singh Golds – headed by Surinder, Galab and Dildar Singh Gold – scored a lucrative double-whammy by buying out leases of the former Crystal Clear new age store and Wannaburger restaurant, both on the High Street.

The purchases took their portfolio on the Mile to 12 stores, half of them on the High Street alone. They also own several other stores throughout the city.

However, the latest purchase by the Singh Landas – headed by Balwindar and Sukhbir Singh Landa – takes their portfolio to 15 stores on or around the Mile.

Gino Landa said that despite their decision to open another souvenir shop, the family have attempted to keep their portfolio as diverse as possible.

He cited their Elgin Cashmere and Scottish Experience jewellery stores across the street as examples. The family also own the Courtyard Cafe on the Lawnmarket.

However, neighbour Annie McCaig, owner of the Bonny Blue Gallery, was not impressed.

She said: "I know these shops have their place in a tourist city like Edinburgh but there's far too many of them.

"Most of them are run by just two families and what amazes me is they seem to know when a unit is coming up before it's even gone on the market.

"A lot of my customers complain about it but it sort of makes my place even more special as they see me as a little oasis on the High Street."

Last month, officials at Edinburgh City Council revealed moves to dictate what kind of shops operate on the Royal Mile in a bid to overhaul its tacky image.

As the biggest landlord on the Royal Mile, owning, in whole or in part, 45 of the 129 available retail properties, it has the power to decide which tenants it leases to and what goods they are allowed to sell.

However, only around a quarter of the 40-odd souvenir shops on the Mile are owned by the council, and it holds little sway over private landlords as long as they stick to planning rules.

Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "Our view is that the range and quality of retail offerings on the Mile should be more varied and the council's planning committee should seek to develop, in consultation with the local business community, some recommendations and guiding principles over what stores are allowed to operate.

"The current set-up is ad-hoc, sporadic and doesn't represent the quality people would like to see.

"Having said that, it must be recognised that these shops aren't operating without trade. We're not saying every tartan gift shop should be closed down. If there's a market for it who are we to say no?

"But there should be a more varied offering in what has always been one of the city's most seminal streets."