Kiltmaker fends off 'kings of tartan tat'

KILTMAKER Geoffrey Nicholsby was today celebrating victory in a two-year court battle with Royal Mile rivals the Gold Brothers after they undercut his prices right under his nose.

The 63-year-old "kiltmaker to the stars" sued the entrepreneurial family – dubbed Edinburgh's "kings of tartan tat" – after they opened a cut-price outlet next to his Castlehill workshop.

They opened their own souvenir shop in the same building as Mr Nicholsby's craft centre after buying the property for 6 million in 2007.

But now Sheriff Gordon Liddle has ordered the family to close their gift shop after ruling it breached Mr Nicholsby's lease.

Today Mr Nicholsby – who has supplied kilts to celebrities including Sir Sean Connery, Charlton Heston, Robbie Williams and Mel Gibson – said he was pleased but not surprised by the result.

"I never doubted that we would win and our lawyers always told us that. This has been dragged out for such a long time," he added.

"I'm surprised that the Gold Brothers took it so far. The legal costs are considerable and we will be seeking to have them covered."

Mr Nicholsby had owned the building, where he established the kilt weaving centre in 1996, but sold it to GL Attractions, retaining a lease for his business. The lease stated no other Highlandwear was to be sold or promoted on the site.

The Singh Gold family – who trade as the Gold Brothers and have a chain of ten gift shops in the city – took over the building when they bought GL Attractions in 2007.

Mr Nicholsby said that he needed to make clear where his shop – selling handcrafted Scottish tartan – ended and the Golds', which sells cheaper imported goods, started.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court Sheriff Liddle ruled that the terms of the lease meant the "control office" could not be used for retail.

The sheriff added that he found Mr Nicholsby's evidence "credible and reliable", but said he was "less impressed" by the testimony of the Gold Brothers' Dildar Singh.

Mr Singh declined to comment on the ruling. The verdict is the latest round of what has been at times a bitter dispute. Malap Singh was found guilty of attacking Mr Nicholsby in August 2007 and fined 350, after the 63-year-old was punched in the face.

• Online poll: Does Edinburgh have too many "tartan tat" shops on its streets?

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Your Say: Does Edinburgh have too much tartan tat?

Alex Paterson, 62, joiner, Lochend: "There are far too many 'tartan tat' shops in Edinburgh. It cheapens the city and makes it look more like the Barrowlands."

Caroline Kemp, 44, housewife, Leith: "Tourists obviously want to buy the stuff if so many shops can turn a profit. But I wouldn't want any more of them as it gives a poor image and makes a bit of a joke of Scottish traditions."

George Pitcher, 81, retired, Pleasance: "There's far too many of those shops. They sell tat which is just cheap, cheap, cheap. There may be room for selling tat, but not in Edinburgh."