The flood of city shoppers heading to Glasgow has stopped
Plus: Athletic star's 'gold-en' karaoke celebration; new heritage chief; and looking ahead to Doors Open Day
More of us than ever are choosing to do our high street shopping in the Capital
The city centre is riding high with Edinburgh residents among the most likely in the UK to choose to do their high street shopping close to home.
A new report by the Centre for Cities shows we do just 3% of our retail shopping outside of the Capital, in other destinations such as Glasgow or Livingston.
That is a dramatic change from the 1990s when a major study found a fifth of retail spending flowed out of the Edinburgh area to Glasgow.
London is now the most popular destination for Edinburgh residents leaving the city for a shopping trip.
The change has been put down to the dramatic improvement in Edinburgh’s shopping offering, following the opening of the St James Quarter, and before that Harvey Nics.
The success of the city centre is also said to reflect the general strength of the city economy and its tourism industry.
The numbers: The Centre for Cities report found just 3% of high street spending leaving the city, around half the national average (5.6%). Of the UK’s 20 largest cities by population, only Glasgow (2.2%) and Liverpool (2.9%) attracted a higher rate of residents’ shopping. The report used data from millions of credit and debit card transactions to build up one of the most detailed pictures yet of UK retail spending.
Fewest empty shops: Edinburgh has the lowest rate of empty city centre units among the UK’s 20 largest cities, with the exception of London, according to the report. Only one in ten (9.3%) city centre shops are empty in the Capital, half the rate in Bradford, and slightly lower than major cities such as Manchester (10.5%), Birmingham (10.8%) and Glasgow (11.7%).
Thriving economy, thriving high street: The report states: “A struggling high street is the outcome of a struggling economy, not the other way round. So any policy interventions to save the high street shouldn’t start with the high street itself, but the wider economy, and where it locates in a city.” The Edinburgh economy has outperformed London’s per capita for the first time this year, as the Inquirer reported in June.
‘Punching above its weight’: Former city council leader Donald Anderson, who helped secure the arrival of Harvey Nics and the St James Quarter development, said: “Edinburgh has a range of facilities that no city of half a million people would normally have, and that’s down to the strength of our tourism industry. This is unequivocal evidence that Edinburgh is punching way above its weight in retail for the first time in modern history.”
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
GOLD-EN BOY: Hours after securing a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Edinburgh’s Jake Wightman celebrated at a karaoke bar - where the first song he sang was Gold by Spandau Ballet. The 31-year-old lost out on a gold medal by two hundredths of a second. Wightman also raised the prospect of a Scottish 1-2-3 in the 1500m at next summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, after he was joined in the world championship final by fellow Scots Josh Kerry and Neil Gourley.
NEW HERITAGE CHIEF: The chief executive of one of Northumberland’s key cultural institutions has been appointed the new director of Edinburgh civic trust The Cockburn Association. Rowan Brown has previously worked as a director at the National Mining Museum Scotland and curator at National Museums Scotland. She succeeds Terry Levinthal who left to become director of Edinburgh World Heritage.
ABOUT TIME: A broken Victorian clock is to to be restored and returned to its rightful place in Portobello more than 20 years after it broke down. The clock will be returned to Portobello Baptist Church, a former cinema and town hall, after councillors agreed to spend £150,000 from Edinburgh's common good fund on the work.
BADGER SETT ATTACKED: A 77-year-old dog owner has appeared in court after being caught on camera encouraging his dog to enter a badger sett. Peter Marshall admitted interfering with the sett at Traprain Law, near Haddington, after being filmed by a camera set up by the land owner to protect the badgers. Sentencing was deferred for social work reports.
CAFÉ PLAN: Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust has submitted plans for a café to sit alongside wider improvements to the former play area at West Pilton Park which were approved last year.
WRITE ON: First-time crime writer David Goodman has won a second prestigious prize for his novel A Reluctant Spy, an espionage thriller which has been compared to the work of Slow Horses author Mick Herron. The 41-year-old, from Longniddry, has added the debut writing award at the Bloody Scotland festival to Theakston Old Peculiar McDermid Debut Award he won this summer.
TRUMP PROTESTS: A protest staged by expat Americans, Democrats Abroad Scotland, against Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK attracted around 200 people to the Meadows.
HOUSE SALE: One of the most historic properties in Leith is being offered for sale for offers over £3,750,000. A-listed Lamb’s House, built in 1610 and previously in the care of the National Trust, has been renovated into a family home and architectural studio. The property, converted by architects Nicholas Groves-Raines and Kristín Hannesdóttir, features ten bedrooms and six bathrooms.
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THE BUSINESS
Capital firm with success baked in strengthens for further growth
An Edinburgh-based business success story has strengthened its leadership team in preparation for its long-term plan to deliver growth through innovation.
Ooni has recently passed the $1 billion revenue mark, and employs hundreds of people across its locations in mainland Europe and the US, as well as its Edinburgh base.
The company, best known for its innovative wood-burning pizza ovens, was founded by husband and wife team Kristian Tapaninaho and Darina Garland. In July the company appointed chief operating officer Amanda Tolhurst, and has now announced Karthik Iyer as its new Chief Executive.
He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across consumer technology and e-commerce at Simple Tire, Dyson, Reckitt Benckiser and Dell.
He has also served as a strategic advisor to Ooni’s board since 2024.
The current co-CEOs, Kristian Tapaninaho and Darina Garland, will remain on the board with new leadership roles, with Tapaninaho focusing on future product development and design, while Garland leads on brand purpose and stakeholder and community engagement.
Tapaninaho said: “To make our vision a reality, we need the best team to deliver our long-term growth plan.“
SKILLS EVENT: One of Edinburgh’s most pressing challenges – the talent and skills shortages that limit growth and opportunity – are to be addressed at an event organised by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. The half-day event will bring together stakeholders from business and education, to share best practice and shape actionable recommendations for government ahead of next year’s Scottish Government elections.
PRACTICE SUCCESS: Edinburgh practice Ossian Architects has become a Certified B Corporation, the only small architecture practice in Scotland to hold B Corp status and one of only 20 in the UK. The award is given to businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
DOORS OPEN: Take a peek inside some of those city buildings which always piqued your curiosity. It’s Doors Open Day in Edinburgh and East Lothian on Saturday and Sunday. If you want some help choosing where to go, try our preview Inside the Library of Mistakes.
SEASIDE SOUNDS: More than 50 free gigs all over town, busking on the high street, family-friendly ceilidh and fresh sea air. With everything from electronica and rock to jazz and folk, what’s not to like about Dunbar Music Festival? From Friday until Sunday.
ESPORT FEST: It’s sport of a different kind at Murrayfield Stadium when the esports and gaming festival Phase takes place from Friday to Sunday. Enjoy virtual reality demonstrations and simulation rigs or learn more about content creation or how to become a professional esports player.
QUICK BITES
TOP AWARD: An Edinburgh restaurant - Kebabish Original on Dalry Road - has been crowned as the best International Asian eatery in Scotland at the Asian Restaurant Awards this month in Manchester.
MORNING CUPPA: The Costa coffee store in Waverley station has temporarily closed for refurbishment. Travellers seeking a morning cappuccino can still enjoy a caffeine boost from a temporary Costa cart, located outside the store.