The Gold Brothers versus the city council
Plus: Airport "kiss and fly" costs criticised; and a Hollywood legend drops in for dinner

Tartan gift shop owners bid to block deal to reopen Royal Mile tourist office
One of the Capital’s best-known family businesses is trying to overturn a deal to reopen the former Tourist Information Centre on the Royal Mile.
The Gold Brothers have written to council leader Jane Meagher asking for the process to be halted on the grounds the local authority has failed to follow its own ‘best value’ rules.
City councillors agreed last month to lease the property at 249 High Street to the Cobbs Group, a family-run hospitality business with 35 sites across Scotland, for £150,000 a year.
The Gold Brothers are one of the biggest traders on the Royal Mile, owning a string of tartan and cashmere gift shops, and the council one of the largest property owners, owning at least 46 commercial properties. The council leases its properties to commercial operators, including the Gold Brothers, generating millions in public funds.
Visit Scotland operated 249 High Street, in the middle of the busiest pedestrian area on the Royal Mile, until February this year. It closed the tourist centre along with others across the country, saying visitors were no longer looking for such in-person facilities due to the rise in apps and other online guides.
Numerous commercial operators are understood to have inquired about 249 High Street before the let was agreed to Cobbs.
Critics have long argued the council should use its position as the dominant landlord on the street to address concerns about the retail mix on the Mile. They have argued for properties to be rented at reduced rates to businesses such as independent crafts people or ones offering services to the local community.
Why are Gold Brothers objecting? They say the council has failed to follow its own ‘best value’ rules and missed an opportunity to generate significantly more in public funds by failing to put the contract out to tender.
What have they said? In a letter seen by The Inquirer, the Gold Brothers raise a series of questions not just about the council’s decision-making process but the possible motivation behind its decision. “Was the lease disposal process a mission to keep certain companies from obtaining 249 High Street? What is thecouncil’s retail policy for the city centre, and more specifically, The Royal Mile? If there is such a policy, what was the consultation process in developing it? Has ‘best value’ been undermined by the Finance and Resource Committee on this occasion?”
What are Cobbs planning? Cobbs intends to open a cafe and gift shop selling “traditional Scottish baking” and “a ‘Made in Scotland’ showcase”, alongside stands promoting Edinburgh attractions and Scottish tour operators.
What do the rules say? The council is obliged to seek ‘best value’ on all the contracts it awards. This does not have to mean the highest bidder. The wider social and/or economic benefits can be grounds for choosing an offer which would generate less income. However, the local authority has to be clear on the grounds it is taking the decision and has a duty to be transparent in all its dealings.
What do the council say? In the wake of the agreement, Councillor Mandy Watt, convener of the city’s finance and resources committee, praised the deal for securing the future of the visitor centre and the prospect of £3.5m income over 25 years. “This will prove invaluable as we encourage tourists to visit all parts of the city in all seasons as part of the city’s tourism strategy,” she said.
What happens next? The council leader must decide whether or not to investigate the Gold Brothers’ concerns. If it has not followed best practice, it runs the risk of being investigated by Audit Scotland. The council declined to comment at this stage.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
REBUS RETURNS: Richard Rankin is to return to our television screens as a young Inspector Rebus after the BBC confirmed it has commission a second series of playwright Gregory Burke’s adaptation of Sir Ian Rankin’s novels. The first series attracted more than six million viewers and won three Royal Television Society Scotland Awards after it aired last year.
CAPITAL SPIRIT: Hammed Kayode Alabi has been named as the recipient of the University of Edinburgh’s ‘Being Edinburgh’ Alumni Award 2025, an award voted by students, staff and alumni. A 2021 graduate of the University’s MSc in Africa & International Development programme, Nigerian-born Hammed is a pioneering leader in educational technology, a social entrepreneur and TEDx speaker. Amongst other achievements he founded a not-for-profit initiative which has so far supported more than 10,000 young people in Nigeria.
AIRPORT COSTS ROW: An Edinburgh-based consumer expert, Scott Dixon of the Complaints Revolver website, has hit out in the Daily Record at drop-off and pick-up fees at Edinburgh and other airports as “outrageous” and a “cash grab.” He criticised the annual raising of fees (Edinburgh has moved from £1 when introduced in 2010 to £6 for the first 10 minutes and £1 per minute thereafter which is charged now). The airport has defended the costs as “required to allow us to remain competitive” as well as encouraging people to make more sustainable travel choices.
DANGER ROADS: Work has been put on hold on several of the city’s most dangerous roads following a review of the Capital’s transport priorities. Safety work will go ahead at the west end of Princes Street where 23-year-old cyclist Zhi Min Soh was killed in 2017; at Tollcross; the King’s Road junction at Portobello, where two cyclists were killed in separate incidents; and an upgrade of the Maybury junction will also go ahead. Improvements to the Haymarket junction; the east end of Princes Street and North Bridge; the Crewe Toll roundabout; the Milton Link, Holy Corner and St Mary’s Street are all on hold.
INKED OUT: One of Scotland’s most celebrated independent publishers, Edinburgh-based 404 Ink, has announced it is to close next summer ahead of its 10th anniversary. Founders Heather McDaid and Laura Jones-Rivera said “over the years the costs and obstacles in independent publishing have increased significantly”. Margaret Atwood is among those to praise its groundbreaking work.
JENNERS FILM: One of the companies behind the restoration of Jenners has released drone footage showing progress with the work. The recording by construction firm Graham shows the new framework of the building in place within its historic walls. Scotland’s richest man Anders Holch Povlsen is restoring the historic building as a department hotel and luxury hotel, complete with rooftop bar and restaurant.
POOLING MEMORIES: Dalry Swim Centre is marking 130 years of service to the city today. One of the Capital’s cherished Victorian pools, staff will be donning period swimwear, and swimmers are being invited to share their memories of the pool.
HERO REMEMBERED: Firefighter Ewan Williamson, who died after helping rescue 16 people from a fire in the Balmoral Bar in Dalry Road in 2009, has been remembered in a poignant wreath laying ceremony to mark the 16th anniversary of the blaze, attended by members of his family, the city council and fire service.
Pic of the week
Our clear winner this week is this offering from the social media of Dalry Road restaurant Locanda De Gusti, and its accompanying caption. “Casual Saturday in the office… just us, the team, and Matt Damon popping in for lunch with his family. No big deal. Spoiler alert: they were absolutely lovely, charming, and yes - somehow even more down to earth than you’d expect from someone who’s been to Mars and saved Private Ryan. Safe to say the team’s productivity went out the window for a minute, but hey - wouldn’t you be distracted if Jason Bourne was asking for an Aperol Spritz! “
THE BUSINESS
Capital will play key role in greener aviation
Edinburgh University is partnering with Rolls-Royce in a new £17 million partnership aimed to help drive the development of green fuels and technologies for the aviation industry.
The exascale supercomputer, which the UK Government recently announced would be hosted at Edinburgh University, will play a key role in this, and a number of other innovation partnerships.
The project will “harness the University’s expertise in supercomputing to explore the use of fuels such as hydrogen in gas turbine engines for aviation.” Physical and computer modelling will be used in an effort to ensure the UK is at the forefront of aerospace sustainability.
FARE DEAL: West Lothian-based coach firm Prentice Westwood has been acquired by Scottish transport operator McGill’s Group owned by brothers James and Sandy Easdale. The seven-figure deal will see Prentice Westwood employees transfer to the McGill’s Group, with the local brand set to be retained. McGill’s operates FLY services from Dundee and Aberdeen to Edinburgh Airport, amongst its portfolio.
COMMUNITY BUSINESS: Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce is hosting an event on Community Wealth Building and how it is reshaping how local economies function, placing businesses at the heart of a fairer, more resilient, and sustainable economic model in Edinburgh. The free to members event takes place tomorrow from 9am at Saltire Court, Castle Terrace.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
FOOD AND MUSIC: The newly expanded Edinburgh Food & Folk Festival (the folk music programme being the new addition) starts this Friday for its ten-day run at George Square Gardens. The largely free event includes an array of delicious food and drink from local traders, free and ticketed events, plus live folk music. With performances from Duncan Chisholm, The Unthanks, The East Pointers, and more, this is an exciting new addition to the Edinburgh festival scene.
JAZZ FEST HEADLINER: Quite a buzz surrounds the Edinburgh debut of guitar virtuoso Julian Lage on Wednesday. His trio, also featuring bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Joey Baron, is one of the headliners at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival this year, who describe him as “one of the most gifted guitarists of his generation, Julian Lage is a stunningly accomplished creative force in modern music.” The show at the Queen’s Hall is heading for a sell-out, with mainly limited view seats remaining.
QUICK BITES
C’EST BON: Two city centre restaurants, Café St Honore in Thistle Street Land and L’Escargot Blue in Broughton Street, were the only two Scottish venues amongst the 24 best authentic French restaurants in the UK by The Good Food Guide.
PASTA SECURITY TEST: Superstar singer Billie Eilish paid a surprise visit to Edinburgh vegan restaurant Sora Diana in Newington last week ahead of a gig in Glasgow. A pre-dinner check by private security people alerted the restaurant that a VIP planned to drop in, and the singer appeared an enjoyed a meal including burrata and spicy penne arrabiata.