'We work in Edinburgh's West End - it's sad what has happened to this area'

Edinburgh’s West End is renowned as a bustling hub for boutique shopping and night life - yet recent business closures have taken their toll.

While the area still hosts many thriving shops and eateries, its streets are dotted with empty storefronts along Shandwick Place and Queensferry Street with some standing vacant for months.

Having reported on an influx of closures in late 2023, Edinburgh Live followed up with local business owners six months on to gauge how the neighbourhood is faring.

READ MORE - The five new bus Edinburgh Lothian bus routes planned for the city

READ MORE - Amazon shoppers race to buy classic Croc clogs at 27% off in limited time deal

Artur Zieleniewski co-owns TechSpace 360 on Shandwick Place which opened in early 2023. He cited high rent as a major challenge for West End businesses.

He said: “Shandwick Place is not cheap rent. It has the most dramatic prices other than Princes Street. I think some businesses are not making enough to survive.”

Artur described working long hours to pay rent – 8am-11pm, seven days a week. He said: “We value our health and private time, but initially you have to do these things. You have no choice.”

Artur also cited competition with corporate-owned businesses as a main challenge. He added: “Competition is everywhere. We won’t be able to compete with Ebay or Argos. We need to do something different from them.

“We want to provide the best local service for local people. Everyone knows you can find things cheaper on Amazon, but if there’s an issue or you need advice, then we are here. Our service is what people appreciate.”

Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox

He added: “The cake is big enough for everybody. We just want a small slice of it.”

Dean Robson, a shop manager on Queensferry Street, hopes that the West End can make a comeback. He said: “It’s painful for us because we’re trying to build more of an experience at this end of town. You really want the West End to become a hub as well – rather than just Princes Street and the Royal Mile.

“We want to set ourselves apart. If you have empty shopfronts all the way along, it’s not what you want on your street.”

And with Queensferry Street located near junctions leading to major destinations and byways such as the Waldorf, Lothian Road, and Dean Village, traffic is another issue for businesses trying to reel in shoppers.

Dean added: “It’s a really heavy bus route. We’ve got four or five bus stops right outside so it does get really busy. A lot of people use this as a passing travel area rather than a shopping destination.”

Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

A shop owner on West Maitland Street cited the council’s recent business rate hike as another stress factor, lowering the threshold for businesses paying higher tax and adding pressure amid rising supply costs.

The West End remains a popular destination despite its challenges, with new businesses cropping up and development projects in the works.

A West End resident who runs an Instagram account called Edinburgh’s West End (@edinwestend) wants to focus on the positive aspects of the area.

The account’s moderator told Edinburgh Live: “Lots of new businesses are opening up all the time and I don’t think the empty shops will be empty for long.”

They highlighted a raft of new businesses on Queensferry Street, naming Six by Nico, Basement Gelato, Rachel Scott Couture, and MakeBelieve The Baby Play Place in particular.

The moderator added that the plan for a new hotel on the corner of Queensferry Street and Shandwick Place should attract new businesses to the area.

A row of storefronts on Queensferry Street – including those formerly occupied by Oddbins and Umai Sushi and Ramen Kitchen – were bought out by the developers and will be converted into the hotel space.

Several West End business owners told Edinburgh Live they expected the hotel to be positive for Queensferry and Shandwick shop owners.

Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Edinburgh’s West End has a huge amount going for it with some of the city’s best boutiques and independent businesses and it’s a fantastic place to visit, shop and dine out.

“The tram has been hugely beneficial to the area, as I’m sure will the other active travel improvements we’re currently making, helping to make the West End easier to get to and spend time in.

“We’ve also seen a lot of private investment - most notably the Johnnie Walker Experience at the end of Princes Street - and we’re actively working with developers and others to attract the right type of investment in the city centre.

“Of course, it’s never good to see businesses closing. We know it has been a tough time for many with utility bills and costs of materials rising.

“Thankfully, numbers are low compared to many parts of the country, but I’d urge any traders with concerns to contact us through the Business Gateway service, which help with advice and other support."