'We’ve had people propose in the shop' - iconic Edinburgh jeweller looks back on 40 years in the city ahead of closure

Alistir Wood Tait outside his Rose Street store. Picture: Ian Georgeson.

An independent jeweller which has become an Edinburgh institution after 40 years in the city has announced it will close later this year.

Alistir Wood Tait, owner of the shop bearing his name, has said it will close its doors in April, just a month before his 65th birthday.

The closure comes as Mr Tait has reached a break in his lease for the store, and has chosen to close now rather than work another seven years.

Mr Tait has been in business in Edinburgh for 40 years. Picture: Ian Georgeson.

“It seems a natural time to close, and I didn’t want to sell my business, because it’s my name over the door,” said Mr Tait, adding that he has had a ‘fabulous time’ over the years.

Visitors to the shop have have included Billy Connolly and JK Rowling, and it is featured in Kate Atkinson’s novel When Will There Be Good News.

Customers regularly invite staff to weddings, and bring in slices of wedding cake after the event.

“You’re a part of such an important thing in people’s lives - we get to know a lot of our customers very well indeed,” said Mr Tait.

Mr Tait outside the first shop he opened at Barclay Terrace on Bruntsfield links in 1980.

He added: “We’ve had people propose in the shop - there was one older couple, they must have been about 65 or 70. The man chose the ring and then he got down on his knee and proposed - she was thrilled!”

Mr Tait is still serving some people who came to him when he first opened in 1980.

“We’ve all got old together,” he said.

In autumn 1980 Mr Tait opened a small store at Barclay Terrace on Bruntsfield links, where everything was done ‘on a shoestring’.

The shop is currently running a closing-down sale. Picture: Ian Georgeson.

“I opened with no safe, no alarm system and no insurance, so I had to take the stock home with me every night,” he said.

“There was also no telephone so people had to ring me at the pub next door.”

Mr Tait would sometimes end up working so late he slept overnight in the little shop.

After just two years he was able to expand and moved to a more prominent location on Bruntsfield Place, where he remained for a decade before relocating again to 116a Rose Street, where he has been for 28 years.

Several of his five staff have been with him for over a decade, and one has remained for 30 years.

“I’ll miss the buzz, and coming in and seeing the staff every morning,” said Mr Tait.

The closure will also mean a change for the city, as there are few independent jewellers left doing the same work as Mr Tait.

The 64-year-old will not completely leave the jewellery business behind, as he will continue to sell online.

“It’s not something I do from nine to five, it’s a whole way of life,” he said.

Mr Tait is also looking forward to spending time with his family and grandchildren, and will get married to his partner Libby at the end of this year.

He chose a three-stone diamond and Sri-Lankan sapphire engagement ring from his own collection, but has yet to select the wedding rings.

The shop, which is currently running a closing-down sale, will be open until April 1.