Christmas pop-up stalls are no help to local businesses – Kevin Buckle

You know local businesses are in trouble when even those supporting them are clueless about their needs, writes Kevin Buckle

Waverley Mall is back in business (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

I was hopeful of hearing at least some discussion on Thursday at Edinburgh Council’s Policy and Sustainability Committee about whether there should be any pop-up stalls at all this Christmas, after the Cockburn Association made a joint statement with the five city centre community councils saying there should at least be no extra food and drink outlets.

The full statement reads: “Local businesses must come first and foremost. To this end, we suggest that there should be no pop-up bars or food outlets, as these act as direct competitors to local establishments who need all the help they can get.”

It could of course have gone further and called for no pop-up stalls at all, but at least I thought it would get the discussion started.

Sadly while councillors were falling over themselves to say local businesses should be offered stalls, and the suggestion was at least 50 per cent, there was no detail on how this would actually help businesses who would be happy just to get more business in the premises they already occupy.

Somehow councillors seem to think that businesses which at best are coping and no more, need the added stress of hiring extra staff, buying more stock and gambling that there will be enough visitors to show a profit and that is if they are given a stall for free, which I don’t see happening.

Paul Lawrence the council’s Director of Place said Essential Edinburgh had been very positive about the plans, which was a surprise as I don’t see many of the BID’s businesses rushing to get a stall and it is well documented that they have failed to benefit from the Christmas attractions, especially when they stayed open longer to try to coincide with the higher footfall in the evening. Jenners reported a steady flow of people using their toilets and little else.

You know local businesses are in trouble when even those supporting them are clueless to their needs, so this doesn’t bode well at all and that is assuming that Edinburgh avoids a second wave.

However, should you crave really nice expensive bagels you are in luck as Bross Bagels have moved into the unit vacated by Williams and Johnson Coffee Co under the name Brossties and Frickles.

Situated in one of Waverley Mall’s entrances or ‘next to the Balmoral and opposite the Apple shop’ depending on the demographic aimed for, they are also offering exclusive fried pickles!

Meanwhile, outside their shop I did finally see somebody use the temporary pavement the council installed next to the bus stops.

Earlier in the week while it was raining, a man with a huge umbrella realised he wasn’t going to get through the crowd and with no bus at the stop calmly walked along the walkway before diving back onto the pavement.

No doubt the council, who at best have a loose grasp of statistics, will call this “a lot of people”.