A popular Scottish comedian has taken aim at the ‘disappointing’ state of one of Edinburgh’s most iconic streets.
Fred MacAuley posted a ‘scathing’ observation about Princes Street on social media during a visit to the capital after being surprised by the number of empty shop fronts.
The busy retail thoroughfare has lost more than a dozen businesses in the last seven years due to financial difficulty or relocation.
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Big name high street brands including British Home Stores, Debenhams and Topshop have all shut down amid economic turmoil, while the likes of Next and Zara have opted to move their operations to the new St James Quarter.
However, MacAuley, who presents the BBC Scotland radio programme MacAuley and Co, was shocked by its current make up, reports the Daily Express.
He wrote: "Walked the length of Princes St this morning. Dear oh dear….building after building shuttered and closed. ‘To Let’ signs everywhere.
"A few buses and of course a tram on the street. No cars. A few pedestrians. Is this caused by the economy … or poor policies?"
Several of the most prominent buildings on the street are the subject of developments to transform their use.
Exciting plans have been put forward for both the former Debenhams and BHS buildings, with the latter the subject of a bid to convert it into a mega gaming venue containing six bowling lanes, two duck pin bowling lanes, ten American pool tables, five ping pong tables, ice curling and ‘nine-hole crazy pool’.
Debenhams has been earmarked for a luxury hotel development featuring another rooftop bar, while Jenners is in the midst of its own hotel transformation after closing in January 2021 following 183 years in the city centre.
Danish billionaire owner Andreas Holch Povlsen, who bought the building for £50m back in 2017, to return the former department store to its former glory by as part of a four-year restoration project.
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However, the future of Topshop remains up in the air, with no current proposals for the eye-catching corner building since the Arcadia Group collapsed in November 2020.
Some other social media users agreed with MacAuley's opinion that Princes Street was ripe for a refurbishment.
Alan Fresco wrote: "A bit of both I think. Online retailing of course but if the council do their utmost to discourage travel into the city centre by car while maintaining high council tax for the shops it hardly makes for a profitable retail environment."
Diane Dark added: "It's a combination but really our High Street imploded when Philip Greens empire collapsed. Debenhams was the core of the small shopping Centre while BHS was one of 2 Dept stores. Finally there was Top shop & Dorothy Perkins/ Burton without these the shopping area is unattractive."
