Edinburgh market traders hope for ‘bumper’ business as Princes Street reopens

Traders at a market in Edinburgh city centre have said they are looking forward to a “bumper” weekend after Princes Street reopened following the building fire seven weeks ago.

Businesses around the affected part of Princes Street have been dealing with a drop in footfall after the blaze on July 9 forced the closure of the thoroughfare.

At the nearby Castle Street Market, which has been popping up regularly for almost 20 years, traders were optimistic as they set out their wares on Saturday morning.

With trams and buses now able to run along Princes Street again, many hoped to see an increase in customers after a difficult seven-week period.

Alan Hannah hoped to see more Edinburgh locals at the market (Neil Pooran/PA)

Alan Hannah, who runs a clothing and Scottish goods stall at the market, said locals had been staying away due to the lack of buses going down Princes Street.

He told Press Association: “It’s been a wee bit slower, but there’s still been tourists about because of the Fringe.”

He spoke of his joy at Princes Street reopening, saying: “It’s great, it’s just such a delight to have it open and back to running.

“With the busses stopping at the top of the street, people will be here.”

Mr Hannah said he was looking forward to a “bumper” day of trade with the street reopening.

Douglas Copland runs a jewellery store with his wife Meredith (Neil Pooran/PA)

Douglas Copland runs a jewellery stall with his wife Meredith and has been coming to Castle Street Market each summer for 12 years.

He said footfall had been lower in the weeks following the fire, which had “definitely” affected trade.

Mr Copland said: “I’m grateful, the sun’s out shining, this is our last two days of trading so we’re hoping to go out on a high.”

He added: “Perhaps with Princes Street opening it will be a tourist attraction in itself.”

Castle Street market in Edinburgh (Neil Pooran/PA)

Andy McCreath, who runs Castle Street Flowers, said he had been advised to stay away on the day of the fire.

He said: “There was an immediate change in footfall.

“As soon as you remove the buses and the trams, you notice it immediately.”

Mr McCreath welcomed the reopening but said Princes Street needed more support and had appeared “run down for years”.

He said: “With all the main shops in Princes Street moving along to St James Quarter (a shopping centre), that’s not helped at all.

“Yes, it’s a shame to lose a historical building, if it comes to that.

“But realistically something has to be done with the whole of Princes Street.”

After an initial test-run shortly after midnight, the trams returned to their full route between Edinburgh Airport and Newhaven on Saturday morning.

Until Saturday, trams had been unable to run their full route and buses have faced diversions while the City of Edinburgh Council worked to make the building safe again.

The fire caused extensive damage to a disused B-listed building and led to disruption during Edinburgh’s festival season.