With corporate giants dominating towns all over the UK, it’s almost impossible to drive through a town centre without spotting a Starbucks or McDonald’s. But in one small town just outside of Stirling, Scotland, a Costa Coffee branch went out of business – so much is the support for the dozens of incredible independent shops on its high street.
As well as reportedly causing a privacy issue for one local family due to Costa customers being able to see into their home, the news of the coffee shop’s opening in 2019 caused general chaos in Bridge of Allan. A local newspaper’s advertisement received backlash from the local community as Facebook users took to the paid promotion post to express their preference of local businesses over Henderson Street’s new Costa.
The Daily Express spoke to the town’s independent businesses to get a sense of how locals feel about Costa’s closure – as well as the general vibe in the area, which is just minutes from the University of Stirling campus.
Zahid Hussain, manager of local shop ‘Allanwater Papers’, commented on the town’s attitudes towards bigger businesses coming in.
“They don’t feel connected [to them]”, the newsagent manager explained. “People here prefer to feel connected and prefer when shops are more exclusive.”
Zahid said a Tesco Express was also shut down in Bridge of Allan and he predicts it closed for similar reasons. Nevertheless, the manager acknowledged independent shops’ struggles. He said: “At the same time, it’s sadly restrictive with the charges independent businesses face.”
But now the Costa building is unoccupied which Zahid felt is not so great either. He added: “If anything, it’s not the best thing to look at – it’s just an empty store.”
Paul Gillen, owner of Bridge of Allan’s ‘Uncommon Life’ shop, shared similar views about Bridge of Allan’s attitudes towards big corporations. He said: “There’s a place for chain stores like that, but I don’t think local community were keen on it. Generally, local people like to support a local business. They like the idea that it’s locally owned and, usually, family-run. They build a relationship with it.”
The Allanwater Café is an example of a family-run café and chip shop, situated across the street from where the Costa used to be.
Adrian Bechelli, manager at the establishment, remembers the locals’ reactions to the news of the new Costa.
“Everybody was horrified”, he explained.
But he admits he didn’t quite feel the same, and also noted the benefits that Costa brought to his family’s business.
He said: “If people come in for Costa, they might get fish and chips from me. Strong businesses bring people in.”
He acknowledged that there were other issues around the Costa such as lack of parking, explaining that Costa were “in the wrong spot”.
Nevertheless, Adrian felt that it was still important to acknowledge the positives that it brought to Bridge of Allan.
House prices in the pretty little town average nearly £400k, which is much more expensive than nearby Stirling, making it one of the most desirable places to live in the central Scotland region. There are direct trains to Scotland’s two largest cities, making it the perfect commuter town with 54-minute journeys to Edinburgh and speedy 36-minute trains to Glasgow.