Finding the right spot for your business
Stockbridge has a lot going on in a fairly small area. Alongside its independent shops, you’ll find charity shops, branches of supermarket chains, cafés, takeaways, restaurants, bars and pubs. The Sunday market adds another draw.
That mix brings people into the area. It also gives them plenty of choice.
For a new café or food business, I would spend time there at different points in the week. Which places are busy at lunchtime? What happens in the evening? Are customers sitting in, collecting food or just passing through? A unit that looks lively on a Sunday needs to make sense on a wet Tuesday too.
The position matters. Raeburn Place and Deanhaugh Street are the main shopping streets, while St Stephen Street has a different mix and feel. Even a short move along the same street can change who sees your window and how easily customers can stop.
We would also look closely at the property itself. Many Stockbridge units are fairly small, and some have flats above. If you are planning food and drink, check the existing use, extraction, waste storage and delivery arrangements early. An attractive shopfront does not mean the premises can accommodate the business you have in mind.
Stockbridge sits within the New Town Conservation Area. Changes to a frontage, signage or external equipment may need consent, and the Council has specific guidance for changes of use within the town centre. These are matters to settle before agreeing lease terms, particularly if you are budgeting for a fit-out.
Finally, look at the full cost: rent, business rates, any service charge, repairs under the lease and the work needed before you open. That gives you a more useful comparison between two units than rent alone.
Stockbridge is an established commercial location with a broad mix of businesses and customers. The opportunity is finding the part of it that suits your trade, in premises you can use without an expensive surprise.
If you are looking for a commercial property in Stockbridge, call IME Property Agents on 0131 290 2350. We can help you work through the location, the unit and the lease before you make a decision.
Local sources:City of Edinburgh Council’s Stockbridge Town Centre guidance · Stockbridge Market trading hours