Fury at death of famous UK high street as locals fume at 'dump with no class'

One of the most iconic high streets in a famous UK city has been slapped with a surprising label. Edinburgh’s Princess Street has been slammed as "rundown" by locals as multiple high street retailers shutting up shop for good.

In a scathing attack on the picturesque high street, it has been called a “dump with no class”. The substance for these claims is the influx of gift shops that now pepper the shopfronts, with major brands not being replaced like-for-like.

Fashion giants such as Next, Zara, Gap, and Debenhams have already left and several outlets have moved to the nearby St James Quarter causing the iconic street to look more deserted than it has done for years.

And the street’s changing face has left many disappointed. Nan Murray, 82, a resident of Fife who visits Edinburgh’s Princess Street once a month feels it has lost its charm.

She told Express.co.uk: “The street has deteriorated over the years. Many landmark shops such as Jenners and Debenhams have shut down. The shops that are now coming up on the street don’t have the class.”

Jenners, Scotland's oldest independent department store and a proud Edinburgh institution, was taken over by House of Fraser in 2005. The store closed in 2020, but building owner Anders Holch Povlsen promised to restore it to its former glory.

Last year, plans were approved to convert the upper floors into a luxury hotel with a rooftop bar, while the lower part will become a modern shopping destination. 

Denise Robson, a 58-year-old resident of Wester Hailes in Edinburgh that the street has become “very loud and noisy”.

She said: “We had an amazing number of shops on the streets and now all of them are gone. The street now looks badly messed up. Four years ago, I used to feel excited to come to Princess Street every day but now that enthusiasm has vanished. Edinburgh is so beautiful and is visited by so many tourists across the world.

“But this street looks shabby and beyond repair.” Another local who did not wish to be named told Express.co.uk: “A lot of good shops have closed now. There is a lot of ‘tax’ shops on the streets offering cheap souvenirs.

"These people are taking a lot of empty units. Princess Street was supposed to be our main attraction, a sort of classy street and sadly I feel it is becoming very rundown. 

“It’s fine having a couple of these shops but these are taking over all of them. There are still many empty units which are still to be used and aren’t being used. 

“The street is becoming very trashy. We expect more of classier shops and more diversity as well. I think it’s the rent that’s putting the rent off. There is a hotel coming up at Jenners which is a shame since we have already got The Balmoral on the street.” 

And it’s not only the locals who feel that the street is moving downhill. Business owners have also echoed the sentiments. 

Nico Gorgulu, owner of Cafe Inn near Castle Street is struggling to meet the finances while running the cafe. He told Express.co.uk how many food places have opened and shut down in the last one year. 

He said: “The business has been going through a turmoil over the last one year. Everything has changed after the pandemic. Business owners find it extremely difficult to make ends meet. Food places and cafes can only make some money if the people ar going to return to work. 

“If no one is coming to the office, our shops and cafes are likely to remain vacant. Only few people visit us and that is badly affecting the businesses.” 

Express.co.uk has reached out to Edinburgh Council for a comment.