Anyone know what has happened to Papa McGills takeaway van up by The Countryside? I noticed it's been closed the last few times I've been past in the morning.

The latest plan for the Clydesdale Bank in Penicuik is to convert it into a restaurant - to add to all the other ones in that part of the town! Why does no one have any original and different ideas instead of "more of the same thing" which is all we seem to get,

I regret the demise of the independent "wee shop" as much as anyone, but it's the same almost all over the UK.

A while back, I was in a small town in the South of France where every shop in the town centre was an expensive ladies' outfitter. I can think of another town in France where every shop was given over to leather goods. There's also a seaside town in Lancashire (I forget the name) where the whole front is given over to used car lots.

As far as I could see, these arrangements seemed very successful. If you're female, loaded and in the South of France, you know that you'll find something in town (a). If you're further north and wanting a new leather jacket or a belt or something, town (b)'s reputation will attract you.

And if you're looking for a good used car in Lancashire, head for town (c) where you'll find thousands to look at.

Would it be the end of the world if Penicuik's empty shops all became - say- Tapas Bars, Polish/ German/ Italian/ North African etc restaurants, and Penicuik gained a reputation as a good place to go to eat out?

I know for sure that Le Tout P'ti already gets people coming out from Edinburgh to spend their money here. If we could get more quality restaurants...... Well, why not?

I agree, I'd rather see a building used for some purpose be it a shop, cafe or restaurant than it just lie empty.

Yes, it is better to have something using a building but the problem occurs when there are lots of the same type of business but not enough customers for them all so they don't last. This then results in empty places again after a few months.
It would be nice if Penicuik could market itself as a place to visit for good restaurants since there are plenty of people within a few miles of the town - hopefully everyone can get together to arrange something.

The list of empty shops grows even longer as Boston's Pet Shop closes down in the precinct. I won't bother telling you why as I am sure you can guess the reason.....
UPDATE 8th July: you would not even know it had been there now as all the signs are gone and it has been cleared out, unlike the "Marie Celeste" look of Sibsons and L'Amitie!


I expect Midlothian Council will be putting up "Danger Tumbleweed" signs there soon with the way things are going

I've just noticed that the shop next to BNC autoparts seems to have closed.

That was the Luscious Beauty place which has moved to the former Remax place in the precinct (next to the dance school) so thankfully still going. Easy for people to not notice shops closing /opening / moving in Penicuik since there is so little of interest to attract you in to the town centre!

Sam all you seem to do is moan about the amount of food shops there are are being planned. What do you suggest? People shop where they want to shop, if that means local shops close because everybodies gone to the out of town retail parks, hey, thats freedom of choice for you. Local shops need to learn to update themselves and compete - I would rather have the old Fells the Baker and Crawfords that we used to have rather than Greggs, but how come Greggs succedes where they failed? Its called moving with the times Im afraid. Im not saying its a good thing or a bad thing, its just the way things are, and nowadays people are just to apathetic to change things.