Scottish Government Puts £5m Behind Leith While Princes Street Goes Dark

The Princes Street closure has cut footfall across the city centre, and Leith's traders are feeling the knock-on. A new Scottish Government-backed campaign wants to redirect that missing foot traffic north to the Shore, and there's real money behind it.

A new campaign called More by the Shore has launched to push visitors and shoppers toward Leith's restaurants, retailers, and independent businesses during the ongoing Princes Street closure. The campaign is funded through a £5 million business support package announced earlier by the Scottish Government, and it targets both locals and tourists who might otherwise write off a city centre trip entirely.

The timing matters. Princes Street closures, whether for tram works, utilities, or infrastructure upgrades, have a well-documented ripple effect across Edinburgh's economy. According to research from the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, major thoroughfare disruptions can reduce footfall in adjacent retail zones by as much as 20 to 30 percent, with hospitality businesses absorbing the steepest losses in the first weeks of any closure. Leith, sitting just under two miles from the east end of Princes Street, is close enough to feel that drag.

The More by the Shore push centres on telling a simple story: Leith is open, independent, and worth the fifteen-minute journey. The Shore, the Water of Leith walkway, and the cluster of restaurants, galleries, and specialist shops around Constitution Street make a compelling alternative city-centre day out. The campaign is designed to remind people of that, loudly and clearly, for as long as the disruption continues.

The Scottish Government's £5 million package reflects a broader commitment to protecting Edinburgh's SME economy through infrastructure pain. Business Gateway Edinburgh has been running parallel support for affected traders, including advice on cash flow management and short-term marketing spend. The combination of grant-funded campaign visibility and on-the-ground business support is the kind of joined-up approach that rarely gets enough credit, but it is exactly what small operators need when footfall drops through no fault of their own.

For Leith businesses not yet connected to the campaign, the window to get involved is now. Consumer attention is being actively directed your way, at someone else's marketing cost. Independent hospitality and retail businesses that show up clearly online, with updated Google profiles, accurate opening hours, and a visible social media presence, stand to gain the most. The campaign can drive people to the postcode; it cannot drag them through your door. That last job is still yours.

What this means for you: If you trade in Leith or the surrounding area, treat this campaign as free top-of-funnel marketing and make sure you can capture the interest it generates. Update your Google Business Profile today, check your opening hours are correct everywhere they appear online, and consider a simple offer or event tied to the More by the Shore moment. Business Gateway Edinburgh can also advise on whether you qualify for any remaining support from the £5 million package, so pick up the phone if you have not already.