Stirling Book Nook closed as major renovation gets underway
The existing shopfront is being upgraded, with wooden doors and windows replacing the original metal ones.
Work began on Monday, May 5, and is expected to continue throughout the week.
It is hoped The Book Nook will reopen as normal on Saturday, May 10.
The shop's update is an effort to increase the cafe's accessibility, while also 'making it look a bit more traditional', according to its co-owners.
Leanne Brown and Jasmine Stenhouse opened The Book Nook together in 2020 after graduating from the University of Stirling, blending their love of books and coffee into a business.
Leanne told The Courier: 'I've never really liked the shopfront the way that it was.
'Book shops tend to be a bit traditional and our frontage was just all single-glazed glass and heavy security doors.
'So, I'm very excited for it to get finished.'
The new shopfront will be painted in a light green colour to match the bookshelves that line the interior of the building.
'In the past, it got really hot in the summer and really cold in the winter because of the single glazing and that then was contributing to a horrible condensation and mould problem,' explained Leanne.
'Now I'm hoping to plant a lot of wildflowers outside that will bloom in the summer and look lovely.
'I have a lovely vision in my head and I think it's going to be beautiful, so I really hope it comes to fruition.'
The Book Nook is a popular study spot for students and members of the public, who can select from the cafe's wide range of new and second-hand books.
Its renovations are being funded through the Supercharged Shopfront Improvement Scheme, provided by Go Forth Stirling, and the Premises Improvement Grant from Stirling Council.
The grants are intended to support the growth of local businesses, while also improving aspects like energy efficiency and the appeal of the building.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
06-08-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Colleges must escape 'survival mode' to reach full potential
Prof Little, Digital Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Stirling, is a Futurist, someone who studies and prepares for the future. He said that Scotland's colleges could benefit from adopting this strategic perspective. 'Futurism is not about prediction, as there are no facts in the future. Instead, it is fundamentally all about preparation for possible futures. 'Futurism involves looking for signals of the future, identifying patterns, trends, and drivers. Then, exploring a range of possible futures that those elements may evolve into. 'Then planning for them.' He wrote that the economic landscape is changing rapidly, and innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies are speeding up that evolution. 'Back in 2022, to an audience of Scottish skills educators and administrators, I cited a statistic suggesting that '85% of jobs that will exist in 2030 haven't been invented yet.'' In his report, he argued that colleges are best placed to be the source of learning for these future jobs, but identified several issues that he believes are holding colleges back, including a reduction in public investment, uneven engagement with businesses, unclear priorities from the Scottish Government, and little room for talk about colleges in discussions about higher education funding. Read more: He added that Scotland could face further challenges, including student dropout rates caused by rising mental health issues in young people and an increase in demand for additional support needs (ASN) across the country. Looking to the future, Prof Little argued that colleges in Scotland could become 'world-class' in vocational and technical education. Professor Joe Little, Digital Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Stirling, has written a new report calling for Scotland's colleges to be at the heart of future skills education. (Image: Prof Joe Little) In order to do so, he recommended that 'as much support as possible is afforded to Scotland's colleges politically, and that colleges work together closely, to achieve success and economies of scale in delivering results for students and society. 'Colleges have always played a vital role in Scottish civic life, and there is a bright future for Scotland's colleges if far more strategic ambition is put towards their success.' He wrote that the current 24 college structure leaves most colleges 'struggling to survive year-on-year' and 'almost no reward for innovation and commercial entrepreneurship within the institutions". 'My view is that a new model is needed for Scotland that will deal directly with the issues constraining the 24 colleges and provide a more hopeful future for the sector and indeed move from 'survival mode' to recognised as 'world-class.'' Writing exclusively for The Herald following the publication of his report, Prof Little said that urgent changes are needed for Scotland's colleges to take advantage of the opportunities he has highlighted. 'It starts with colleges being at the heart of government priorities – priorities which are set in consultation with employers to help connect what the economy needs to the education and training on offer. 'Countries that are doing well at providing great vocational training are often funding their colleges from their Economy portfolio, or equivalent departments. This instantly clarifies that colleges provide skilled workers who add to economic growth and enhance national prosperity.' Prof Little argued that Scotland's colleges have a chance to escape 'survival mode.' 'To do this, colleges need greater and more stable investment and stronger recognition politically for the work they do for individuals, families, employers and communities. The economic and social impact of colleges should also be much more highly recognised. 'I'm clear this future should include colleges at the heart of a world-class technical vocational education and training system in Scotland.' The Scottish Government has recognised the importance of skills training, and there are potential changes in the works for further education, particularly in terms of the funding structure. The Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill being considered by the Scottish Parliament could see funding for national training programmes and apprenticeships consolidated within a redesigned Scottish Funding Council. Official statistics published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) showed a record number of vocational and technical qualifications and awards in 2025. The total of 110,380 represents a 22.6% increase compared to 2024. In response to Prof Little's report, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Colleges play a vital role which is why we have provided an uplift in funding for the sector in this year's budget. 'The Scottish Government accepts the premise of the key provisions set out in the independent review of skills delivery by James Withers, and work is underway to take forward the Post-School Education and Skills Reform Programme. 'We are clear about the importance and status of vocational pathways and it is very positive that the number of passes in vocational and technical qualifications reached a record high in this year's exam results.
Scottish Sun
26-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
I tried the new M&S strawberry sandwich – it's delicious & different but you'll only buy it once
Plus, how to save on your supermarket shop BERRY TWIST I tried the new M&S strawberry sandwich – it's delicious & different but you'll only buy it once Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) M&S has unveiled its first-ever dessert sandwich, the Red Diamond Strawberries & Creme Sandwich, and it's already causing a stir among food lovers. Priced at £2.80, this limited-edition sweet treat combines British summer nostalgia with a touch of Japanese culinary influence, but does it live up to expectations? Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Fabulous report Leanne Hall taste tested Marks & Spencer's latest sandwich 3 The Red Diamond Strawberry & Creme is Limited Edition Credit: Supplied The sandwich is made using M&S's exclusive Collection British Red Diamond Strawberries, which are known for their sweetness and juiciness, paired with whipped cream cheese and crème fraîche. Inspired by Japan's viral cream-filled sandwiches, often spotted in trendy patisseries, M&S has reimagined the concept with a British twist, reminiscent of the iconic strawberries and cream served at Wimbledon. M&S has a long history of sandwich innovation, having introduced freshly made sandwiches in the 1920s and revolutionising the UK high street with pre-packed sandwiches in the 1980s. Since then, the retailer has sold over four billion sandwiches, making this latest launch a bold new addition to its portfolio. But is the dessert sandwich a summer sensation or simply a novelty? Fabulous reporter Leanne Hall decided to put the new creation to the test. 'This new addition to the M&S summer food collection is one you won't want to miss,' Leanne said. 'It seems the British retailer has taken inspiration from Japan's viral cream-filled sandwiches and Wimbledon's signature dish, strawberries and cream, to create the perfect summer snack. 'The concept may seem strange, but it works.' Leanne was initially sceptical about the cream filling, which combines soft cream cheese and crème fraîche, rather than the whipped cream traditionally used in Japanese fruit sandwiches. I've found the perfect summer top from M&S, and I'm even more excited now I can finally shop there online again 'I was hesitant at first,' she admitted, 'but the two worked well together. It had the luxurious texture of clotted cream, which added a richness to the sandwich.' The strawberries were the standout element. 'They were excellent - they had a great bite, weren't soggy, and were packed with flavour,' Leanne said. However, the bread proved to be divisive. 'While it did have a sweetness to it, the texture was too bready, and the crusts felt too hard for the soft filling,' she noted. Despite these minor drawbacks, Leanne believes the dessert sandwich is worth trying. 'For those who love a limited-edition treat - or even a Müller Corner strawberry yoghurt - this is worth a go, especially when enjoying the hot weather in the park.' 3 TikTokers have also been giving their reviews online Credit: Supplied M&S's strawberry sandwich is currently trending on TikTok as many foodies rush to the stores to get their hands on one. Some have praised it for being a great "sweet treat" however, others aren't too pleased that you "only receive half of one sandwich." Someone else stated that it was a "crazy thought to know that someone else in the UK currently has the other half to this sandwich."
Daily Record
20-06-2025
- Daily Record
Inspirational honorary graduates celebrated at Stirling University's summer graduation
Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid, dedicated volunteer Lynda Morrison and events supremo Paul Bush OBE will receive honorary degrees Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid, dedicated volunteer Lynda Morrison and events supremo Paul Bush OBE will receive honorary degrees at next week's summer graduation at Stirling University. Margot, a Swedish parliamentarian who pioneered the world's first feminist foreign policy and is a passionate advocate for the environment, will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of her outstanding contribution to protecting the environment and championing women's rights at Wednesday's ceremony. Across her illustrious political career, Margot has held a number of senior roles including serving as the first ever Vice President of the European Commission, the first United Nations Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative. The same day, Lynda Morrison, who has volunteered 20 years of her life to helping shape the delivery of social work and nursing education through the University of Stirling's Service User and Carer Group (UNITY), will receive an honorary Master of Arts degree. She will be recognised for her long and meritorious voluntary service to social work and social work education, and to improving the lives of service users nationally and internationally. The UNITY group, which Lynda was instrumental in setting up in 2005, has attracted national and international recognition for being one of the first to involve service users and carers in the design, development, and delivery of teaching to social work and nursing students. On Thursday, Paul Bush OBE, the former director of events for VisitScotland who played a vital role in bringing major spectacles including the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and UEFA Euro 2020 to Scotland, will receive an Honorary Doctorate. He will be recognised for his outstanding contribution to sport and to the events industry in the country. He is a previous chief executive of Scottish Swimming and, while in that role, worked closely with the University of Stirling in developing the state-of-the-art National Swimming Academy. Alongside the facility, he built a professional coaching and performance management structure for the sport which led to significant and continuing international success. Paul will be joined by Nicky Reid, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) Trust, who will also be made a Doctor of the University for her outstanding contribution to charity and exceptional leadership qualities. Nicky achieved a Film, Media and Sociology degree from the University of Stirling in 2007 and went on to hold the position of Learning Centre Manager at Falkirk Football Club. Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: 'Summer graduation is always a special highlight in the university calendar, and we are delighted that those celebrating next week will be joined by four inspiring role models. 'Each of our honorary graduates has made a lasting impact in their fields, contributing in powerful and enduring ways to society. We are proud to recognise their achievements and know that they will be outstanding ambassadors for the University.'
