‘So gutted' cry shoppers as popular Scots whisky shop suddenly closes

Scottish Sun

a day ago

The reason for the shock closure has been revealed
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SHOPPERS have been left gutted after a popular whisky shop in a busy Scottish town announced its shock closure.
Spirit of Alba is a much-loved specialist spirits retailer that sells a multitude of whiskies, spirits and wine to customers.
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A beloved whiskey shop has annouced it has officially closed
Credit: Alamy
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The shop was located in the Regent Centre in Kirkintilloch
Credit: GOOGLE MAPS
The award-winning brand, founded in 2015, was popular for having the perfect bottle for something special, as well as collectors' items and limited edition bottling.
However, bosses have revealed that the branch in The Regent Centre in Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, has now officially closed.
Devastated owners shared the news with followers on social media last week, five years after the store first opened.
They announced that the firm has now ceased trading and said it comes after enduring "increasingly difficult trading conditions".
Bosses explained that it was "impossible to continue" amid skyrocketing utility prices and the current cost-of-living crisis.
They added that it comes "at great personal cost" and said that the announcement comes "with a heavy heart".
The post on Facebook read: "It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the closure of Spirit of Alba.
"It has been a pleasure to serve everyone over the last five years since we opened in 2020.
"Sadly, increasingly difficult trading conditions in retail, the dramatic increase in utility prices and the cost of living crisis have made it impossible to continue.
"This decision has come at great personal cost, but it is with heartfelt appreciation for your support and custom during these challenging years.
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"We are presently engaging with professionals to work out a formal closure for the shop and festival.
"Thank you all for being a part of the Spirit of Alba experience!"
Devastated followers flocked to the comments as they shared their shock at the announcement.
Fans showered them with support as they wished them well on their journey.
One person said: "So sorry to hear this, yet another loss to our community. Wishing you all the best for your future ventures".
Another added: "Sad to hear, will be a big miss for the town. The whole trade has had a hard time over the last couple of years. Wishing you well on your next chapter."
Someone else wrote: "I'm so gutted for you, what a sad loss for the community".
A fourth posted: "So sorry to read this, you guys have put your heart, soul and hard-earned cash into this great venture. Best of luck and good wishes for the future."
While a fifth chimed in: "Thanks for all those years - you've introduced us to some great whisky. All the best for the future."
Why are retailers closing stores?
Retailers have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025."
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The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025."
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
"By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024.
End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker.
It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date.
This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023.
It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns.
The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker.
Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations.
Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes.
Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
"By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."