Lack of footfall and cost of living crisis among reasons for closure of Bubble and Swirl coffee shop and dessert parlour in Inverness
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A coffee shop and dessert parlour in Inverness city centre has closed its doors with the owner citing a lack of footfall and the cost-of-living crisis among the reasons.
Bubble and Swirl opened in Lombard Street last year.
But owner Kasia Pogo – who also owns award-winning Saffron Oriental Food Shop in Church Street – has now closed the dessert parlour, saying it is currently unsustainable.
“I am disappointed,” she said. “The main reason is the lack of footfall. People are not spending. They are not coming into town – there is not enough to attract them to come here.”
She also cited “huge” business rates and felt there was a lack of support from the council.
Miss Pogo said the cost-of-living crisis had added to the challenge.
“Everything is so expensive,” she said.
“People are looking at their pennies and seeing what they can afford.
“A lack of footfall and utility bills make running a business almost impossible these days.
“It is very, very difficult.
“I don’t think I am the only one who has to make these decisions, to be honest.”
The closure of Bubble and Swirl has meant the loss of one job.
Saffron Oriental Food Shop, which sells authentic food products from China, Thailand, Japan, India, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia remains open.
“It will close over my dead body!” Miss Pogo said.
The business, established in 2009, was previously based in the Victorian Market until being relocated when work started on the building’s restoration.
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Councillor Ian Brown, Highland Council’s Inverness area leader, said he sympathised with any business closing down, adding the council was doing what it could to help improve city centre footfall.
He said the coronavirus pandemic had made things difficult for businesses and that the virus was still around.
“We hope footfall will increase,” he said. “We work closely with Inverness BID (Business Improvement District) and we work with tourism on social media to make people aware of what is going on.”
Cllr Brown said as part of Scottish Cities Alliance – a collaboration involving Scotland’s eight cities and the Scottish Government – Inverness was working to attract investment.
He also said bus operator Stagecoach was to operate electric buses in the city.
“Hopefully, that will encourage people to use the buses and to come to the city centre and spend time there,” he said.
He also hoped improved festive lights and the return of the Red Hot Highland Fling this Hogmanay for the first time since the pandemic would also help.
Cllr Brown continued: “I would encourage all residents of the city to spend money in the city rather than online.”
He added that the council was not responsible for business rates.
