01/10/2026

Welcome to the eighth Old Town BID bulletin.

You’ll find the latest progress and next steps for the project below.

All minutes from the Steering Group meetings are available on the website.

We welcome your views, simply reply to this email and someone will be in touch.

Please share this bulletin with your contacts to help keep everyone informed.

PRIORITY
We’ve been asking for your views to directly inform the draft Business Plan.
We’ve received over 100 survey responses now, with 60% of those saying they will support our proposal to set up an Old Town BID.
Huge thanks to everyone who has taken part. This exercise has provided us with enough evidence of support to allow us to proceed with the next steps.

See our latest press article: Evening News BID Article: 30th Sept 2026

We’d love to hear from many more businesses across the Old Town. Diane and Jim are continuing to visit as many folks as they can. Please give them a few minutes to share your views. Your feedback is really important to shape what happens next.

During October we will:·
- Continue to meet with businesses across the proposed BID area·
- Create a “Next Steps” document which will be shared with all eligible businesses. This will provide more details about our proposals which will be based on the survey results.·
- Host two sectoral round tables:

Retail 14 Oct 1600
Licenced Premises 14 Oct 1400

You can attend in person at 4 Hunter Square, or via teams but please email info@oldtownbid.co.uk to register·

We will also host the 3rd business and multi-agency Hunters Square meeting on 28 Oct 1400.

Invites have been sent to those who attended the previous meetings. If you would like to attend this one, email info@oldtownbid.co.uk

Until next time...Old Town BID Steering Group• Andrew McRae, (Co-chair, Retail) representing Museum Context and The Elephant House (6 outlets)• Arthur Mustard, (Co-chair, Hospitality) representing the Merchant Leisure Group (3 outlets)• Kat Brogan, (Co Chair, Tourism) representing Mercat Tours• Bindi Singh, representing the Bindi Group (20 outlets)• Victor Spence, representing the Gold Brothers (40 outlets)• Lynzi Leroy, representing The Scottish Design Exchange• Tony Crolla, representing Vittoria Group• Mafalda Albuquerque, representing Virgin Hotels• Denzil Skinner, representing Essential Edinburgh• Roddy Smith, representing Essential Edinburgh• Neil Christison, Representing Visit Scotland