Leigh Sparks
@sparksstirling.bsky.social
Professor of Retail Studies, University of Stirling, Chair Scotland's Towns Partnership, Fellow Royal Society of Edinburgh, Extremely long-suffering Welsh rugby fan, occasional gardener.
Stirlingretail.com
Stirlingretail.com
ICYMI: My recent post on the shops and ghostsigns of Whitby, with an added bit on the Flying Scotsman at Grosmont
stirlingretail.com/2025/11/24/w...
stirlingretail.com/2025/11/24/w...
November 25, 2025 at 1:16 PM
ICYMI: My recent post on the shops and ghostsigns of Whitby, with an added bit on the Flying Scotsman at Grosmont
stirlingretail.com/2025/11/24/w...
stirlingretail.com/2025/11/24/w...
Our October travels continued to Whitby. Great shopfront, stores and a variety of ghostsigns, old and quite new.
stirlingretail.com/2025/11/24/w...
stirlingretail.com/2025/11/24/w...
November 24, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Our October travels continued to Whitby. Great shopfront, stores and a variety of ghostsigns, old and quite new.
stirlingretail.com/2025/11/24/w...
stirlingretail.com/2025/11/24/w...
Looking forward to speaking at the SGF cross party group in Scottish Parliament tonight (11th), on costs and value of convenience stores.
Summary of what I say and the slides will be up on stirlingretail.com by about 1745 tonight
Summary of what I say and the slides will be up on stirlingretail.com by about 1745 tonight
November 11, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Looking forward to speaking at the SGF cross party group in Scottish Parliament tonight (11th), on costs and value of convenience stores.
Summary of what I say and the slides will be up on stirlingretail.com by about 1745 tonight
Summary of what I say and the slides will be up on stirlingretail.com by about 1745 tonight
Progress being made on the new Coop store and housing in Bridge of Allan. Old tin shack of a store down (where Shoprite began its discount entry to Scitland in early 1990s) and now temporary potakabin shop in place
November 7, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Progress being made on the new Coop store and housing in Bridge of Allan. Old tin shack of a store down (where Shoprite began its discount entry to Scitland in early 1990s) and now temporary potakabin shop in place
Excellent reception at Scottish Parliament last night. Congrats to all the Scotland Loves Local award winners and nominees. So many great initiatives across Scotland's Towns.
Thanks to the Minister Ivan McKee and the MSPs who turned up and supported their local heroes.
Thanks to the Minister Ivan McKee and the MSPs who turned up and supported their local heroes.
November 6, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Excellent reception at Scottish Parliament last night. Congrats to all the Scotland Loves Local award winners and nominees. So many great initiatives across Scotland's Towns.
Thanks to the Minister Ivan McKee and the MSPs who turned up and supported their local heroes.
Thanks to the Minister Ivan McKee and the MSPs who turned up and supported their local heroes.
Just saw this store name in a wet Tranent
November 3, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Just saw this store name in a wet Tranent
The standard of reporting on Welsh rugby is dreadful. Big press conference today, but BBC, is it one side or one region and is it 2027 or 2028?
And why not ask the big question - how incompetent are the WRU?
@gwladrugby.bsky.social
And why not ask the big question - how incompetent are the WRU?
@gwladrugby.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
The standard of reporting on Welsh rugby is dreadful. Big press conference today, but BBC, is it one side or one region and is it 2027 or 2028?
And why not ask the big question - how incompetent are the WRU?
@gwladrugby.bsky.social
And why not ask the big question - how incompetent are the WRU?
@gwladrugby.bsky.social
Did as I was instructed, and Did Not Enter.
October 22, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Did as I was instructed, and Did Not Enter.
St Helier, Jersey October 2025. Very nice work by Hettich in taking over Burton's Art Deco store site. Nice outside and splendid work inside.
Two foundation stones.
Have sent photos below to Laid By Monty for their excellent site
laidbymonty.com
Two foundation stones.
Have sent photos below to Laid By Monty for their excellent site
laidbymonty.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
St Helier, Jersey October 2025. Very nice work by Hettich in taking over Burton's Art Deco store site. Nice outside and splendid work inside.
Two foundation stones.
Have sent photos below to Laid By Monty for their excellent site
laidbymonty.com
Two foundation stones.
Have sent photos below to Laid By Monty for their excellent site
laidbymonty.com
First of our Kristian chillies now ripe. Lots on bush
September 8, 2025 at 2:39 PM
First of our Kristian chillies now ripe. Lots on bush
Today picking last potatoes (Cara) and continuing Rhondda Black runner beans. In back apples from small tree in garden - Braeburn like.
September 2, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Today picking last potatoes (Cara) and continuing Rhondda Black runner beans. In back apples from small tree in garden - Braeburn like.
Last Saturday night's salad. All from garden. Various tomatoes, yellow and red peppers, spring onions, radishes, cucumber
September 2, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Last Saturday night's salad. All from garden. Various tomatoes, yellow and red peppers, spring onions, radishes, cucumber
Interesting to see work commenced on the new Cooperative store in Bridge of Allan. Long overdue improvements.
Store being demolished was site of first foray into Scotland by Isle of Man soft discounter Shoprite in early 1990s.
#retailhistory
Store being demolished was site of first foray into Scotland by Isle of Man soft discounter Shoprite in early 1990s.
#retailhistory
August 25, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Interesting to see work commenced on the new Cooperative store in Bridge of Allan. Long overdue improvements.
Store being demolished was site of first foray into Scotland by Isle of Man soft discounter Shoprite in early 1990s.
#retailhistory
Store being demolished was site of first foray into Scotland by Isle of Man soft discounter Shoprite in early 1990s.
#retailhistory
How it was April 2025 and how it is now August 2025. Stirling Thistles Centre.
Whilst the proof will be the changes in store, externally this seems to me to ... Well... underwhelming
Whilst the proof will be the changes in store, externally this seems to me to ... Well... underwhelming
August 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM
How it was April 2025 and how it is now August 2025. Stirling Thistles Centre.
Whilst the proof will be the changes in store, externally this seems to me to ... Well... underwhelming
Whilst the proof will be the changes in store, externally this seems to me to ... Well... underwhelming
One of the joys of home growing is the variety that can be produced @theguardian.com
August 5, 2025 at 11:34 AM
One of the joys of home growing is the variety that can be produced @theguardian.com
For any old retail shop people on here, the ex Melias store in Cardigan West Wales last week of July 2025
July 30, 2025 at 3:29 PM
For any old retail shop people on here, the ex Melias store in Cardigan West Wales last week of July 2025
Wider shots and some detail from ex Burton store in Abersytwyth last week of July 2025
July 30, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Wider shots and some detail from ex Burton store in Abersytwyth last week of July 2025
The ex Burton store in Aberystwyth last week of July 2025. Four stones still there but one is barely hanging on
July 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The ex Burton store in Aberystwyth last week of July 2025. Four stones still there but one is barely hanging on
The peas (Blaushokkler and Champion of England) and mint for tonight's risotto plus some cuttings of experimental purple sprouting broccoli. I will also have garlic scapes for middle of week risotto
June 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
The peas (Blaushokkler and Champion of England) and mint for tonight's risotto plus some cuttings of experimental purple sprouting broccoli. I will also have garlic scapes for middle of week risotto
Some data on my paper from 2021 on Towns, high streets and resilience
May 23, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Some data on my paper from 2021 on Towns, high streets and resilience
New article just published
May 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM
New article just published
Sunny day again in Stirling and nice to catch the snake's head fritillary and the stunning Pasque flower in the front garden
April 3, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Sunny day again in Stirling and nice to catch the snake's head fritillary and the stunning Pasque flower in the front garden
Feeling nicely spring like in the sun in Stirling this morning
March 30, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Feeling nicely spring like in the sun in Stirling this morning
Quite a lot of good germination in greenhouse. 🍅, peas, beans, 🌶, peppers, courgettes, aubergines, and a variety of flowers
March 23, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Quite a lot of good germination in greenhouse. 🍅, peas, beans, 🌶, peppers, courgettes, aubergines, and a variety of flowers
Delighted but suprised and overwhelmed by the lifetime achievement award at last night's Stirling Business Awards.
Thanks to all involved (and the real business winners).
@stir.ac.uk @scotlandstowns.bsky.social @stirlingcouncil.bsky.social
Thanks to all involved (and the real business winners).
@stir.ac.uk @scotlandstowns.bsky.social @stirlingcouncil.bsky.social
March 7, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Delighted but suprised and overwhelmed by the lifetime achievement award at last night's Stirling Business Awards.
Thanks to all involved (and the real business winners).
@stir.ac.uk @scotlandstowns.bsky.social @stirlingcouncil.bsky.social
Thanks to all involved (and the real business winners).
@stir.ac.uk @scotlandstowns.bsky.social @stirlingcouncil.bsky.social