A petition launched by a group of independent businesses asks The City of Edinburgh Council to re-evaluate the cost of its tables and chairs licence fee – which can reach more than £200 per square metre.
The Shore Business Collective, which consists of around 50 independent businesses in the Shore area of the capital, is calling for the council to address the costs of the licence, which permits hospitality businesses to place tables and chairs outside their premises.
The current annual fee stands at £169 per square metre – or £213 per square metre if the business is located within Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.
In contrast, Glasgow’s fees – which were only adjusted in April this year – cost £110 per square metre in the city centre, but reduce drastically to £50 per square metre in local centres outwith the city and £20 per square metre in all other areas.
Ashley Harley, spokesperson for The Shore Business Collective, has dubbed the charges “nonsense” and warns that the financial burden jeopardises both the vibrancy of the city’s food and drink scene and the livelihoods of small businesses trying to make ends meet.
Ashley and her sisters operate Nami, a pan-Asian restaurant which opened at 63 Shore last year, as well as the various Mimi’s Bakehouse locations across the city. Other businesses represented within the Collective include Roseleaf Bar Cafe and Spanish restaurant Tapa.
Ashley currently pays £2,725.20 per year for an area outside their business measuring around 16 square metres. An area of this same size would cost approximately £1,000 less in Glasgow’s city centre.
The petition, which was only launched on 18 June and runs until 4 August, has already gained enough signatures to be debated by the council, believed to be scheduled for discussion on 14 August.
The Collective makes demands in the petition for “a full review of table and chairs licensing policy and fairer, more proportionate systems that support local businesses while maintaining accessibility and public safety”.
The petition continues: “Charges should be benchmarked against other Scottish cities and reflect the economic realities facing hospitality operators in 2026.
“We also ask the Council to consider introducing a sensible licensing scheme for advertising A-boards. A complete ban removed an important and affordable marketing tool for independent businesses.
“A regulated permit could allow A-boards in appropriate locations, with clear standards for size, placement and accessibility, ensuring pedestrian safety while helping businesses attract customers and releasing a revenue stream for the Council.
“Edinburgh is proud of its independent business community. A fair and balanced approach to outdoor trading and advertising would help protect jobs, support economic growth and maintain the vibrant high streets and neighbourhood centres.”
Speaking to Deadline News on Friday, Ashley explained: “Our petition has actually gained over 200 signatures so it’s going to committee on 14 August, which is great.
“The reason I included A-boards in there is because that then loops in retail businesses and actually, any business in Edinburgh.
“Because, in a world of AI and digital marketing, an A-board is such a simple piece of marketing, which has got so much legs to really help businesses. I know businesses that have had to bring their A-board in and it has seriously impacted them in a negative way.
“If you just included that in the tables and chairs licensing, you could attach a nominal fee to that – let’s say £100 a year – to put an A-board outside your business, because it will be policed by the same people, and there’s your funding gap covered.
“They say ‘we have to charge this much because we need all this money’ but businesses are actively not putting them out because they can’t afford to, with Dan [at Tapa] being one of them.
“He didn’t put his A-board out this year because he didn’t have the money. The council would get more money [if they addressed the A-board charge] because people would actually be able to afford it.
“More businesses would do it, more seats outside, more fresh air for people, more vibrancy in our city and you could place the A-boards alongside it all.
“I just thought it was a bit of a no-brainer but I’m really happy it’s gotten this backing from the people. The fact we’re three times more than Westminster is just nonsense. I think some councillors just stuck their finger in the air at some point and thought ‘yeah, this is a figure’.”
She continued: “My proposal would be you would charge £100 for a bench outside your business, £500 for less than 15 covers (customers) and then more for more covers.
“For us to pay the current charge back, we have to sell 70 lattes outside a month. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but I served no lattes outside today because of the weather.
“That’s part of the point we’re making, Scotland’s weather is so erratic and you’re putting this tax on businesses where they have to pay it, no matter what the weather.
“A lot of businesses only pay for the summer months, but even Scottish summers are so erratic. If you’re a pub selling pints, you’d maybe make that back a bit quicker but if you’re just a coffee shop selling a couple of coffees outside for people sitting, it’s a lot of coffee you need to sell just to make that fee back and that’s before you make a profit.”
Ashley says the hospitality and retails sectors require urgent help, adding: “This is a tangible thing that the council could do to help. What a crazy suggestion – actually helping businesses to not just thrive but just survive in the current circumstances.
“The petition is going to shut for signatures on 4 August and then go for debate on 14 August. It’s done so well, it got all the signatures it needed in a week.”
The Shore Business Collective’s petition can be found here: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/xfp/form/419
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, said: “Now it seems that summer is here at last, I’m pleased so many local businesses are able to open on street for our residents and visitors, supporting a vibrant street culture across the city.
“Alongside this, accessibility for pedestrians is a priority, and with footfall increasing over the warmer months, the Council’s administration and enforcement of tables and chairs to ensure pedestrian access comes at a cost.
“Our fees have been set to reflect this, helping us to support our businesses while maintaining safe pavements for people with different mobility needs.”
