Black Sheep Coffee, a popular UK chain, is preparing to open its 11th café in Edinburgh, aiming to transform the former Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) building at 206 Bruntsfield Place into a new coffee shop.
The RBS branch closed last November despite a strong campaign led by Edinburgh South Labour MP Ian Murray and over 1,000 petitioners, who sought to keep the branch open for customers without online banking access. Murray warned the closure would leave elderly customers vulnerable and cause job losses. The campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, and the site has remained vacant, still displaying the original bank signage.
Black Sheep Coffee has now submitted an application to convert the site into a café featuring new signage. The chain, known for its self-checkout ordering system and innovative drink menu—including a range of flavored iced matcha beverages and unique offerings like matcha lemonade with added health supplements—currently operates over 60 locations nationwide.
Edinburgh already hosts nine Black Sheep cafés, with a tenth opening soon at the former Bross Bagels site on Little King Street.
The proposed Bruntsfield Place location will be less than a mile from the nearest Black Sheep outlet on Lothian Road, expanding the chain’s presence in the city.
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