Upgrades, retrofits and switcheroos
20 March, 2026
Spring has sprung, the sun's oot and there's change afoot in the town centre.
Stove Café closes ... temporarily
Café and event-goers will be pleased to hear that the Stove Café is getting a makeover. If you've ever sat at the back during an event straining to see what was happening on stage, those days will be over as they're rejiggering the events layout and adding a seconds stage area. Improvements to acoustics and overall layout will generally improve accessibility. For café regulars eager to see what'll happen to their favourite table, you'll have to wait 10 days. The "new" Stove will open its doors and welcome you back at 9am on Wednesday April 1st.
The Dougie morphs into Open Arms
After the abrupt closure of The Dougie on the Vennel, the intimate wee pub known for DJs and dancing has quickly resurfaced as The Open Arms at 8 Nith Place.
Sweetheart Tablet is upgrading
Sweetheart Tablet moved into town last year, taking up a vacant shop space next to the Midsteeple Box Office. They're temporarily closed while they upgrade the kitchen. That's genuinely local production! You can still order their products online until they reopen their doors.
Flourish is freshening up
You've probably noticed the scaffolding by another Midsteeple adjacent business, Flourish. Their building is getting a new roof, but they're open for business as usual. Flourish stock gifts, homewares, cards and a range of eco-friendly cosmetics and detergents.
Sometimes it's the small things
Scaffolding is coming down at spirits and wines purveyors, TB Watson on English Street. Their new sign really stands out and serves as a reminder to what a difference a lick of paint can make.
What about the switcheroos?
Yes, yes, I did say there was a switcheroo. Last year, Sweet Sadie's moved into the town centre, just across from Mrs Green's. Dumfries's ice cream queen moved from the old Post Office on the corner of Galloway and Howgate Street. We don't like losing businesses on the Maxwelltown side of the river, but thankfully the place didn't sit empty for too long and is now home to Torta, which serves up cakes galore.
Something going on at The Stag ...
On Bank Street, the windows of The Stag are no longer boarded up and there's refurbishment work going on inside. There have been a few short closures and reopenings over the past couple of years so we'll watch this one with interest.
New blooms on the block
Even the Council are getting in on the spring cleaning game, with some new upgrades underfoot and 9000 new plants on the High Street. Cracked paving, particularly by Midsteeple and Queensberry Square will be replaced over the new couple of weeks.
