Alan Spence's Citadel Books Closes After 8 Years

0:00Where now in Scottish playwright and poet Alan Spence is closing his beloved Edinburgh Bookshop, Citadel Books, after eight years in the Avie Hill area. The landlord, whose kept rent steady all that time, is selling the property, forcing the permanent shutdown this Saturday, March 28th. Spence lost the shop at age 70, right after retiring as Professor Emeritus from the University of Aberdeen. He and his wife started by selling books from sales to support their nearby Hindu Meditation Center. Then stocked it with his own collection, when A, lease opened up. It doubled as his writing office and hosted cozy poetry readings for up to 25 people. The tiny space became a peaceful haven, filled with Eastern Philosophy books, Hindu ornaments, and serene vibes that drew writers and locals. Spence, who served as Edinburgh's official poet from 2017 to 2021, and wrote the hit play sailmaker, saw it as a perfect, balance of work and creativity until now. While it's disappointing, he'd hoped to hit age 80 in the shop's 10th year, the timing feels right amid today's chaos.

1:05The closure frees him to focus on writing, with two new books coming this year, and a fresh play idea sparked by Sailmaker's recent revival and National Tour. Shoppers can grab paperbacks for just two pounds to clear stock, with leftovers going to the four square charity. As Spence steps back, his creative fire shows no signs of dimming, promising more stories ahead. That wraps Edinburgh news today brought to you with AI.