Paisley has been crowned as Scotland’s Town of the Year.
Judges in the Scotland Loves Local Awards awarded the title after being impressed by the critical point reached in the town’s “resurgence” amid unprecedented investment in its future.
It comes as new businesses open, new homes are built, and a new state-of-the-art secondary school and transformed Paisley Museum due to reopen next year.
Kimberley Guthrie, Chief Officer of awards organisers Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), said: “Incredibly special things are happening in Paisley.
“The town is on a remarkable journey of reinvention and rejuvenation which has evolved over the past decade, kickstarted by major cultural regeneration. There’s real energy thanks to the creativity, innovation and collaboration which has unlocked investment and renewed confidence.
“This is a place where new businesses want to be – where people want to live and visit.
“It has a unique story and character. It has a fascinating past. But it is also forging a new future. While so much has been achieved, the most exciting thing about Paisley is that there is so much more to come. I’m delighted that it’s our Town of the Year. What’s happening here can inspire so many others.”
STV weather presenter Sean Batty – a Paisley “Buddie” who grew up in the town – celebrated the title win with community champions
The Scotland Loves Local ambassador said: “I love that my home town is Scotland’s Town of the Year.
“Like everywhere, there have been challenges over the years, but the town’s entering a new era. In every corner of Paisley there’s something happening right now, which is fantastic to see.”
As confidence in Paisley grows, so too has business with about 20 new enterprises – mostly independent and locally-owned – opening so far this year.
Paisley First Business Improvement District (BID) plays a key part in supporting businesses and encouraging people to visit the town with events taking place year- round. They include a Food and Drink Festival, Paisley’s CarFest, summer-long brick trails and Christmas events to name just a few.
Reacting to the top town title, Elaine Templeton, the BID Chair and owner of Taste Buds cafe, said: “As someone who was brought up, went to school and has a business in Paisley I’m absolutely buzzing with pride for the whole town.
“It feels like the culmination of so much of what’s happening.
“We have the opening of the museum next year – and there are great cultural things happening – but there’s also other regeneration. There are new businesses, housing in the town centre, the whole of the West End has been regenerated – many different things.
“The momentum in the town has really started to shift. You see people coming in from all over. Paisley is getting back to being a destination. It’s exciting.”
Culture champion: Paisley’s one of the best places to be
Renfrewshire Council is leading significant regeneration in Paisley, with investments totalling more than £100m in its cultural assets, including the transformation of Paisley Museum, the completed refurbishments of Paisley Town Hall, Paisley Arts Centre, and the new Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub on the High Street which houses the Central Library.
It is also constructing the new £85.5m Paisley Grammar School Community Campus while delivering other projects including a masterplan to create new social and private housing in the town’s West End, as well as improving its public space and links with the town centre.
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, the Council’s spokesperson for culture and chair of leisure and cultural charity OneRen, said: “Paisley is a town that’s taking its radical past into the future – a vibrant, historic place that is one of the best to live, work and visit.
“This award is really exciting. For us as a council, it’s recognition of the extensive work we’ve been delivering for almost a decade, as we put culture at the heart of our regeneration.
“What has been incredibly important is the people that have come with us on the journey. We’ve worked closely with communities, residents and businesses and they’ve put their faith in the work we’ve done to revitalise the town.
“It’s an incredible place, one we should all be proud to be part of. This award is for all the Paisley Buddies who can be proud to say Paisley is Scotland’s Town of the Year.”
Paisley Buddies: It’s the people who make the place
Two Towns Brewing, which has a brewery and taproom on Back Sneddon Street, is one of Paisley’s newer family businesses. It became the town’s first brewery to open in more than 125 years when it launched three years ago.
Head brewer Sandy McKelvie originally had to move away from Paisley to begin his brewing career, but wanted to launch a venture in his home town.
He said: “We’re really positive about the future. Paisley’s a good place to live. It’s got good transport links, with independent businesses doing some good stuff.
“There are definitely better days to come for Paisley.”
Houston Kiltmakers, a fourth-generation family-run business on Paisley High Street, has been in the town for more than 100 years. It has helped celebrate the town with its Paisley and St Mirren tartans, selling Highlandwear worldwide.
Ken MacDonald, who runs the business with son Ewan, said: “Paisley boasts unique eating places, coffee shops, restaurants and specialist shops. It has Sma’ Shots Cottage, Anchor Mill Museum, the Abbey, the Coats venue – so many interesting buildings.
“It has the second highest number of listed buildings in Scotland, after Edinburgh.
“The people of Paisley – and the people of Renfrewshire – are fantastic.”
Wm Phelps Butchers, on Causeyside Street, is celebrating 60 years in business this year.
Jim Peacock, a Partner in the business, has worked there for 38 years and takes pride in sourcing meat from local farms, serving the needs of local people.
He said: Quality local produce is our thing. We really believe in what we’re selling, from local farms. Food miles are important and they don’t get much lower than ours.
“We’ve got generations of families who come in. You really get to know them.”
Morrison’s Beds, now located on Lawn Street, has also been in business for 60 years – with Roddy Morrison involved for 50 of those years.
He spoke about the critical support of local people and said: “ We’ve had a very good relationship with the people of Paisley. We look after them, they look after us.
“Paisley’s a great place, when you think of the history and the architecture. It’s a lovely place to live.”
The other shortlisted Town of the Year contenders were Blairgowrie and Rattray in Perth and Kinross and Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway.
Paisley factfile
- Paisley is Scotland’s largest town, with a population of just over 77,000 people. Its residents are famously known as Buddies.
- The town became prominent in the 12th century with the establishment of Paisley Abbey and transformed into an industrial town in the 18th century through its textiles mills, exporting products all over the world. Former mill buildings remain some of the town’s most prominent, having undergone conversion in recent years.
- The town gained global fame in the fashion and design world through the Paisley Pattern, the tear-drop shaped design first used as part of the Paisley weavers’ shawls. The design has been worn through the centuries by some of the highest-profile figures of their time, from Queen Victoria to David Bowie.
- The Buddie Walk of Fame – launched by Paisley First in 2024 – celebrates many those from the town who make made their mark in music, on stage and screen in art and sport, including singers Paolo Nutini and Gerry Rafferty, Downton Abbey star Phyllis Logan, Hollywood actor Gerard Butler and former Doctor Who David Tenant.
- Landmarks include Paisley Abbey, Paisley Town Hall, Paisley Museum and Coats Observatory, Coats Paisley, The Russell Institute, Paisley Arts Centre and Sma’ Shot Cottages. More details about attractions are available at www.paisleyfirst.com.
The Scotland Loves Local Awards
Organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the Scotland Loves Local Awards recognise and reward all that’s great about the nation’s towns and neighbourhoods and the work to ensure they become stronger and more sustainable.
Spearheaded by STP and supported by the Scottish Government, Scotland Loves Local is the movement encouraging people to create a better future for their community by choosing local.
