News

Thistles, Stirling has confirmed it will now host a quiet hour in the centre every Sunday beginning on the 20th of January, 2019. The move follows a well-received response by customers affected by autism to the centre’s existing quiet hour which currently operates once a month. Stores in the centre will participate in the new weekly quiet hour between 10am and 11am by adjusting their lighting where possible and turning off in-store music. Thistles has been working alongside national cha... Find Out More...

AWARD-WINNING RETAILER ATTRACTS THE CROWDS TO THE OPENING DAY OF ITS NEW STORE The Entertainer, the UK’s fastest-growing, family-owned high street toy retailer in the UK, has launched a new store in Thistles, Stirling. Founded in Buckinghamshire in 1981 by husband and wife team Gary and Catherine Grant, the award-winning, family-run operation offers the latest in-demand toys at fantastic prices. These include big-hitting brands such as Lego, Disney, Star Wars, PAW Patrol, Marvel, Funko,... Find Out More...

CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE GUARANTEES THE MOST TOY-TASTIC FREE FESTIVE FUN WITH THE TOY TOWN CHARACTERS PLUS SANTA Christmas, it’s the most magical time of the year and Thistles, Stirling was the scene of much excitement as the centre launched TOY TOWN LIVE; this year’s in-centre festive activity. Guaranteeing an unmissable experience for children and families, Thistles has pulled out the stops to ensure the most toy-tastic experience in Scotland this Christmas. TOY TOWN LIVE transports child... Find Out More...

Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling has welcomed the opening of a new branch of Royal Bank of Scotland in the centre. Located across two units at the Murray Place entrance, the branch offers a space where customers can bank traditionally as well as learn how to use the bank’s award-winning digital and telephony platforms with the support of full trained staff. Free Wi-Fi is available for customers as well as access to iPads so customers can register and access online banking services. ... Find Out More...

Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling took part in Purple Tuesday, the UK’s first-ever national, accessible shopping day. The nationwide initiative aims to make customer-facing businesses more aware of the opportunities and challenges disabled customers experience when shopping, and to inspire change. Nearly one in every five people in the UK has a disability or impairment, and over half of households have a connection to someone with a disability. Their collective spending power – the Pur... Find Out More...

PUDDINGS, PASTRIES AND PATISSERIE PUT TO THE TASTE TEST AS CENTRE RETAILERS AND STAFF FUNDRAISE IN AID OF MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT It was a battle of the bakers at Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling as aspiring cake makers from the centre’s retailers and management team took part in a fundraiser for MacMillan Cancer Support. From Victorian classics to fondant favourites to chocolate temptations, tastebuds were tantalised and creative skills deployed as the bakers had to whisk, knead, ic... Find Out More...

LIVE MUSIC, FESTIVE FOOD & DRINK AND HANDMADE CRAFTS WILL TRANSFORM THE CENTRE, WITH EXTENDED CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS ALSO ADDING TO THE ATTRACTIONS Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling today announces The Christmas Market, an exciting new offering run by The Crafters Roadshow, running daily until Sunday 30th December. Aiming to spotlight the next generation of great makers, the market promises to bring extra cheer and choice to what is already shaping up to be the best ever Christmas... Find Out More...

THISTLES, STIRLING ANNOUNCES TOY TOWN LIVE! UNMISSABLE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE PROMISES FREE FESTIVE FUN WITH THE MAGICAL TOY TOWN CHARACTERS PLUS MEET SANTA IN HIS GROTTO Christmas, it’s the most magical time of the year and Thistles, Stirling is guaranteeing a truly unmissable experience for children and families next month with the announcement of TOY TOWN LIVE, this year’s in-centre festive activity. Pulling out the stops to ensure the most toy-tastic experience in Scotland this Chr... Find Out More...

MUSICIAN CHRIS RUSSELL TUNES INTO THISTLES #STIRLINGSHINES CAMPAIGN Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling has announced musician Chris Russell as the latest star recruit to its #STIRLINGSHINES campaign which celebrates the achievements of inspirational talent. The 30-year-old who lives in Stirling is no stranger to the spotlight. As the resident pianist of Rusty’s Travelling Piano Bar, the UK’s first ‘musical reception on wheels’ which he founded with wife Billie, a professional chef and m... Find Out More...

SCOTLAND’S INSPIRATIONAL ‘CHEF OF THE YEAR’ LORNA McNEE STEPS INTO THISTLES FASHION FLASHBULBS AS PART OF #STIRLINGSHINES CAMPAIGN Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling has announced Scotland’s ‘Chef of the Year’ Lorna McNee as the latest recruit to its #STIRLINGSHINES marketing campaign which celebrates the achievements of inspirational talent. One of the most exciting rising stars on the UK’s culinary scene, the 31-year-old who grew up in Forres and now lives in Auchterarder in Perthshir... Find Out More...

EXCITING POP-UP WILL RUN FOR THREE MONTHS AND INVITES SHOPPERS TO INVEST IN HANDMADE, CONTEMPORARY ART, DESIGN AND CRAFT FROM LOCAL TALENT Thistles, Stirling has announced the launch of Made in Stirling, an exciting new pop up store which aims to support local talent within the creative industries. Presented in collaboration with Creative Stirling, the not-for-profit community arts organisation working towards making the city a lively and culturally diverse place to live, work and visit, ... Find Out More...

JOULES, THE PREMIUM BRITISH LIFESTYLE BRAND TO OPEN ON WEDNESDAY 15TH AUGUST AT 9.30AM Thistles, Stirling has confirmed that Joules, the premium lifestyle brand will open a new store in the centre on Wednesday 15th August in the former Ann Summers unit. Established by Tom Joule nearly three decades ago, Joules creates clothing, footwear and accessories for women, men and children, as well as an expanding range of homewares, toiletries and eyewear collections. The arrival of this high-p... Find Out More...

New 11,205 sqft store has been designed using feedback from customers to offer the very best feel good experiences. The Stirling Boots UK team are celebrating the opening of their brand new, relocated store in the Thistles Shopping Centre, with an official ribbon cutting ceremony alongside Bruce Crawford, the local MSP, and Elizabeth Fagan, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Boots. The 11 and a half week relocation project has created a beautiful new Boots of the future, off... Find Out More...

Thistles, Stirling has announced it will offer free parking every Sunday for the entire month of July. In a move sure to prove popular with customers the free parking will apply on the 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th of July. Thistles has two safe and secure car parks and over 1,300 spaces. Both car parks are easy to access, are clean and well-lit with regular security patrols and 24-hour CCTV monitoring. Disabled and family parking bays are available for customers. The car parking is easy ... Find Out More...

MONDAY 9TH JULY - SUNDAY 5TH AUGUST FREE DAILY ENTERTAINMENT TENNIS MINI LESSONS AND TOURNAMENTS WIMBLEDON FINALS LIVE BROADCAST MINI GOLF * BASKETBALL GAMES * ARCHERY FUN Summer just got a whole lot more fun as Thistles, Stirling announces its month-long Summer of Sport…and everyone is invited! Taking place outside of Boots between 12pm and 4pm daily, Summer of Sport will give budding champions the chance to take on four different sports, completely free, throughout the action-... Find Out More...

Thistles, Stirling welcomed a Batman lookalike into the centre as part of its Wolf Pack Kids’ Club. The free event saw the caped crusader fly in to the delight of scores of super hero fans who enjoyed a rare photo opportunity with the elusive hero. Commenting about the activity, Gary Turnbull, Centre Director, Thistles, Stirling said, “It is not every day we have the opportunity to welcome a super hero to the centre and there was great excitement when he made a flying visit to Thistl... Find Out More...

WATERSTONES ANNOUNCES THE GRUFFALO TO VISIT THISTLES, STIRLING ON SUNDAY 8TH JULY The Gruffalo, one of the world’s best loved monsters, will make a very special return visit to Thistles, Stirling on Sunday the 8th of July, 2018. Due to unprecedented demand and following the popularity of its previous appearance last year which saw hundreds of children descend on the store, Waterstones announces The Gruffalo is coming back! The free event, which this time will take place within the ce... Find Out More...

THISTLES, STIRLING ANNOUNCES YOUNG ICE SKATING TALENT BRODIE SNEDDON FOR #STIRLINGSHINES CAMPAIGN Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling has announced one of the country’s most promising young ice skating talents, 12-year-old Brodie Sneddon, as the latest recruit to its #STIRLINGSHINES marketing campaign for 2018. Aiming to discover the undiscovered, #STIRLINGSHINES celebrates the achievements of local talent. From undiscovered photographers, designers and artists, to chefs, musicians and s... Find Out More...

THISTLES, STIRLING LAUNCHES #STIRLINGSHINES WITH AIM OF PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL TALENT ACROSS 2018 Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling today launched its retail marketing campaign for 2018, #STIRLINGSHINES, with the help of one of Scotland’s most inspirational young talents,13-year-old Lee Welsh. Aiming to discover the undiscovered, #STIRLINGSHINES will celebrate the achievements of local talent and give them the chance to shine. From undiscovered photographers, designers and arti... Find Out More...

PLUS WIN THE WARDROBE OF YOUR DREAMS! Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling will be the country’s most fashionable destination next week with the arrival of Wardrobe Goals, a unique and exciting fashion event guaranteed to wake up your wardrobe for spring 2018. Launching on Friday 4th May and running for ten days until Sunday 13th May, Wardrobe Goals is an unmissable, free interactive fashion consultation located outside Boots between 9am – 5.30pm. Take a trip to the wardrobe of your dr... Find Out More...

SHOPPING CENTRE ACHIEVES HIGHEST LEVEL GOLD RECOGNITION FOR GARDEN WITH BEES INITIATIVE AND RECYCLING IMPROVEMENTS, PLUS SILVER AWARD HONOUR FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling is celebrating after winning two Scottish Green Apple Awards in the annual campaign to find the country’s greenest companies, councils and communities. The Scottish Green Apple Awards is one of the most high-profile platforms for recognising green endeavour, and Thistles has beaten off comp... Find Out More...

Thistles, Stirling was turned into a chocolate wonderland for five tantalisingly tasty days. Based on the yummiest book ever written, The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, Thistles Chocolate Factory offered free chocolatey goodness and unmissable treats for eager youngsters and their families. These included Chocolate Creator and Crazy Cookie Creations Stations, Story Telling and Chunk the Chocolate Monster Wooden Spoon Crafts as well as Sweetie Jar Decorating and Ice Cream Making. Co... Find Out More...

TANTALISINGLY TASTY FREE CHOCOLATEY GOODNESS STARTS TOMORROW AND RUNS FOR FIVE DAYS Thistles, Stirling will be turned into a chocolate wonderland starting tomorrow (Thursday 5th April) and running for five tantalisingly tasty days. Based on the yummiest book ever written, The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, visit Thistles Chocolate Factory for five full days of FREE chocolatey goodness! Located outside Boots, and taking place 11am – 4pm, the unmissable treats include: Thursday 5t... Find Out More...

THISTLES, STIRLING ANNOUNCES IRVINE WELSH BOOK SIGNING AT WATERSTONES THE FINAL NOVEL IN THE TRAINSPOTTING STORY Thistles, Stirling is delighted to announce Irvine Welsh will be signing copies of his forthcoming new book, Dead Men’s Trousers, at Waterstones from 3pm on Saturday 24th March. Fast and furious, scabrously funny and weirdly moving, the book is the final novel in the Trainspotting story and sees a spectacular return of the crew from Trainspotting. The book will be availab... Find Out More...

HOWLINGLY GOOD IN-CENTRE ENTERTAINMENT WILL OFFER FREE, FUN-PACKED SESSIONS TO ‘THE WOLF PACK PUPS’ WITH STORYTELLING, GAMES, DRAWING, SINGING AND DANCING Thistles, Stirling has launched The Wolf Pack, an entertainment-filled kids’ club, taking place once a month throughout 2018. A fantastic range of themes including Teddy Bears Picnic, Nature Detectives, Super Heroes, Dino Dig, Kung Fu Crazy, Wizarding School and Musical Madness, will guarantee younger visitors – The Wolf Pack Pups - a... Find Out More...

Ahead of Mother’s Day this Sunday, Thistles, Stirling is inviting all mums to join a host of retailers and brands on Saturday 10th March for the perfect mum and daughter day out. A number of free beauty demonstrations and pampering stations from brands including MAC Cosmetics, Kiehl’s, Urban Decay and Clarins will be located outside HMV between 11am – 4pm. What’s more, visit the special Mother’s Day interactive vending machine and receive a fantastic free beauty gift courtesy of Debenha... Find Out More...

Love was in the air at Thistles, Stirling at the weekend ahead of Valentine’s Day this Wednesday. Cupid called on shoppers from a Valentine’s Telephone Box within the centre with an array of romantic compliments and on-the-spot prizes given to those who were lucky enough to pick up incoming calls when passing. Two real-life cupids were also on hand to keep shoppers entertained with love-themed sweet treats, retailer prizes and naughty but nice compliments. Speaking about the weekend,... Find Out More...

RESTORATION AND IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETE ON POPULAR VISITOR ATTRACTION The Bastion and Thieves’ Pot, the 16th century jail located within Thistles, Stirling has reopened following a number of improvements and restoration. The Bastion was a 16th century defensive tower, originally guarding an angle of Stirling’s Town Wall. The Thieves' Pot was a dank cell beneath The Bastion. Now beautifully restored, the popular family and tourist attraction contains a superb display of the Bastion’s histo... Find Out More...

Thistles, Stirling has appointed Gary Turnbull to the role of Centre Director. He brings a wealth of experience in facilities and operational management, as well as a strong background in improving customer service. Prior to joining Thistles, Gary worked at intu Braehead in Glasgow for 19 years where latterly he was General Manager. Gary oversaw the delivery of operations for five different and highly busy segments of the business including the main centre, the adjacent retail park, the ar... Find Out More...

The Thistles in Stirling has announced that due to the success of the first Quiet Hour which took place in October, the initiative will now become a regular fixture in the centre. Aiming to make the shopping experience less stressful for autistic customers, and following the positive feedback received from both customers and retailers, Quiet Hour will now take place in the centre on the first Sunday of every month between 10am – 11am beginning Sunday 4th February. Stores in the shopping... Find Out More...