ScottishNews.com

The market town beat East Kilbride, Falkirk, Fort William and Kirkwall to take the 2026 title at the Scotland Loves Local Awards.

Judges praised a combination of independent businesses, community organisations, volunteers and events which have helped Inverurie maintain one of Scotland’s healthiest town centres.

While empty shop units have become increasingly common elsewhere, recent analysis found only around 4% of Inverurie town centre units were vacant – representing just 1% of available retail floorspace.

Footfall increased by almost 10% between January 2025 and January 2026. In another unusual feature for a Scottish town centre, Inverurie has retained four high street bank branches as well as a building society.

The town combines national retailers with a particularly strong collection of independent businesses, including firms which have traded locally for several generations.

Demand for available shops also remains healthy, with We Are Inverurie BID manager Derek Ritchie saying there is rarely more than a handful of vacant units at any one time.

Inverurie’s position as the main shopping and service centre for the wider Garioch area has helped, while its growing population is also providing a bigger customer base.

Official figures show the population increased by 19% between 2011 and 2022, reaching 15,106.

But those behind the Town of the Year award believe the secret to Inverurie’s success is not simply population growth.

A concerted effort has been made to give people reasons to visit the centre throughout the year. The Garioch Pipe Band Championships, launched at Kellands Park in 2025, attracted an estimated 9,000 people.

Around 8,000 attend the town’s Christmas lights switch-on, while the monthly farmers’ market has doubled in size since 2024 and now features around 34 stalls in Market Square.

Taste of Garioch has also developed into one of the town’s biggest annual attractions, bringing together food and drink businesses from across the north-east.

The wider Christmas Festival stretches beyond the lights switch-on, with events including a Cairngorm reindeer parade, Santa runs and a Christmas tractor run.

Local groups have also focused on keeping the town centre attractive. Volunteers from Inverurie Environmental Improvement maintain more than 180 hanging baskets as well as planters and seasonal displays.

We Are Inverurie works alongside organisations including Inverurie Events, Evolving Inverurie, Inverurie Community Council and Inverurie Business Association on projects designed to support businesses and encourage people into the centre.

The town’s growth is also beginning to bring visitors from farther afield.

Cruise passengers arriving in Aberdeen have been taken on excursions to Inverurie and the Garioch Heritage Centre, adding another potential source of visitors for shops, cafés and restaurants.

Derek Ritchie, who was also named the Scotland Loves Local High Street Hero for north-east Scotland, said Inverurie benefited from having a traditional town centre and a strong sense of cooperation between businesses and community organisations.

He said: “There’s never more than a handful at a time. It’s a great sign.”

Television presenter and Scotland Loves Local ambassador Sean Batty visited Inverurie to present the award. He said: “Inverurie is buzzing.”

Provost of Aberdeenshire Judy Whyte, a lifelong resident of the town, said its strength was that it had retained its identity as a traditional market town while continuing to grow.

The award is organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership and supported by the Scottish Government.

Its Town of the Year category recognises places demonstrating a clear vision, strong partnerships and measurable progress towards creating a vibrant and sustainable town.

Inverurie becomes the third winner of the title since it was introduced, following Oban in 2024 and Paisley in 2025.