SPACE Offers to Host Post Office Branch in St Andrews

St Andrews’ Post Office branch on South Street, which is due to close in the new year alongside TG Jones, could relocate to SPACE student accommodation, according to a plan revealed in an article by Fife Today on 27 October.

Scotsman Hospitality, which manages SPACE alongside several other St Andrews venues (Forgan’s, Mitchell’s, The Bothy), offered to host the main Post Office branch either permanently or on a temporary basis.

TG Jones, formerly WH Smith, was bought by Modella Capital in 2025. Its subsequent restructuring has caused the ongoing closure of 150 shops across the United Kingdom. 70 of these, as in St Andrews, also host a Post Office branch.

Scotsman Hospitality already hosts four other Post Office branches at its venues across Scotland, including two in the Glasgow area.

Paul Stirling, retail director for Scotsman Hospitality, said to Fife Today: "A Post Office is so much more than a counter [...] older residents collecting their pensions, small businesses banking their takings, families sending parcels to loved ones, and people simply getting help with everyday things that matter. It's a place where people know your name.”

“When a branch disappears, it's often those who can least easily travel who feel it most. Scotland has already lost almost a third of its Post Offices this century, and we don't want St Andrews to become another statistic.”

“This town has given a great deal to our business, and we want to give something back. We have the space, the experience and the commitment to make this work, and we're ready to move as quickly as Post Office needs us to — whether that's a temporary home or a permanent one."

St Andrews also has a Post Office counter on Woodburn Terrace, but it is too small to supply the town’s full demand. Scotsman Hospitality hopes to prevent this from being the only option left to customers for any period of time.

In a statement to Fife Today, Wendy Chamberlain, MP for North East Fife, said: “St Andrews relies on its Post Office services not only for sending post, but also for access to cash, and it is particularly important for those who may struggle to access services online or travel elsewhere. I will continue to engage with the Post Office and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the community's needs are properly represented throughout this process." 

SPACE is located on the former Madras College Kilrymont Campus, a fifteen-minute walk from the Post Office’s current location. However, it has free parking, a bus stop, and disabled access.

Fife Councillor Jane Ann Liston said to Fife Today: “St Andrews is not just any old place; it is the fourth biggest settlement in Fife, a university town and a key tourism destination.”

“For such a place to lose its Post Office is unthinkable. For instance, how many times have we been assured that losing a bank branch doesn't really matter because the local post office will provide banking services?”

“When TG Jones first announced closures of its stores and concerns were raised about the provision of post office services, the Post Office reassured us that should that come to pass in St Andrews, there were contingency plans in place. It is now time for the Post Office to reveal exactly what those plans are and to implement them.”

Securing a replacement branch can take around six months, and these proposals are still in an early stage. Both parties are expected to meet soon for further discussion; Scotsman Hospitality was approached for updates but did not provide a reply.

Image by Alden Arnold