Aberdeen-based Thistle Tavern Trading Cards is the focus of a new commercial property campaign by business insurer Hiscox. Founder Stuart Robb and his co-founder opened their new Edinburgh location at 79 Shandwick Place earlier this year, building a business model around providing free gaming space for the local tabletop community.
Hiscox used the expansion to anchor its 2026 commercial property index, which explores how physical retail can survive by offering more than just products. According to the insurer’s data, searches for UK commercial property to rent have increased by 20% year-on-year. The report highlights Thistle Tavern’s financial milestones as proof that physical shops must become destinations to thrive.
For the tabletop community, that destination is built entirely around space. Geek Native’s team frequently visits the Edinburgh store to play board games and card games. Tables are free to use, though space isn’t guaranteed during busy periods. Thistle Tavern monetises this access organically. Players buy the games they want to play, pick up snacks, and browse the inventory between rounds.
The strategy positions local game stores as active participants in the battle to save the high street. By providing a comfortable environment where people want to spend hours, the shop becomes a social hub rather than a simple point of transaction. Building that hub requires the right team.
Geek Native is especially pleased to see this highlighted, as we have yet to meet a member of their staff we have not liked.
When deciding where to expand beyond their initial success in Aberdeen, the founders weighed practical community benefits alongside commercial viability.
The full commercial property index and interactive map are available on the Hiscox website. Thistle Tavern continues to operate its Aberdeen base alongside the newer Edinburgh flagship. They support local communities with regular events and open tables.
What is the state of your friendly local gaming store? Are they acting as an oasis of community on the high street, or are they in retreat?
