News

Beloved Arbroath food shop Smithies Deli is celebrating 25 years in the town.

The firm was founded in 2000 by Patti Smith, who bought the vacant Keptie Street shop which had lain empty for five years.

Before becoming a deli, the unit had been Strachan’s Butchers, which closed in 1995.  The original store was a Lipton’s Grocery, and some of the original black and white tile décor is still in Smithies.

Patti said she is “slowly” trying to retire, handing the reins on to daughter Beth and working only a couple of days a week.

She built her business up from a small cheese counter and takeaway, before expanding with a licence and a place to sit.  Smithies now also produces and sells its own gin.

After leaving school at 17, Patti worked at Halliburton, before joining her father’s business at the Cliffburn Hotel.  Working with her family has always been important for Patti.

“It’s been wonderful,” she said.  “I love working with my family and serving our lovely customers.

“Before I opened the deli, I worked at the Cliffburn Hotel with my dad and met lots of people over the years, who then came into the shop for a coffee and a chat.

“There’s been some real characters, loads of couples, people young and old.

“Sadly, some o f them have passed away and are very much missed.  An we of course have new customers, who are becoming real characters themselves.  It has been great being able to grow the business.

“My daughter Beth moved back to Arbroath during the pandemic and has worked with us since then.  And I’m slowly handing the business over, trying to retire, and she’s in charge.  But I am still in a couple of days a week.

“And my other daughter Jill is in charge of social media and things like that.”

On the disruption caused by the controversial Arbroath cycle path, Patti added: “It’s been a very difficult year for us.  People just thought the town was shut.

“But it has been lovely to have all our old customers back and new ones through the door.  We are slowly but surely getting back to the way it was before.”

There are no plans for expanding or opening a second shop, with the focus remaining on serving great food and drink.

Patti is grateful for the staff who have worked in Smithies over the past quarter of a century.

“We’ve had so many amazing young people who have come through the shop to work with us.

“Most recently, we’ve had the wonderful Rosie Easson, who would come into the shop as a baby.  She joined us as a teenager and worked with us through her university degree.  And now she is off working as a teacher.  She is one of many who have gone on to do amazing things, and have all been lovely working with us over the years.”

This article appeared in The Courier on 31 October 2025