Beloved Scottish Jeweller J. Mitchell and Son to Close After 130 Years

J. Mitchell and Son, the jeweller that has anchored Brechin High Street in Angus since 1895, will close its doors for the final time on 18 July 2026. Owner John Laing announced his retirement on the business's Facebook page, ending not only his own 43-year tenure behind the counter but 67 years of Laing family stewardship of the shop.

"Dear customers, after many years in business (67 years in the Laing family, and 43 years personally), I have made the decision to retire," Laing wrote in his announcement. "Serving Brechin and further afield has been an incredible journey, and I am deeply grateful for your support, trust, and loyalty over the years for myself and my parents before me."

The business predates the Laing family's involvement by more than six decades. J. Mitchell and Son first opened in 1895, and the Laing family took over the Brechin branch in 1959. Its displays of gold and gemstone necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings on mannequins and stands became a fixture of the high street through generations of Brechin residents.

Laing has launched a retirement sale, with 30 percent off all items while stock lasts, running until the shop's final day. Customers holding gift vouchers are asked to redeem them by 18 July 2026, when they will cease to be honoured. Anyone with repairs or trophies awaiting collection is also asked to retrieve them before the closing date.

The response on social media was swift and warm. "You will be missed John that's for sure," wrote one commenter. Another offered: "Wow 67 years in total... well done, you will be a huge miss to Brechin high street, but time to hing up your jacket and enjoy your retirement with your family." A third recalled a more personal connection: "I started visiting the shop as a teenager with my dad and have continued to over the years. Enjoy a well-deserved retirement."

Laing closed his announcement with a broader appeal that spoke to the vulnerability of independent retail: "Please keep supporting all local businesses, it is the beating heart of the community and they need your support."

When J. Mitchell and Son shuts in July, Brechin High Street will lose a jeweller that outlasted two world wars, the decline of the high street, and more than a century of economic upheaval. Its quiet resilience was, in the end, a family matter.