Walk through the door of Tweedside Tackle and you’ll hear people speaking a different language – and not just Scottish. This Aladdin’s cave of all things piscatorial has become the destination store for anglers from as far afield as the US, Italy, France and Spain, who head for the Borders to experience the legendary salmon waters of the River Tweed.
The shop, conveniently situated a short stone’s throw from the Tweed’s banks in the ancient market town of Kelso, has been established for more than 20 years, but it was only in 2006 that it began to achieve cult status. That is when it was taken over by Caroline Pilcher (previously PA to former Louis Vuitton UK boss Xavier de Royère) and her husband, Tim, who boasts 27 years in the angling business both as an international fishing guide and as the general manager of Farlow’s flagship store in London’s Pall Mall.
The birth of their son, Archie, prompted the couple to leave the urban rat race and return to the area in which Caroline grew up – and the fact that Tweedside Tackle just happened to be for sale proved that the stars were very much in alignment.
And speaking of stars, it is not unusual to find a veritable firmament of them in the shop, since salmon fishing has become a popular way for the celebrity élite to escape the pressures of daily life. “I am regularly left agog by the people from television, film and music who walk through the door,” says Caroline.
Tweedside Tackle’s proximity to the water makes it highly convenient for anglers to wade ashore if they need anything from a new fly to the latest carbon-fibre rod (or even a secondhand or collectable rod, £75-£500). It is the quality and range of stock that makes Tweedside Tackle stand out. Elite makers such as Loomis, Hardy and Sage are among the prestige tackle brands available – Loomis rods can cost £1,000 apiece, and the shop is the only place in Europe that stocks the £800-plus hand-built reels produced by legendary US maker Joe Saracione.
Similarly, when it comes to outdoor clothing, top names grace the shelves – Simms, Le Chameau, Schöffel, Aigle, Liberty Freedom, Dubarry and Patagonia. “We also have a strong clientele of locals for whom the sort of clothes designed for fishing, shooting and hunting are their everyday wear,” says Caroline. “These are the clothes they live in, and they want them to be stylish.”
The Pilchers are careful to carry as many locally-made products as possible, ranging from beautifully carved walking sticks (about £250) whittled by a local craftsman to the handbags (about £55) of Edinburgh-based Joey D, which have handles made of spent rifle shells.
