Swindon & Wiltshire News
Malmesbury High Street ‘full and open for business’
All of the shop units and restaurants on Malmesbury High Street are filled and open for business for the first time in five years.
The latest arrivals are The Malmesbury Wine Company, a specialist wine shop run by husband and wife team Jamie and Hannah Breeden, Alltype Builder’s Merchant in the former Knees store, established by Jags Bhullar and his family, and Flowers Galore on Market Cross run by Karen Reynolds.
Builder’s Merchant is run by Jags Bhullar with his brother Davneet.
“We are thrilled to be here and to start learning all about the community and also becoming part of this vibrant community. We’re thrilled that the High Street is full and thriving and humbled to be part of this corner of Wiltshire. We are excited about our future here,” Jags said.
Jags and Davneet are following in the footsteps of their father Gurpartap who opened his first builder’s merchants in West London in the 1970s.
The business has grown and both of his sons have joined him as entrepreneurs. In Malmesbury they will also be offering hardware products and growing that side of their new business.
Riches Interiors has taken on an empty shop unit lower down the High Street, and Clifford Design House, a former dry cleaners, in Gloucester Street.
The High Street’s transformation is complete with the re-opening of the Rajah Restaurant, a move onto the High Street by Bertie B’s Home and Lifestyle and Black Dog Coffee Co in the former Hobbes House bakery store.
David Drake, who as well as being chair of Malmesbury Town Team is a co-director of the High Street business Caerbladon with his wife Karen, said: “This is an important milestone for the town. Malmesbury prides itself on its strongly forged sense of community, independent spirit and friendliness.
“While other towns of a similar size have seen shops close and units lie empty, we have seen a year-on-year growth in independent retail and hospitality businesses opening in the town centre, run by passionate individuals who call this place home”.
Malmesbury Town Team is a group of committed residents and business owners working together to ensure the success of the town and its surrounding area by promoting Malmesbury as an attractive place to live, visit and experience.
They recently produced The Guide, which celebrates the local area’s retail and hospitality offer to encourage residents and visitors alike to buy local and in doing so support the town’s future prosperity.
For David and the Town Team, it is important all parties continue to work together to increase footfall and support business resilience in a challenging retail environment.
“We cannot afford to be complacent. We’re immensely proud of our town and its retail and cultural offer, but businesses need ongoing support and effective promotion.
“We want residents and visitors to appreciate there is as much quality and diversity of products and services to be found here on our doorstep as in many of the larger, drive-to urban centres,” David said.
