Town has range of businesses to prosper

INDEPENDENT SHOPS ARE ESSENTIAL IN KINGSBRIDGE

- ZHARA SIMPSON

UNLIKE some parts of the South Hams, which are full in the summer but relatively empty in the winter due to the number of holiday and second homes, the attraction of Kingsbridge as a place to live lies in it being a year-round community, more balanced than some of its neighbours.

The town, around 45 minutes from Plymouth, is having a revival. Yes, footfall in the town has, as always, declined as the winter months approach after the busier summer, but change is on the way.

Two new shops and a café, in particular, are indications that life will continue to improve and locals will back them. Despite fears that landlords have been reluctant to renovate tired buildings in Kingsbridge’s retail strip, independents have come out in force to give the town hope for the future.

A new candle and home fragrance store has opened as a ‘pop-up’ until December. Mewstones Candle Company opened in October and, after having a positive start, would like to stay.

Traders believe there is a shop for everything, with a butcher, fishmonger and toy shop. They are also encouraging local businesses to open a shop in the town to create more footfall and to become part of the community.

Aston Bull, owner of Nonsuch shop, has been in Kingsbridge for 12 years and said, this year, the business has seen growth. He said: “It’s good news that there are new businesses joining the high street. When a business decides to leave, it doesn’t take very long for that empty property to get filled.