"It was dead and depressing," he said.
It is very different now. Thanks to a scheme aimed at reimagining down-at-heel town centre streets, there are thriving independent shops, including Greenslade's fishmongers, on Kingland. "It's a brilliant community," he said.
The row of 10 shops has revived after a project launched in 2021 by the landlord, LGIM (Legal & General Investment Management) Real Assets, to find local entrepreneurs and offer space free of rent and business rates for two years.
When the Guardian visited the Dorset town Greenslade was doing brisk business selling locally caught cockles, clams, sole, plaice, bass and lobsters. And customers flitted in and out of other shops such as Boiler Room Records, the Viper cocktail bar and the Titanium Flower jewellery shop.
This story is from the July 24, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the July 24, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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