Shoppers in West Bridgford say they are 'deeply worried' about their high street after reports of three store closures within a matter of weeks. Residents fear more businesses will cease trading in the coming months due to high rents and inflation.
Connaught House, the Blue Camel Cafe and Hopology have all closed down recently. People in the town agree this is a nationwide issue but are surprised to see shops shutting down 'rapidly'.
Another Nottingham high street, Mansfield Road in Sherwood, has also seen three shop closures within weeks too. On Central Avenue in West Bridgford, people shared their thoughts with Nottinghamshire Live.
Read more: Sadness as 3 closures announced on 'attractive' Nottingham high street
Caterer Karen Mason, 52, of West Bridgford, said: “It’s shocking. West Bridgford like other places has seen the closures of banks, a charity shop and now there’s more.
“I absolutely loved Connaught House. I used to go in there for presents and to just treat myself - they had such friendly staff.”
Karen added: “Small businesses matter. Without them we wouldn’t get the more friendly customer service. I think everywhere should be deeply worried about their high street because it’s only going to get worse.”
Connaught House was a gift shop which had been in West Bridgford since 1993. The Tudor Square business now has a sign in its window explaining that the store has now closed down.
James Fox is the co-owner of Central Shoe Repairs on Central Avenue. He said: “Rent before lockdown went up by 40% and it was a case of you pay it or get out. They (Connaught House) probably couldn’t afford it and it’s the same thing for other businesses.
“I definitely don’t know how long we’re going to go for - it’s tense and we have to take it month by month. There’s the relief on energy costs but that ends in March. It’s all short-term and a lot of family-run businesses can’t afford to survive. The 80s and 90s were definitely the heyday of West Bridgford.”
The Blue Camel Cafe confirmed its closure in West Bridgford on December 17 via social media. The cafe had been trading for less than a year.
William Shaw, 71, comes to West Bridgford often. Now retired, he puts shop closures down to the current climate.
He said: “It’s the cost of living. Although I haven’t seen some people cut back in certain areas, others have.
“In the city centre, (the cost of living crisis) has hit a lot of businesses. There’s a multitude of issues such as rates going up.
“You need small businesses in West Bridgford but how can you expect them to keep up?”
West Bridgford woman Anna Stevenson, 24, who works in marketing, said: “It’s a scary time for business owners no matter what area you live in. A business will have loyal customers who I’m sure they’re grateful for but they can’t keep functioning on what they’re making. Rents are ridiculous, the energy cap is to go up yet again and people are losing their livelihoods. It isn’t good.”
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