If you’ve ever had a mooch around Altrincham on a Saturday morning, it’s likely you’ll have paid a visit to the town’s market quarter. Whether it’s vintage fashion and furniture, or home and garden inspiration you’re after, the market’s independent traders have every base covered.
Located next to the much-loved Market House, home to several independent food operators including Honest Crust wood fired pizza, Tender Cow and Reserve Wines, it makes for quite the day out. And it was within the market area that VH Interiors, specialists in vintage homeware, first opened in 2015.
Launched by Steven Sherratt and Gareth Wilkins, the shop became a go-to for vintage and reclaimed homeware, plus the all-important knick-knacks and one-off finds that help transform a house into home. Despite their success at the market, the pandemic made them reassess what they wanted to do as a business, leading them to move permanently to their showroom, The Hive, over by Navigation Road tram stop.
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“Everything we sold was vintage and large pieces of furniture, and the market stall always took priority,” says Steven. “Then when lockdown came, we had to pack everything up from the market, but retail could stay open a little longer so we decided to put everything at The Hive, and in that two-week period before we had to close, we realised it looked really good - we managed to take a negative situation and turn it into a positive one.
Despite being away from the hustle and bustle of Altrincham town centre, the move has allowed them to significantly evolve what they can offer, and now the quiet yet peaceful spot on Grosvenor Road even has its own beverage bar, complete with artisan coffee, cakes and ice-cream.
“When we were at the market, The Hive was always a second thought,'' says Gareth. “Then when we moved everything across it felt really good, and how a shop should feel - we’ve never looked back.”
Situated in the courtyard at the front of the shop, the beverage bar has become an instant hit with locals and visitors alike. “It’s only been here 12 months, but it's the thing that definitely helps us get regulars now,'' reflects Steven.
“People think, you’re out the town centre, you’re off the beaten path, it must be terrible footfall down here, but it’s not, you get a lot of people coming in from Timperley and Sale who have gotten off the metro and just want to do a bit of a walk into town centre.”
Even on a quiet Tuesday afternoon the courtyard, which is potentially one of the best suntraps in the town, is kept busy with locals popping in to pick up iced-coffees and slices of cake. And for those who want to steal a quiet moment for themselves, The Hive is just the place.
“I think people come for some peace as well, which is really nice,” says Gareth. If you just want to zone out or enjoy some tranquillity you can come here and just relax.”
Whether you’re just after something to grab-and-go, or sit back with a book and coffee, the drinks menu here is just as well-stocked as the shop itself. As well as coffees, hot chocolates and iced drinks, there are speciality tipples including milkshakes, chai options, and ‘puppucinos’, so everyone is catered for.
“The same principles from the shop also apply to the beverage bar, so we have coffee roasted locally by Two Brothers in Warrington, who are also just down the road in Altrincham,” explains Steven. “The tea is hand blended in Greater Manchester and the hot chocolate is capsules made in the UK, plus there’s lots of fresh bakes, which are made in Lancashire and Cheshire.
“People have asked if we make the cakes ourselves, but if we did that we would never get any return customers!”
The shop itself is an Aladdin’s cave stocked full of homeware treasures, from reclaimed homewares and antiques to seasonal flowers, candles and eco-friendly cosmetics. The new space, as Steven explained, has also given them the chance to evolve the shop and expand its scope.
“At the start of 2021 we rebranded to a general store and the inspiration behind that, well Gareth would say it’s inspired by American general stores, and I would say it’s inspired by the 1930s and 1940s corner shop where everyone in the community would have gone. There’s a lot of bare woods and metal display units and in terms of products, we’re trying to concentrate more on eco-friendly products.”
Moving full-time to the Hive has been positive for the couple on a number of fronts, firstly it’s given Steven and Gareth more time together, “now we’re together six days a week doing something we love”, and secondly, it’s enabled them to connect with the local community on a deeper level. “For us, it’s very much about building that relationship up with locals, we've been invited to weddings and christenings, and there’s something really special about that.
With plans to expand the beverage bar concept into the two empty shops in the courtyard in the not-so-distant future, The Hive continues to evolve, but it's new home on Grosvenor Road is here to stay. The Hive by VH Interiors is a general store and beverage bar located just across from the Navigation Road tram stop on Grosvenor Road in Altrincham. The shop is open Tuesday 9am-4pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.
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