Exciting new shops and restaurants opening in Newbury town centre

A HOST of exciting new businesses have opened or are soon to open in Newbury town centre.

Independently-owned florist Floral Beauts has opened on Northbrook Street, close to the Clock House.

Health food and supplement store Fit Cookie has opened on Bartholomew Street.

Speciality coffeeshop The Goan Caff is just up the road, bringing a slice of Goa to town, run by husband-and-wife duo, the Rebelos.

Lumber Distillers, the company behind 137 Gin, has opened new gin experience bar and eatery Eat.Drink.Distil in Parkway Shopping.

British tapas restaurant and wine bar Goat on the Roof has opened on Bridge Street.

Around the corner Turkuaz – a new Turkish restaurant – is preparing to take over the previous Bella Italia unit in Market Place.

Italian-chain Zizzi’s is currently recruiting for its new restaurant in the old Strada unit in Market Place.

Sushizen, a Japanese restaurant, is due to open on Bartholomew Street in August.

A premises license application has been received for a new bar in the unit previously occupied by the Hog & Hedge coffee shop on Northbrook Street.

Craft, stationery and haberdashery store Brown Paper Loves has opened in Inches Yard.

Framemaker Galleries has re-opened in its former unit on Northbrook Street.

There have been seven businesses open in Parkway Shopping alone this year, following the successful opening of Honesty Café at the beginning of the year.

Suit Direct opened last week and designer store Robert Goddard opened on Saturday

Gifts and goods shop Artisans Handmade and skiwear specialist Montagne Snow and Walk also both opened their doors under temporary licenses in Parkway.

School uniform supplier Skoolkit will be re-locating from the Kennet Shopping centre to a bigger unit in Parkway this year, following in the footsteps of its new neighbour Isabel’s Retro, a vintage and retro clothing brand that will soon be celebrating its one-year anniversary in Parkway.

Esports and motorsports simulation company Forrest Motorsports will also be opening a new virtual reality experience in Weaver’s Walk.

Melissa Hughes, chief executive at Newbury Business Improvement District (BID) said: “We’re delighted to see such a variety of new businesses open in Newbury this year – particularly in more recent months – and are pleased business owners recognise Newbury’s potential.

"We have been working hard alongside other town centre partners to raise Newbury’s profile as a visitor and business destination, and we hope this is just the beginning of Newbury’s growth, as the hunger to open a business in the town centre only increases.”

Warwick Heskins, chairman of Newbury BID and owner of the Catherine Wheel and Spare Wheel, said: “It’s great to see Newbury’s offering strengthen, with these new businesses bringing something unique and different to complement the existing businesses already lining Newbury’s historic streets.

"It’s important that businesses owners – particularly those running independent venues – collaborate to create a strong community which helps to establish a sense of place for Newbury and ultimately attract new visitors.”

Andrew Marmot, centre manager at Parkway Shopping, said: “We’re happy to offer new businesses the opportunity to test the waters in Newbury as a pop-up store should a vacant unit be available in Parkway.

"We strongly feel that this is important for business owners, as it helps them to understand the opportunity at hand.

"Many businesses who take a temporary lease with us end up staying with us on a longer-term contract. This demonstrates the need for pop-up opportunities and the positive state of the trading environment in Parkway Shopping and the town centre as a whole.”

Reagan Rebelos, at The Goan Caff, said: “We’re very excited to be a part of this bustling town and look forward to welcoming more and more residents and visitors to The Goan Caff so they can see how we differ from other cafés on the high street, while experiencing exceptional service with a smile – which I know rings true for most the independent businesses in Bartholomew Street.”