First businesses to open in new retail hub

A variety of independent businesses are set to open in Tamworth's new retail hub.

Town Hall Place features seven units in total, aimed at offering affordable space for small firms.

The first companies to set up there include a food market specialising in African and Caribbean ingredients, a ceramics and crafts studio, a haberdashery and a cafe focusing on healthy food and drinks.

They are expected to open later this month or February

Amy Collins, who runs the Brew cafe, said she had been looking for the perfect location for a couple of years.

"I've had the dream of owning a cafe here for a long time, but I haven't found the right place at an affordable price," she said.

"When this opportunity came up, I had to go for it."

Haberdashery owner Novel Wust, who runs Castle Notions, said she wanted "to offer a personal service, somewhere people can join with others and be creative, or get help with a project they are stuck on."

Meanwhile, The Tropical Market will be run by Fred Borson, who said it would focus on African and Caribbean ingredients that were not available in the local area.

"It's a dream to have my own business, to serve the community and bring people together," he said.

Kate Watts, owner of The Paint Pot Studio, said she wanted to offer a space for people to relax while trying their hand at creative pursuits.

"I want to be able to offer something for all budgets, where families can have fun away from screens, without spending a fortune," she said.

The official opening of Town Hall Place marks the final stages of a multimillion-pound project, which has seen the opening of a new college, a revitalised town square and the creation of a second enterprise centre in Tamworth.

"This isn't just about filling the units, it's about getting the right type of businesses in there that genuinely add to the town and provide new reasons for people to visit, said council leader Carol Dean.

Expressions of interest for some of the remaining units were still being welcomed, the authority said.

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