Guildford Celebrating Its Independents – There’s More Than You Think

Published on: 21 Jul, 2016
Updated on: 1 Aug, 2016

Fresco DeliKafessen in Friary Street, just one of Guildford’s many independent shops.

By Alice Fowler

Think of Guildford and most shoppers picture big name high street retailers from Waterstones to House of Fraser. What is often overlooked is the town’s large number of independent stores and businesses, from cafes and clothes shops to restaurants and jewellers.

“If I had a pound for every time I heard somebody say there are no independents in Guildford, I would be saying this from my yacht in the Caribbean,” says Amanda Masters, general manager at Experience Guildford, which promotes commerce in the town.

Lemons or Limes in Angel Gate

“True, if you look down the High Street from Holy Trinity church, independent retailers seem in short supply. But take a look up any of the side streets and you will see many thriving, small, owner-managed businesses.”

Many of the town’s newly opened shops are independent, from children’s clothing store Lemons or Limes in Angel Gate to Inn at Home in the upper High Street, selling craft ales, wines and spirits.

July is Independents’ Month: a celebration of Guildford’s independent shops – over 100 of them at the latest count – and the wide range of products and services they offer.

“As a small business, we tailor ourselves to each individual customer,” says Christine Badawi, manager of The Knob Connection, a tiny shop on Tunsgate which provides an astonishing array of handles, knobs and other door furniture.

“We question them carefully about the age of the house, whether it’s a quick fix or they’ll be staying there for a long time. We do care what people’s homes look like and help them achieve their vision.”

Simon Douglas, co-founder of Inn at Home

Simon Douglas, co-founder of Inn at Home, which opened earlier this month, agrees. “What we offer is knowledge and advice. If people are buying a £40 bottle of gin, they need a bit of help – just as they do if they’re buying six beers for their dad.”

There’s a real sense in Guildford that people want to support independents…

Wine merchant and tasting room Corkage, in Quarry Street, opened in January – as owner Andy Doré admits, possibly the worst time to launch a new wine business. “The first couple of months were fairly quiet. Since then things have picked up well.

“There’s a real sense in Guildford that people want to support independents, and they’re willing to throw money behind that.”

So what benefits do a range of independents bring? “Independent traders ensure product diversity, innovation and sustain vibrant town centres,” says Dimitrios Lazaridis of Fresco DeliKafessen in Friary Street, a popular cafe which aims to bring an ‘indulging piece of Greece’ to the heart of Guildford. “This gives Guildford a distinctive character, unique prosperity and helps local decision making.”

Independent traders ensure product diversity, innovation and sustain vibrant town centres…

One of the town’s longest established independent retailers is Moffats, which sells outdoor kit and fashion clothing from its landmark site at the top of the old High Street.

Moffats – one of the town’s longest established independent retailers

Its first shop opened in Onslow Street in 1927, with branches later added in North Street and Woodbridge Road. The business moved to its current site in 2007 and now stocks brands such as The North Face, Levi’s, Animal and Craghoppers.

Without large marketing budgets behind them, and often tucked away in small premises invisible from the High Street, the town’s independents must work hard to get noticed.

“We’re just trying to get up and running,” says Catherine Wheeler, owner of children’s clothing boutique Lemons or Limes. “Any new shop takes time to get off the ground. You’ve got to stick with it for two to three years to establish yourself.”

Children’s clothing boutique Lemons or Limes

Catherine, a mother of four children herself, plans a roaming fashion show through the town to showcase her shop’s brightly coloured, mid-priced European brands, as well as morning face painting sessions.

Independent shops are valued, but people don’t always want to use them…

Over at The Knob Connection, which has been in Guildford for 15 years, Christine Badawi believes that work on the High Street setts, the closure of the Tunsgate Centre shops and Brexit have all affected footfall: “It’s been a long haul upwards since the recession of 2008.”

Who could resist the fascinating array of Knobs and Knockers?

“Independent shops are valued, but people don’t always want to use them. You have to ask, how valued are we?”

Even so, she thinks, there is some reason to be hopeful. “There are more 30-somethings with families moving to Guildford now who are discovering us. There’s some light – a chink of it at the moment.”

When people bemoan the lack of independents in Guildford, they may well be referring to the lack of ‘basic’ shops, such as an independent green grocer, bakery, butchers and fishmongers.

Amanda Masters of Experience Guildford believes even this may alter over time. “I can see the High Street evolving as offices are replaced with flats. When people are living in the town centre, rather than going home at the end of the day, you can see a need for those small traditional places to open up.”

Be proud of these businesses. Without your continued patronage there are no independents

She also points out that the town benefits from all these traders at the North Street market – just not every day.

In the mean time, she believes, we must support the many independent shops we currently have. “Be proud of these businesses,” she advises. “Without your continued patronage, ‘there are no independents in Guildford’ might become a self fulfilling prophecy, rather than just the misguided comment it currently is.”

*To celebrate Independents’ Month, Experience Guildford invites shoppers to grab a free ‘live local, give local’ shopping bag from one of the independent retailers. A map showing exactly where they are can be downloaded at www.experienceguildford.com.