The little UK town packed with over 200 independent shops | UK | News

As high streets in every corner of the UK continue to grapple with rising running costs and economic pressures, one market town continues to defy the odds and get better, according to those who live there. The town is now preparing for a busy Christmas period and businesses are looking optimistically to the future.

It’s been a particularly difficult year for high streets across the country. As many as 17,000 stores are expected to close by 2025, according to the Center for Retail Research. But more shops are opening than closing in Dorchester in Dorset, with more than 20 new businesses joining the town in the last two years. It is now home to over 200 successful independent businesses and hosts a weekly market which brings large numbers of visitors to the town.

“Dorchester is a Dorset county town and we have some great little shops here,” Jason Allum, co-owner of Allum and Sidaway jewelers, told the Express. “A lot of them are also independent, which is always a nice thing, especially these days.”

Allum and Sidaway, a fourth-generation family business, has been operating in Dorchester for more than 50 years. While the journey may not always be forward, Mr. Allum believes the future is bright.

“The high street here is unlike any other high street in the UK,” says the 55-year-old. “It’s much more unique with its variety of shops.

“The locals are amazing. Many of our customers have been shopping with us for many years. We’re very lucky in that regard. You see most of the people who shop here are local. They support their local businesses.”

“We are constantly improving ourselves, which has helped us survive all these years,” Mr. Allum adds. “We see that the jewelry industry is changing a lot, so we need to keep up with it.”

He adds: “We don’t really get a lot of tourists into Dorchester. It can be a little busier in the summer but our busiest time for us is around Christmas which is coming up.”

Simply Stylish is located in Hardye Passage, named after the wealthy merchant of the 16th century, Thomas Hardye. The store, which opened three years ago, sells second-hand furniture and accessories.

Owner Jana Pahlow says her business has had a successful start to life in the town. He credits parking availability, the weekly market and Dorchester’s history for the thriving shopping scene.

“I opened the shop three years ago and things are going pretty well,” he says. “I’m really pleased with the move to Dorchester.

“I definitely have regular customers and they’re all local. I think local people support all businesses.”

In addition to her store, Ms. Pahlow also sells her products online. This allowed him to gain clients from as far away as Ireland and Paris.

She adds: “We are lucky in this area as there are car parks nearby which facilitate pedestrian traffic. This also helps me pack up furniture and belongings easily.”

“We’re lucky to be so close to the Jurassic Coast; it’s beautiful,” Ms. Pahlow adds. “Dorchester is also known for its Roman history, so people come here to see the ruins. All of that helps us.

“We also hope to benefit from cruise ships coming to Portland in the future. Some of the people may come and visit.

“Every Wednesday we have a weekly market with bus groups. It’s great because more people are coming to the city.”

Held every Wednesday, Dorchester Market is located along South Street and South Walks and opposite Brewery Square. The bustling market has more than 200 traders selling everything from fruit and vegetables to hot foods, plants and clothing.

House of Phaedra opened in Antelope Walk almost exactly a year ago. The home fragrance and lifestyle store started online before growing and eventually needing a physical store to meet customers’ needs.

Charlie Adler, who works at the store, says: “Dorchester has a lovely community that helps the business grow. The Dorchester BID (Business Improvement District) is really helpful for everyone.

“Dorchester is truly a market town, so there’s an interesting dimension to it being quite small, being community-oriented and bringing people in from other places and other towns. “We’re doing really well at the moment, so I’m hoping we’ll continue to do well.

“Like other stores, we have friendly faces visiting on a regular basis. We’re also very helpful if they have questions or are looking for something specific.”

The 55-year-old adds that it’s not just customers who support the town’s stores. The business owners involved also help each other in good times and bad.

“The independent store community is great here,” he explains. “The owners are all part of a WhatsApp group, so they are always communicating and offering support.

“If there’s any local issues they come together. And if someone comes in and asks where they can find something, we’ll direct them to the right place. With Christmas coming up, it’s a busy time of year for all of us. We’re preparing for that.”

Further down is Antelope Walk Loving From Nature, which specializes in baby and children’s organic clothing, books and toys. The store, like many others in the town, sources most of its products from other local traders to remain sustainable.

The store first opened on London Road about eight years ago. However, since there were problems with pedestrian traffic, the owner decided to move to a more central location.

Cathie Loving, 72, said: “The shop had opened eight years ago in a different location but it wasn’t ideal. It was too far from town and there wasn’t much foot traffic.

“The store moved here about a year and a half ago and it’s been a lot better. Foot traffic is a lot better here. We used to get maybe one or two people a week, but here we have more people coming in and browsing. It’s a lot busier.”

Everything in the store is sourced from Dorset and the region, he explains. This helps attract customers who are willing to support local business owners.

“We’re very local. Everything we buy comes from Dorset and the local area to make sure we stay sustainable,” says Ms Loving. “It gives us a point of difference and there are people like that. It also benefits the whole local economy.”

Ms. Loving has seen Dorchester grow in recent years. He believes the town is getting better and better and stands out from others in the UK.

“This is a city of family and community. Everyone knows each other and is really friendly,” he explains. “Dorchester is fantastic now, it used to be a lot quieter but now all kinds of shops are popping up.

“I think there’s something for everyone here now. You can find all kinds of things in Dorchester, which is unlike any other town.”

Dorchester BID’s project director, Phil Gordon, believes other towns can learn a lot from Dorchester. He says: “To be successful on the high street these days you need to offer something special to draw customers away from online.

“Our businesses, especially the independents, are doing just that with great customer experience, recommendations, product knowledge and most importantly, by bringing the fun back to the buying experience.”