UK town with over 90 thriving independent businesses | UK | News

It’s no secret that the UK’s high streets have suffered in recent years, with closed signs and boarded-up windows becoming a common sight in many towns. However, some locations are bucking the trend and continuing to offer unique and thriving independent shops.

Marple, an idyllic town at the foot of the Peak District, was recently named the best place to live in the UK in 2026. Garrington Real Estate Services. Located on the River Goyt, just nine miles from the center of Manchester, the town served as the inspiration for Agatha’s Christie character Miss Marple in 1927. Fast forward almost 100 years, and Marple is home to a close-knit community that takes pride in protecting their town. A recent retail summary from Stockport Council showed that there are around 90 independent businesses in the town, out of a total of 110.

“This is a place where people don’t leave,” Marple North Councilor (Liberal Democrat) Steve Gribbon tells the Daily Express. “One of the things I noticed when I moved here was the sheer number of people who have lived here all their lives, and the generations before them.”

As well as being a local councillor, Mr Gribbon has lived in the town for more than 25 years. He attributes his success to two main reasons; Marple’s proximity to the Peak District and unwavering sense of community spirit.

“The number of people who want to help the community is absolutely second to none. We’re so lucky, and so are the people here,” he explains.

“We have lots of independent shops and they are an absolute delight. You name it, we have it. These are places that pride themselves on doing different things that attract people to the area.

“I can walk into local butchers and they know exactly what I want. You don’t get those kinds of relationships with big box stores. It all adds to a greater sense of community here.”

One of the businesses with a permanent presence in town is Marple Stationery Supplies. The store, on Stockport Road, has been named the UK’s Best Independent Retailer by the Boss Federation three times.

“We’re in our 21st year at Marple,” says owner Sarah Laker, 55. “I left my nursing career behind in 2005 to pursue my dream of opening my own shop.

“I didn’t know what I was doing, I’d never run a store before but I went for it. It’s what I wanted to do and over 20 years later I’m still here!

“This place is amazing. Marple is such a beautiful place and our community support is amazing. Local people want to support their town center and businesses.”

But it’s not just customers who support businesses in Marple. Ms. Laker explains that she takes pride in her business giving back to the community.

“I feel really strongly, because we’re a community store, we all need to support each other,” she says. “We work with local charities and have raised £15,000 since 2018. This gives us a really strong base with the community because people want to support us and give back.

“The better the local shops in a town, the nicer the area. This affects house prices, people’s quality of life, everything. It’s something we pride ourselves on.”

Unlike large chain stores, independent traders in Marple are able to build lasting relationships with their customers. These relationships are built through regular communication, friendly service and quality assurance.

Ms Laker explains: “Local stores connect people, unlike big chains. After Covid-19, an old man who had been shopping with me for years walked in and left a small box of chocolates.” “He said, ‘They are for you, because I really miss coming to your store.’ That touchpoint means a lot to people, which is very important.”

He adds: “Large companies often do not have time to deal with customers personally. A few years ago a young girl with cerebral palsy came into our shop.”

“He was really struggling with the pens he used at school, so he came to us. I spent about 25 minutes with him trying out various pens to find the best one for him. He was absolutely delighted and I don’t think you can get that service in big box stores or online.”

Paul David Jewelery has been operating on Market Street for 30 years. It is run by Paul David and his wife Lucy, who “owe their lives” to their loyal customers.

“We opened in 1996 and have been expanding ever since,” says Mr. David, 55. “I also found the community great. If you treat people the right way and offer good prices they will always come back.

“We’re on the edge of the Peak District, which is great. You can walk to the hills in half an hour. It’s a really nice area and the people here are lovely.”

Although he admits that it has been challenging over the years and that his hard work is one of the main reasons behind his successes, Mr David credits the people of Marple with playing a huge part in making his shop what it is today.

He says: “I owe my whole life to our customers. They have provided us with a good standard of living and without them I would be nothing.”

Unlike other local businesses, Paul David Jewelery doesn’t rely on just one service. Mr. David says his company has “a few strings attached that make sure the money always comes in.”

“If one side of the business is quiet, the other side can be busy. We don’t just rely on retail, we also have a workshop that does things like watch straps and remodeling. They all come into the business and make it what it is.”

“We’re a simple family business. We employ seven people who have been with us for years. It’s definitely challenging but we’ve done a really good job. It’s a tough job but it’s worth it.”

Neil Drogie has run The Icing On The Cake, also on Market Street, for 35 years. The 57-year-old started working for his father in bakeries around Manchester before opening the business when he was 22.

He believes Marple continues to grow as it has not yet been swallowed up by Stockport and Manchester. The town maintains its independence and values ​​its unique identity.

“There’s a good community spirit in Marple. There’s a bit of a throwback vibe because everyone knows everyone,” Mr Drogie says. For these reasons I have always found this to be a good place to trade. “I think it’s a great place for people to start a business.”

Business and operating costs in Marple remain lower than those of its larger neighbors. This allows merchants to move into the city with confidence.

Mr Drogie adds: “Most of the traders in Marple are independent traders and many of them have been here for a long time. “For example, we have two independent butchers and how many places can say that these days?

“The community loves having the service and craftsmanship of independent merchants, and we love having the community and repeating traditions. It works both ways.”

Like other towns in the UK, Marple has major branded stores, including the Asda supermarket in Ridgedale Centre. Although they provide important services to local people, they do not discourage residents from shopping at smaller, independent stores.

Zoe Smith, who has run The Flower House Marple for two and a half years, says townspeople are particularly loyal and enjoy the personal service. He explains that they “really care” about businesses and are always willing to support them.

“The community here is very supportive and they really care about local businesses. They’re really grateful to have a flower shop,” the 40-year-old says. “They love having a friendly business, even if there’s an Asda down the road. It gives them a different experience and we do things properly.

“We just focus on flowers and people really like that. They get service from us that they don’t get at Asda, for example. In other places people can just walk into a shop and buy flowers. But here it’s more than that.”

Her shop isn’t just a place where people can buy flowers, it’s also a place where people can come and chat. Ms Smith believes this is what makes the town so special.

He says: “Lots of people chat to us about everything. Little things like the weather, what they’re doing, their families. It helps build relationships, which is so important.”

“I’ve made some good friends over the years who started as clients. In fact, we recently hired someone who started as a client.”

He adds: “There’s such a community spirit in Marple. It’s got an old-fashioned village feel where people want to support and help each other as much as possible. People here want a good high street and they realize they need to support us to make that happen.”

But locals aren’t the only ones supporting Marple’s business. Many of the stores also benefit from customers from outside the area.

Ms Laker, of Marple Stationery Supplies, says: “There aren’t too many stationery shops these days, so a lot of people come to Marple to see us. “We have a good reputation both locally and nationally, which helps bring people both to us and to the town.

“People who come to Marple for specialty stores may then visit other stores. Then they may want to move to the area because they love it so much.

“Many high streets in the UK are changing for the worse, but luckily there are some that haven’t. We’re definitely improving here, as are we, which is great.”

It’s fair to say that Marple doesn’t rest on her laurels and continues to go from strength to strength. Many projects that will bring more benefit to the city are on the way.

Councilor Gribbon says: “There’s a lot going on in Marple. We recently secured £20 million in funding for a new leisure centre.

“We are definitely on the rise and it is a pleasure to read that we have been voted the best place to live. We don’t take it lightly but we know we deserve it because of our hard work.”