WELL, where should I start? July was a very productive and successful month for our local commercial agents. So what’s going on?

Shop vacancy report

Curchod & Co maintain a retail shop vacancy list which I have referred to before. I have tried to ensure the list accurately reflects the situation in the town centre and I liaised with them last week.

The report confirms the town centre had 14 shops on the market at the end of last week which equates to a vacancy rate of 9.2 per cent, comparing favourably with the 11.7 per cent reported by national data companies for the south east at the end of June, and 14.5 per cent last week by the BBC.

Now, I know probably last time you checked there appeared to be numerous empty shops but there have been a lot of deals finalised and leases signed since the beginning of July.

Forthcoming occupants

Let me start in Downing Street. Myfroyoland have just signed up on a lease at number 23, the former Jack Brunsdon & Son timber windows and doors showroom. What is Myfroyoland I hear you ask? This will be the first franchise of the outlet in the UK and Europe of the successful self-service high-quality frozen yoghurt Myfroyoland brand.

The shop will offer eight different flavours at any one time from a range of 160 flavours. Added to that there are 40 toppings. Yoghurt flavours include chocolate cake, lavender cheesecake and bubblegum, the toppings fresh fruit, marshmallows and candles (probably not edible), with everything available including vegetarian, low fat, gluten-free and with some vegan options.

Yasemin and Chris Moncur, who live locally, felt Farnham was the ideal town to start what they hope will be a chain of shops. The shop will have in the region of ten chairs or stools for customers to eat-in their healthy and indulgent purchases. They hope to open later this month.

Next door the Bears restaurant is now open.

Talking about food, Andrew Ahmed and his brother-in-law, Waheed Anwer, are opening The Cedrus Butchers on Saturday in the former William Hill betting shop at number 5 East Street.

Andrew, who lives in Bordon, was brought up on a farm in eastern Europe and says he saw a gap in the market for artisan food.

They will be selling locally- produced fresh and prepared meats, some of them smoked, fruit and vegetables, together with produce with an Indian influence. They wanted to offer something different, independent with some ‘pizzazz’ as he put it. This is a new venture for them both.

I am also pleased to be able to tell you that after nearly 18 months the Gift Station will be returning to their previous shop in the Lion and Lamb Yard. Touching base with the CEO, Peter Woodd, he tells me they have been honoured for a second time with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The company print, by request, on virtually any material from what I can understand. Okay, a slight exaggeration, but more recently they have developed the ability to print on soft material bags and stainless steel, introducing some 230 new products.

In 2019, the leading sale product was personalised mobile phone covers. Gift Station pride themselves on strong recycling values and continue to grow their work experience opportunities for young people.

The former Breeze salon at 2 Borelli Yard is being occupied by a new company, I am told. The space has been fitted out and the company will be relocating from offices close by.

The Lion and the Bear opened in the Lion and Lamb Yard in the former ChoLily’s shop in May. I have tried to contact the owner Stephanie Bryan for a chat, without success. They are selling children’s clothes and toys.

In West Street, the Hoxton Bakehouse are moving into the former Accessorize shop. Again, despite trying to contact the owners I haven’t had a response but checking their website they sell and deliver a fantastic range of proper sourdough bread and awesome pastries which they make with love, by hand. Other branches, for example in Winchester and Lymington, have coffee shops. One would hope they will be up and running later this month.

Works have started in the former Zapita shop, number 17 Downing Street to form the Hamilton Tea Rooms. Again, no real detail but looking at their website, which is incorporated within the Painshill Park, Cobham website, they sell light lunches including sandwiches and pastries as well as snacks and ice-cream.

They say vegan and gluten free options are available as are their fabulous afternoon teas.

Talking of afternoon teas, the Barista Lounge, 11 Downing Street, have started serving exclusive afternoon teas in their first-floor front room.

Too much choice!

Brightwells

Saying that, I am hearing more rumours about increasing interest in Brightwells. Interest is coming from the hospitality and leisure sectors and particularly established upper-end restaurant chains. No word from Joules yet.

I have heard recently the opening of the development has been put back to March 2022, having heard only two months ago it was going to be late autumn. I am hoping for clarity shortly and will, along with the Herald, report what we hear.