Marketplace

this is mostly retail news more on the business peep page and on the food + drink page including listings & monthly market dates

Centre facilitator email kerry.lester@praxis.co.uk

2024

More Nailsea people will be sporting a tan this winter as Crown Glass Shopping Centre management company Praxis has submitted a change-of-use application for 19 Colliers Walk to a Sui Generis Tanning Bed Salon.

Nailsea Town Council planning committee is considering the application for the sunbed salon although on the Nailsea People Facebook page some have expressed cancer concerns.

Read more about the application on North Somerset Council planning portal by clicking HERE.

SP Hair Design at the Tesco end of the High Street has a newly delivered sunbed which costs £1 a minute to use.

Beauty Incorporated and No85 the Barbers both in the High Street also both have sun beds.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) does recommend you should not exceed two sessions per week, for no more than 30 weeks of the year and teenagers should not use them.

Praxis is currently in talks with North Somerset Council about building a budget supermarket in the car park and the old Orchard furniture shop has a sign saying, ‘new retailer coming soon’.

This is a very large retail unit and was offered for a rent of £25k per annum.

We are told it is to be a Barnardo’s charity shop as eagle-eyed people spotted a job advert online.

The Sense charity shop which supports deafblind people with complex disabilities.is opening shortly bringing the total for the town of 10 charity shops.

Work is apace converting the former shoe shop at Clevedon Walk, see photo top.

No update on the Lounge coffee shop due to open in the new year in the old NatWest unit.

And no news on the old library site…

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Charity begins in Nailsea soon to be sunbed central

AROUND TOWN: A joker fly-posted a litter bin in Somerset Square and the seagulls emptied another in the High Street. We remember an April Fool prank back in the 1990s when a resident of Hazelbury Road awoke to find his front garden full of gnomes. We think he boasted in the pub how much he disliked the lawn ornament figurines. People wondered if the 'office to let' placard was just in the wrong place inside the Praxis management HQ? The Tuesday plant stall was full of colour and Nailsea Fruit & Veg shop Halloween display attracted praise

PARCEL PEEPS: In a cheeky commercial move InPost has opened a locker service opposite Nailsea Post Office. InPost boasts it offers an affordable and eco-friendly parcel locker service throughout the UK. Its website says 'we are a leader in offering modern logistics services and the first company in Poland to create a network of Parcel Lockers - self-service parcel dispatch and collection points, open 24/7. Thanks to innovative technology, InPost makes receiving parcels more convenient, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly. Parcel lockers have increased the efficiency of logistics services, and their success was also determined by the speed of delivery - as many as 98 per cent of shipments are delivered the next day after posting!' So now you know...

2023

New apartments

Work has finally begun upstairs at The Arcade adding another storey to the building plonk in the middle of the Nailsea High Street.

Once Nailsea Members Club it became the RM Bar then the infamous Decades, the town’s only nightclub which closed back in 2015.

The building with its row of shops on the ground floor sold ahead of auction for a guide price of £375,000 in the summer of 2021.

And planning permission was granted to convert the premises into seven one-bed flats in a project property agents Hollis Morgan had estimated could be worth £1.4m.

Three Magnets Planning said it was effectively reviving plans approved in 2017 that had since lapsed.

The car-free scheme was approved by North Somerset Council to help meet its housing shortfall.

YEAR OF THE RABBIT: The Golden Horse usually closes for Chinese New Year but it has been longer this February and worrying signs online that it is 'to let'. However, a staff member was spotted in Nailsea and gave reassuring words it would be back

OPENING SOON: Heard on grapevine that the Clic charity shop at Colliers Walk which closed pre Covid could be reopening soon -.watch this space

SUMMER READING: Well we know the library is moving this summer into the old HSBC unit BUT what we don’t know is will we be without a library for a time when the move takes place? And we have heard rumoured new plans are in the pipeline for the old library

SECRET SHOPPER: Judd Trump MBE an English professional snooker player popped into Tesco Nailsea, on Thursday, February 2, and stopped for an in-house Costa cuppa. The former world champion and world number who is aged 33 was born in Whitchurch. He is widely regarded as one of the sport's most talented players and currently sixth on the list of all-time ranking event winners, with 23 titles. We are told he has also been seen shopping in Waitrose Nailsea

PHOTO: Tom Wilson

Changing face of Nailsea town centre

At Somerset Square M&Co is still trading despite the notice on the shopfront and news that the company has fallen into administration.
The company announced its collapse on December 9 and now needs to find a buyer to avoid disappearing from the high street forever.
All of its 170 shops should be open and running as normal for now, while its administrators Teneo Financial Advisory looks for another company to take over.
We are told the Nailsea shop has enough stock to keep going for a bit and it has displayed 'closing down sale' signs before and it didn't shut, fingers-crossed.
Istabul Barbers said it will open this week in Nailsea High Street - see photos of progress including nice interior shot supplied by owners, update it did!
Golden Horse is closed for what we believe is its annual Chinese new year holiday although one eagle-eyed Nailsea People reader spotted the premises is up for rent on Prime Location along with other town centre businesses!
Coates House is still 'testing' the market and its details appear online.
And the old hairdressers which was being sold 'complete with ghost' as a private home also appears to be back on the market?

Backwell Camera Club has started a rolling exhibition of prints by kind permission of Hunter Leahy, its shop window on Nailsea High Street.

The prints will be changed fortnightly.

Since the window is lit up at night the pictures can be viewed at any time.

If you are interested in photography, then see www.backwellcameraclub.club for more information including programme, meeting details and contact information.

We welcome new landlord and landlady Jess and Wayne at the Ring O'Bells, see details on our Food and DrinK page HERE.

And finally scaffolding has gone up in the High Street on the old Decades nightclub which has planning permission for a third storey apartments...watch this space...

Twice as Pretty

A Nailsea beauty business is twice as nice now as it has two outlets in the town.

The hair salon at 16 Kingshill is called Pretty and the new nail and lashes salon at 47 High Street is called Too Pretty.

The official opening of the High Street salon which has three beauty treatment rooms with a pedicure area and two nail stations is on Friday evening, January 6, with plans afoot for a refurb at Kingshill.

And there will be opportunities to join the teams on a self-employed basis.

To book hair at Pretty go to https://www.fresha.com/a/pretty-hair-nailsea-16-kingshill-ma11gy2l/booking.
To book beauty Too Pretty go to https://www.fresha.com/a/too-pretty-ltd-beauty-nailsea-47-high-street-j0hom82o

SPECIAL OFFER: Filling up with petrol at Tout's? Get a car wash half price in January at Wraxall garage. More info here https://www.touts.co.uk/store/touts-nailsea-5/

The new owner of The Star Inn in Tickenham is introducing gourmet burgers and a takeaway menu.

The pub closed in October 2022 blaming rising energy costs and increasing charges from suppliers.

The historic pub new co-owner, Lorynne Heyns said they hope to launch the a new menu in March to include a takeaway gourmet burgers service.

She said: “We are an extended family who were offered the opportunity to take over the pub and so we are doing everything within our budget.

“We are hoping to establish an upmarket venue as a restaurant and cocktail lounge in the evenings, while keeping a family-friendly venue for weekend outings on the deck.

"We are looking for local staff and we plan to kickstart the venue by launching a takeaway menu with OG Burgers.”

OG Burgers are gourmet takeaway burgers with an American touch, which includes chunky beef or lamb patties with ingredients such as turkey rashers, Monterey jack cheese, sweet chilli jam, pickles and ‘inferno’ sauce.

Lorynne added: “We want to keep it fresh and local and we are changing the focus from being a drinking hole to a restaurant.

“We’ll also have a small cocktail offering and selection of beers and ciders including Asahi beer from Japan.

"The menu for the evening will be a more elegant setting with dishes including lobster, steak and duck on the menu,” she said, adding that the outside deck will be perfect for family outings in summer with lots of room for children to play.

It will be dog-friendly and there are also rooms upstairs which provide accommodation.

Lorynne added that motorhomes in the summer would be welcome to park in their parking area overnight.

She added: “The property has such a lovely ambience, there’s a lot of things we want to do but it will be in stages, we are looking forward to our opening.”

In Tickenham, The Star was famously known for its multi-purpose skittle alley. It boasted a number of championship wins in the Clevedon and Nailsea skittles league.

Plans to demolish the pub and build nine new homes were refused by North Somerset Council last February.

Bristol Airport is inviting expressions of interest from potential partners to take part in a tendering process for airside provision of Food & Beverage services and a Specialist Retail unit.

Bristol Airport is looking for Food & Beverage services to include - but not be limited to - the provision of healthy and fresh drink and food items for both eat-in or take away.

Bristol Airport places significant importance on delivering exceptional customer service and providing a first-class experience and is also inviting tender submissions from potential partners to take part in a tendering process for a Specialist Retail unit at the Airport in any of the fashion, gifting, beauty or toys categories.

Bristol Airport head of commercial Tom Hack said: “We are inviting businesses to tender for the provision of a Food & Beverage Unit and a Specialist Retail Unit in the Departure Lounge.

"The preferred partners will be able to meet the needs and preferences of customers in a relaxed and welcoming environment, showcasing the best of the regional hospitality and retail.

"The potential partners would need to have demonstrable experience of operating in a fast paced and dynamic environment and can meet the needs of customers within this category.

"Bristol Airport serves as the gateway to the south-west and Wales and the potential partners would need to demonstrate high quality food and beverage and retail provision for our passenger demographics, while delivering outstanding customer service to create a ‘wow factor’.”

The procurement timeline will be as follows and suppliers are invited to express an interest and respond to Bristol Airport's Invitation to tender by visiting its dedicated e-tendering site In-tend (https://in-tendhost.co.uk/bristolairport/aspx/Home ).

Tender deadline for best and final submissions is noon on Friday, March 24 with the award being announced on Friday, April 14, with an agreed contract start to be determined.

For further information email commercialtenders@bristolairport.com

Airport shopping at Bristol

New owner new menu at The Star, Tickenham

Such a shame as we love this Turkish cafe, hopefully they will be back even better soon. The Golden Horse still hasn't reopened after Chinese New Year

POSH BURGER BAR: Delivery and takeaway from Monday, February 28, and taking table booking the week after, says OG boss Marcus Norman. More details on delivery here https://ogburgerz.swiftorder.co.uk/collection

COFFEE CORNER: All systems go at our favourite Turkish cafe at Colliers Walk, Nailsea after the hiccup

Street festivals are back on the agenda for Nailsea Town Council.

At a March council meeting Beverly and Sarah Milner Simonds of Eat Festivals talked about bringing the Nailsea Eat Festival back.

There was a huge outcry at the end of 2022 when it was announced the popular street food and drink event in December could be the last.

Bev said: “We had registered to speak to say thank you for all the council support, but then had read recent minutes and saw the council were seeking a festival organiser.

Bev and Sarah explained their decision to pull out of the North Somerset town was because they had achieved what they set out to do, however they also admitted that being unable to secure a commercial sponsor for the Nailsea was a factor to their decision.

Bev said: “When we were asked to work in Nailsea the farmers' market was not performing as desired and there was a shop vacancy rate problem.

"We created a busy destination event for the town and worked alongside the town council to help the market move from Colliers Walks to the High Street and Crown Glass Shopping Centre.

"We then brokered the deal with Somerset Farmers' Markets to take on Nailsea Farmers' Market which has proven to be very successful.

"The shop vacancy rate has reduced and the market continues to thrive.

"We feel that we achieved what was asked of us.”

The meeting was also told the organisers pay more than £1,000 for a licence in North Somerset compared to £35 in some of the other areas they hold festivals in.

The decision by eat:Festivals to leave the town was met with dismay by members of the community and as a result councillors are keen to see the event return.

In a letter to the council in November 2022 Bev and Sarah said pulling out of Nailsea had not been an easy decision to make.
It also said: “The support of North Somerset Council, Nailsea Town Council and the Crown Glass Shopping Centre has been invaluable but the continuing high costs of licensing and road closures means we need to look long and hard at the economics of every festival.

“We are very grateful for your financial support but don't think the event should rely on town council funding and we have been unable to attract a commercial sponsor.

Festival organiser

"We are continuing to deliver festivals in (other areas of) North Somerset.

“Councillors expressed their strong desire for the festivals to return and offered us a seat at the working party, which we readily accepted.”

The council working party will look at expanding the monthly farmers’ market, adding more street food and drink opportunities and whether the Christmas community fair could be staged again after a gap of several years.

Even the idea of reviving the Victorian festive fair which was ditched some years ago as costumes were difficult to find and expensive to hire was mooted.

The weather is also an important factor in the planning along with the realms of health & safety red tape, road closure orders and getting sufficient volunteers to help with organising.

It was reported earlier that the Eat Festival on Saturday, December 3, could

be the last one in Nailsea although dates for Clevedon and Portishead 2023 are booked.

An attempt to position stalls in the parking bays along the Tesco end of the High Street on a bus route at the October food and drink event had caused traffic issues.

And if the development of Somerset Square happens later this year then construction work could further hamper space for pitches.

The fantastically successful festival first came to Nailsea in 2019 when the last community Christmas fair was staged.

SHUTTING SHOP: With no date for its final day of trading except that is is closing at Easter the M&Co store at Somerset Square is have a sale - everything most go including fittings and fixtures in the shop. Clothes retailer M&Co is to close all of its 170 stores nationwide this spring, with the loss of almost 2,000 jobs

Key-cutting and engraving specialist Timpson is applying to open a new retail pod outside of the Tesco supermarket in Nailsea.

The small, self-contained concession unit will be installed on a spot where there are currently four parking spaces still leaving the store with more than 300 spaces.

Timpson, which provides a range of other services including dry cleaning, photo printing, watch and shoe repairs and phone repairs, is asking for the go-ahead for the timber-clad pod and 10 bollards to protect against ram-raiding from North Somerset Council.

The plans submitted by Andy Horwood, acting on behalf of Timpson, does not include exactly want services this car park pod would offer.

But in a separate application for advertising signs it lists all below adding it will be open seven days a week:

Dry Cleaning
Shoe Repairs
Phone Repairs
Watch Repairs
Key Cutting Engraving
Passport Photo

It has so far attracted 110 online objections and two supporting comments.

Nailsea People found one of the ‘supporting’ comments is actually against the proposal and the other could not be located.

Most people are worried this could mark the end of Sole & Scroll and affect other town centre businesses.

One resident listed four reasons for planners to refuse the application.

They said:

Reduction in car parking spaces near to the entrance;
Design of building looks an eyesore;
Probability of a long-standing existing business losing his livelihood; and
If 3 were to happen, although his premises are small this would be yet another empty shop in Nailsea.

Another said: “We absolutely do not need it, we don't want it and it will put a highly valued member of our community, a sole trader who has been supporting our community for 28 years out of business.”

Trading places in Timpson pod

And on the illuminated sign application a resident who also gave valid planning reasons for refusal said: "Putting an unsightly 'shed' in the middle of a car park is not a suitable addition to the street scene in this part of Nailsea"

UPDATE: Timpson customer services spokesperson Vicky Smith said: "I have discussed further with one of my colleagues who has advised that unfortunately the application was cancelled due the site being of archaeological interest. I can confirm that we are continuing with our searches for a suitable pod within one of the supermarkets."

M&Co is closing on Tuesday, April 11, with the lost of five jobs.

The budget fashion shop went into administration in December 2022 and sadly no buyer could be found.

The Glasgow-based company is closing 170 stores nationwide.

M&Co opened its doors for the first time at Crown Glass Shopping Centre in October 2017.

The Somerset Square store then created 10 new jobs and promised to sell the latest ranges in Womenswear, Menswear and Kidswear, including teen, baby and accessories.

It has another shop in Portishead which has suffered the same fate.

The retail unit was previously run for many years by the Store21 chain which went into liquidation in July 2017 and some of its staff were redeployed by M&Co.

Before then the shop was owned by Ethel Austin who went into receivership early in 2012.

New Look staff bid a fond farewell to Nailsea after the Somerset Square store closed on Friday, May 14, 2022.

Nailsea now has no dedicated clothes shop

Next door the former Nat West bank at 21 Somerset Square is for rent at £35,000.00 per annum.

Persistence rumours that a small Marks & Spencer’s food hall will open there have been circulating for many weeks.

Workmen recently finished removing all the banking paraphernalia and converted the interior into a ‘white space’ – see brochure. HERE.

M&S press office failed to respond to an inquiry by Nailsea People.

There are currently seven vacant retail units in Crown Glass Shopping Centre - HERE is its sales brochure..

The nearest M&S Simply Food is at Clevedon garage opposite the council office building Castlewood which was vacated in May.

In January North Somerset Council said its preferred option of demolition and new build will result in a financial benefit of £6.5m over a 10-year period and outperforms other options both in terms of sustainability and placemaking.

The Colliers Walk shop which was briefly Nailsea International Stores has a notice to say 'new retailer coming soon' - we wait with baited breadth to learn what delight will be trading here.

The new library is being fitted out - one wall will be yellow! Opens this summer.

The Christians seem to have temporarily taken over another empty unit in Colliers Walk to publicise the Easter message.

The mobile phone shop is now called The Fone Shop, sorry only just noticed. and the key cutting business at Somerset Square now will have competition as Timpsons (see story below) has planning permission to open a 'pod' in Tesco car park.

The old college site behind the library looks worse than ever and in February the 'prior approval' proposal by Praxis to construct two additional floors on top of existing terrace of commercial buildings and residential flats to create 18 self-contained flats above 7 Clevedon Walk did not find favour with North Somerset

Window shopping at Crown Glass Centre

Council planners but the application form is still displayed in the ground floor window.

The one ray of sunshine on Tuesday, April 4, was the bright plant sale in the centre of the square.

See slideshow below for more images.

NEW PIERCING SHOP COMING: A new piercing and tattoo shop is coming to Nailsea. It replaces the small sweet shop which has been empty for some time. Now Platinum Piercings is hoping to move in shortly to 12a Colliers Walk. Appointments will be taken through Platinum Piercings Facebook page which has a WhatsApp action button but not until the shop is fully open, hopefully towards the end of the month

IN STORE: Nailsea International Store which shut up shop abruptly days before it was due to have its premises licence reviewed for selling alcohol to children in February last year has a notice in the window saying new retailer coming. The former travel agent is at 20 Colliers Walk at Crown Glass Shopping Centre. Update top of page

FINAL HOURS: Nailsea's last clothes shop closed on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, with the loss of five jobs. What's next we ask?

PLANNING APPLICATION WITHDRAWN

SOLE & SCROLL: Nailsea's original cobber and key cutter Shaun North celebrates on Saturday morning with mates the news that a potential competitor has withdrawn its planning application to move into Tesco Nailsea

ANOTHER CHAPTER: In October 2022, North Somerset Council signed a 125-year lease to secure the long-term future of Nailsea Library and keep the facility in the town centre. The library will be relocated to 6-8 Colliers Walk, previously occupied by HSBC bank. Contractors are onsite now fitting out the shelves for books and computers making space for quiet areas.

The yellow wall has already been painted. The library will be ready to move into this summer. What will happen to the old library in its iconic 1960s building is unclear at this time but a new planning application is expected for the whole area

TURKISH DELIGHTS: With a good rating from the food and hygiene inspector Nailsea's Coffee Corner was busy on Saturday morning with specialist delights being cooked and sold outside on its pavement area. To see more market day photos go to the slideshow in our gallery HERE

Collectables are objects which are worth collecting because they are beautiful or may become valuable.

Some people collect stamps, others Dinky toys while a popular choice for pottery fans is Clarence Cliff ceramics.

Old, new, retro and/or nostalgic the Steel family of Nailsea are turning their passion for collecting into a business by opening a store at Crown Glass shopping centre.

We imagine Nailsea glass will make a showing on the shelves!

James and Nina Steel will be opening Quality Collectables this July at 20 Colliers Walk.

Formerly a travel agent and then trading as Nailsea International Store this is a welcome rebirth of an empty retail unit.

While former councillor and the backbone of community help during the pandemic James will not be giving up his day job as director of Hews Recruitment which is also based on the town centre.Helped at times by one of the couples four children James will be finding the stock with Nina designing and leading the shop.

James said: “People who took part in the community group quiz held during lockdown have already had a sneak peek at some of our collectables which were the backdrop to the quiz.

“We love collecting historic, nostalgic and stylish items and can’t wait to offer some one-off items to others in Nailsea.

“Our aim is to stock products that create unique talking points, give you a blast from your childhood, provide an insight into history and of course a bit of style also.

“See you in July.”

Um, may just dust off my collection of tin badges and girls’ annuals.

A collective idea by Steel family

Nailsea's newest shop to open

Jojo Aesthetics & Platinum Piercings
12A Colliers Walk
Nailsea

Most of you will know Kirsten from Mark’d With Ink but her brother Paul is new to working in Nailsea

The pair have set up a partnership at Colliers Walk to offer body-beautifying treatments.

Kirsentsaid: "We have both lived in Nailsea on and off for more than 25years, so familiar local faces for anyone that would like an aesthetics treatment or a body,facial or dermal piercing.
"To celebrate us getting our own shop, we will be offering 10 per cent off ALL treatments for any bookings made before the end of May.

"We can’t wait to meet you, any questions please just pop in or contact us on mobile numbers below."

Aesthetics 07938 610343
Piercings 07759 981986

Stock worth nearly £1m is going into the sale of the century when Ochards the furniture people shut its Nailsea shop this month.

The family-run town centre store has been in business for more than 50 years selling traditional and contemporary furniture.

But now boss Robin Orchard has decided it is time for him to retire.

The sale at the Somerset Square shop will open to the public 10am-6pm on Friday and Saturday, May 12-13 and 11am-4pm on Sunday, May 14.

However, some valued customers have been sent a pre-sale invitation for a private sale two days beforehand.

The shop is currently closed as the massive price reduction tickets are prepared for the sale which will include suites, sofas, chairs, dining sets, wall units, sideboards, beds, wardrobes, coffee tables, pictures, mirrors, lamps, ornaments and gift sets.

Warehouse stock and new factory orders will be offered at massive price reductions.

Robin said on the pre-sale invitation: “Everything must go.”

Orchards is the second large store to close at Crown Glass Shopping Centre in recent weeks although some smaller independent businesses have opened or are poised to open.

Details of the new fish shop opening in Station Road is on our food and drink page HERE.

last day Saturday,May 27

Quality Collectables will be opening its doors at Colliers Walk for the first time on Thursday, July 13, at 9.15am. Normal opening days will be Thursday and Friday 9.15am-6pm and on Farmers' Market Saturdays. Although not open Monday to Wednesday customers will be able to book a visit on those days via the website www.qualitycollectables.co.uk.

Collectable shop opening

SHOPPING CENTRAL: Something is happening in Somerset Square (besides the library move) as the Dowry maintenance sheeting has expanded past the old NatWest bank premises to cover what was MandCo. This should get the rumours started again as M&S press office didn't answer our email about whether they were moving in. Shaun at the key kiosk didn't know either but said people keep asking him. We have been told by a very reputable source this week: ‘I am a regular at Impero in Portishead who said they are moving to Nailsea in September 2023. Could it be M&Co site?’ The 'new retailer coming soon' board has appeared in the former artificial flower shop at Crown Glass Place and opposite excited about the collectible antique-type shop opening at Colliers Walk which promises to have Nailsea glass among its opening stock - see photos of Nailsea glass in the red telephone box in High Street

GUESS WHO IS CALLING? The Phone Guys are opening a new shop in Nailsea. The store will be between the Turkish Coffee Corner and Joi unisex hairdressers at Colliers Walk in the unit briefly occupied by the vape shop. They already have shops in Weston and Burnham. Plan is to open at the end of July at same time the new library opens and before the Impero Lounge arrives but probably when the new fish shop lands at Station Road. And we have Quality Collectibles coming too. More later…photo when Colliers Walk had a chemist and Burchills...

ONE IN, ONE OUT: Sense is opening a new charity shop in Nailsea. It is currently advertising jobs here https://jobs.sense.org.uk/find-a-job/. We are told they will takeover the old shoe shop attached to Waitrose store. Sense supports everyone who is deafblind or has complex disabilities. They believe everyone should be able to take part in life, no matter their disability. However, we are also told that the Young Lives vs Cancer charity shop at Colliers Walk which has been closed for some time will not be reopening

NEW FISH SHOP: The Conscious Food Company is opening its new Nailsea fish shop at 9am on Wednesday, July 12, in the old betting shop on Station Road next door to Aaron's Pets. The company will continue to supply its wholesale restaurant business but now will be able to serve more people with the very best of Brixham seafood. Email hello@consciousfood.co.uk with any questions.

Photo: Mark Sanders, of Brixham

Among the militaria we saw a metal knuckle duster which turned out to be a paperweight so it was fear not there weren't any weapons of mass destruction on the shelves of a new Nailsea antique shop.

There were just a few swords and a rusty flintlock for sale in the latest addition to Colliers Walk in a unit at 20 which many moons ago was the Baker Dolphin travel agents, then a wool shop and finally the short lived Nailsea International Store.

Today rooting around this old curiosity shop you come across of sorts of weird and wonderful items from a bygone age.

Quality Collectables is the brainchild of businessman and former Nailsea town councillor James Steel aided and abetted by his wife Nina, their four children and Nina's parents.

The Colliers Walk shop also stocks vintage gaming consoles, wall plaques and framed pictures from maps to election propaganda.

Prices range from a few pence to many pounds, and we bagged a Nailsea blue glass pipe for £25 (to be collected).

The curios and collectable store was officially declared open at a launch party on Wednesday evening, July 12.

James and avid ‘hoarder’ has been stockpiling interesting and historic items for the past five years, initially storing them in his office in the town centre and at home.

He said: “I have always loved collecting, I turned my office into a man cave and used to have many items on display there.

"And then one day, my landlord suggested I open a shop.

"Quality Collectables has enabled me to turn my hobby into a business."

James is known to bag his bargain bounty at car boot sales, charity shops, salvage yards and auctions.

A Mario Brothers game proved popular at the launch and questions hovered over whether the treadmill was a lathe or sewing machine stand.

An old fruit machine, once deemed useless, has been re-purposed into a cool drinks cabinet, complete with LED lighting and optics.

There are also interesting old field phones and the first Nokia mobiles available on the market.

Nailsea's old curiosity shop

Also for sale are original posters, designed by famous political artist Shepard Fairey for Barack Obama’s election campaign in 2008.

And James also has a limited-edition Banksy's Colston 4 T-shirt, a signed example sold for £1,200 on eBay last year.

He added: “I hope that everyone aged from five to 95 will find something in here to interest them.

“It’s the kind of shop you will visit because you are not going to find items like it anywhere else.”

The shop, which will be run by James’s wife Nina, will open on Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 6pm.

It will also be open online on Saturdays.

People can also book appointments to visit the shop.

To find out more visit www.qualitycollectables.co.uk.

The Phone Guys new Nailsea shop is opening on Friday, September 22,

The store is between Coffee Cafe Corner and Joi unisex hairdressers at Colliers Walk in the unit briefly occupied by the vape shop.

Boss Wayne McQuistin said: "Final parts of interior signage will be installed on Thursday all ready for Friday.

"We will be open from 9am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sundays."

The Phone Guys also have stores in Weston-super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea.

The original plan was to open at end of July at the same time as the new fish shop but this was delayed.

Similarly the 'Impero Lounge' isn't opening in the old NatWest retail unit until the new year, we are reliably informed.

Nailsea calling

For Nailsea People who don’t read the Daily Mail comes the shock news that our last town centre bank is to close.
Lloyds at Crown Glass Place is to close on Thursday, February 1, in 2024.

This week NatWest, Lloyds, Halifax, and the Bank of Scotland have announced 36 more of their branches are to close.

The closures by four of Britain's biggest banks stretches across the country from the Isle of Arran, in Scotland, to Penzance in Cornwall.

Lloyds has taken the largest hit with 18 branches shutting their doors, compared to 15 for Halifax, two at Bank of Scotland and one for NatWest.

Lloyds Bank plc, a British retail and commercial bank, is considered one of the Big Four clearing banks and is/was nationwide the largest retail bank.

You can read the rationale about the closure HERE in a seven page pdf.

NatWest, HSBC and Barclays in Nailsea have all closed in the past few years as more and more customers move to online banking.
Luckily we still have the post office.
Barclays in the High Street closed Friday, July 16, 2021 a few weeks after HSBC at Colliers Walk which closed on Friday, June 25.
And six years ago Nat West at Somerset Square closed in June 2017 and its retail unit like Barclays has remained empty ever since.
Read more here
https://www.lloydsbank.com/contact-us/branch-closures

Nailsea's last bank to close in February

The ever-changing face of Nailsea High Street which is currently being dug up by National Grid will be changing even more during 2024.

We will be saying goodbye to some trusted friends while welcoming new businesses for 2024.

We are told that Home Additions is to close permanently from Saturday, February 17, which is market day. Of course, customers can always visit its Clevedon Emporium at Pizey Avenue.

The shop on the edge of High Street and Link Road is still listed for sale with Rightmove at £195,000.

We wish Alan Goddard a happy retirement, we loved having you in Nailsea.

After five years trading Bethan Walker shut up shop at Simply Green.

New owners’ husband and wife Martin and Laura Webster, of A Better Weigh in Clevedon, said it will be business as usual soon selling the same items as Beth including stocking the freezer.

They are pictured with assistant Eleanor who will be running the Nailsea store - rebranding to come.

Both Alan and Beth endeared themselves to the community and will be greatly missed.

Sunday, January 6, after its last weekly quiz co-owners James Murray and Simon Extance will end a challenging tenure of Coates House.

James took over the property in 2016 but from Friday, January 12, popular retired former landlord and head chef at Moorend Spout Terry Beardshaw and its manager and chef Emma Lake are going to be running the former Queens Head hostelry.

There are no immediate plans for any name change Emma said: “But we will be changing the menu but not to start with as we want to get in there meet the customers and get to know the staff and how the place runs.

“We will be introducing an evening menu soon with home cooked meals, using quality local produce.

“We will continue to serve breakfasts, brunch, and lunch as well as cakes, hot drinks and an array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.“

And she said food hours will also be same to start with at 9am-8:30pm.

Sunday quiz night will stay as will all the staff.

Emma added: “We will be redecorating the pub slowly as not to disturb the opening hours.”

New couple at the Ring O’Bells Ian and Nathan Hammond are ringing the changes with a Saturday morning breakfast buffet, new menu (see our food and drink page) and live band bookings and other events.

They are the third landlords in a year at the St Mary’s Grove pub on 12 months but have positive ideas for the future despite a hiccup at the start when they tried to crowdfund for redecorating.

Nailsea MicroPub which had opened on Sundays in the run-up to Christmas has reverted its Tuesday-Saturday opening hours meanwhile its next door neighbour White Truffle is closed for staff holidays until Wednesday, January 17.

At The Blue Flame Inn the kitchen is closed for January so its no pies, pizzas or roasts for a bit but the bar is open as normal.

Flower Bee Florist is taking its business online so the little shop on Old Church Road is available to lease. To contact Jenn with orders call 0743 261 2196.

And Lloyds Bank closes on Thursday, February 1, which leaves us with bank services at Nailsea Post Office and the giant ATM currently being constructed by HSBC all at Crown Glass Place.

Nailsea Town Council has been actively pursuing getting a shared banking hub set up in the town to help savers and spenders – watch this space.

The planning committee on Wednesday, January 10, is discussing plans for the old library and a new McDonald's located in the old NatWest bank and part of M&Co clothes shop next door.

The proposal is for internal alterations to units 21 and 22 to reduce size of Unit 22 for a restaurant and takeaway at Somerset Square Crown Glass Shopping Centre.

Currently there are 14 objections and four in support of the application.

The application for the conversion of the former library to more flexible commercial use is also on the agenda.

On Nailsea People December front page we broke the news that the iconic old library has been saved by local businessman Paul O'Brien and this summer it is hoped it will reopen as a Loungers restaurant.

Paul said at the time: “We hope to start work in January, just a few last-minute insurance conveyancing issues to be settled.”

However, the building is believed to be suffering from concrete cancer with an asbestos roof and the council estimated last year the repair bill could exceed more than £1m.

Set to reopen in summer 2024 as the Livro Lounge part of the Loungers Group of restaurants when Nailsea People canvassed opinion on its Facebook page there was overwhelming support for the project.

An online comment to North Somerset Council says: “Pleased to see that the old library building is not being demolished under this proposal and trust approval is granted soon so that Media Developments (Bristol ) Ltd can proceed early in the new year.”

New year, new Nailsea

PET PEEPS: The pet shop in Station Road has a wonderful array of plants for sell on its forecourt next door to the fish shop. Go check it out. Aaron's Pets is also feature on our Pet Peeps page with some great front window displays for all to enjoy

CO-OP STORE: In mid-April the shopfitters moved into the property near to Nailsea & Backwell railway station so not long now. An application for a liquare licence has been submitted while progress on the new shop and petrol station was featured on our March front page when the forecourt was full of rubble HERE

Mane the Backwell hairdressers is moving to the main road.

Mane Hair run by David Matthews has been based in Dark Lane for many decades.

But in a couple of weeks, it will be moving and taking over Hair @ Houlahans at West Town Road next door to Backwell Fish Bar.

This has a large forecourt and parking off the A370 just along from the crossroads.

A new sign is already in the process of being made and a big refit is planned.

The premises at Dark Lane will reopen soon as D.O.G. standing for Dog Obsessed Groomer and will be run by David's wife Anna-Karen.

All this is set to happen in less than a fortnight.

Mane hair stylists Claire and Baz who is planning to retire soon are moving with David.

David said: "All existing Houlahan self-employed staff are staying with us."

In total the changes will safeguard jobs for eight people at the salon and three new dog groomers.

TOP PHOTO: Google street

NAILSEA

PEOPLE