NINE independent retailers have opened in the last few months, indicating the small business scene is thriving in Hexham.
Hexham's town centre has welcomed indie businesses including Northumberland Antique Centre, Snap! Records and Travels with Amy M since the start of the year, while Obscuria, a gift shop and pottery studio, opened in late December last year.
Handmade jewellery business LollaMac and homeware store Grace & Purpose are two more independent shops which have opened in the past few weeks.
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New food additions include The Garden Coffee House, The Smashing Burger, Four Beaumont, an ice cream store, and 31 Market Place, a pop-up restaurant selling Italian-inspired dishes, have joined the lineup.
READ MORE: Pop-up eatery opens in Hexham marketplace
Four Beaumont, which has not yet opened, will be run by the owners of Market Place Coffee and will be the latest to join the independent lineup.
READ MORE: "There's nowhere else like Hexham", as new indie businesses thrive in town
The Hexham High Streets Heritage Action Zone project (HSHAZ) was officially completed in May to boost the town centre, with more than £3.5m investment in improvements to make it a more attractive, engaging, and vibrant place for people to live, work and visit, while also enhancing the Conservation Area status of the town centre.
Deborah Anderson, manager of Hexham Community Partnership, said: "In the last few months alone, Hexham town centre has welcomed six new, independent retailers plus three new places to eat.
"There's also an upmarket ice cream parlour - Four Beaumont - opening imminently opposite Hexham Abbey. For a small market town, this number of new businesses represents a tremendous boost to the local economy.
"As the town's development trust, Hexham Community Partnership - which owns Visit Hexham - will continue waving the flag for this brilliant, creative town and harnessing this wave of positivity."
Dr Suzanne Fairless-Aitken, town and county councillor for Hexham East, said: "Finally, the Hexham Renaissance is happening, new businesses are clamouring to get into our beautiful and historic town.
"The support our Town Council has given to events recently to help create a circular economy in town is starting to pay off, as well as the support of Northumberland County Council and the sleek, new heritage high street refurbishment.
"It's great to see new businesses so quickly taking over empty premises. The Range, Smashing Burger, LollaMac, Grace & Purpose, 31 Market Place, The Garden Coffee House, the old Deli 4 opening as a new ice-cream shop and many more."
She continued: "We really do have a mix of trendsetting indies and high-street regulars in Hexham now. Ideally, I would love a small supermarket or food shop to open up in the centre too, to help those who can’t get to the out-of-town-centre ones and it’s on my wish list. Who wouldn’t want to be here?"
Mayor of Hexham Derek Kennedy said: “The two empty units in the Market Place have been empty for some time, it’s great news that one unit has become a pop-up restaurant. Hexham has a high demand for hospitality and with the backing and reputation of the Beaumont Hotel I am sure it will do well. It’s a prime spot."
Labour MP Joe Morris said: "'It's always good to see businesses flourishing in our communities. Hexham town can and should be a thriving market town. As our MP, I'll support and celebrate the successes of our local businesses and their staff whenever possible.
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