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(L-R) David Maxwell, Lennie Spillman, Liz Dempsey, Chris Rogers and Murray Jones Claverton Street, Widcombe, Bath.
Leonard Robert Spillman
Liz Dempsey
Owner of Lennie’s Cafe, Coffee and Gift Shop
q. What do you think of Widcombe? A. It’s such a great location - close to the city centre yet surrounded by green open spaces.
q. What brought you to Widcombe? A. The small, close community vibe. q. What do you think makes it such a distinctive place? A. Its many small independent businesses that look out for each other.
meet
the team...
We get to know some of the independent business people in the vibrant area of Widcombe.
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he Widcombe Association (WA) is passionate about nurturing the vibrant Widcombe community and enhancing the local area. It encourages community spirit by holding social events and sponsoring activities as well as acting as a channel for local opinion on Widcombe matters and wider views on the World Heritage City of Bath and its future. Typically members of the WA are Widcombe residents, businesses and community groups, but you don’t have to live in Widcombe to join. Your £10 annual household membership entitles you to discounts at many of the shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs in the Parade and beyond - and invitations to events which range from craft fairs to operas in manor house settings. Visit www.widcombeassociation.org.uk for more details and to join online.
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b at h p e o p l e
b at h p e o p l e
Chris Rogers
David Maxwell Salon director at David Maxwell Hairdressing q. Why did you decide to open your business in Widcombe? A. Having lived here for 11 years it seemed the obvious place to start the salon. I was looking for somewhere outside the city centre but still wanted a vibrant street. q. What makes Widcombe so special? A. It has a fantastic sense of community spirit from both the traders and the residents. Now that Widcombe has been reborn with our new road scheme, it has made a very positive change to our community. q. Why would you recommend people visit the area? A. There are so many independent businesses which creates a really unique experience. q. What do you enjoy most about your job? A. I love the guests that I look after; I can’t really call it ‘work’. q. Why do you think it’s important to shop local? A. Widcombe is full of great independents each with their own characters, none of these would be there if locals didn’t support us so well.
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Widcombe Street Party organiser and committee member of the WA q. Tell us about your job: A. I help the WA organise concerts, events and get-togethers – anything from operas to street parties! q. What brought you to Widcombe? A. The opportunity to be part of a vibrant local community and to help it reclaim its high street from the noise and pollution of through-traffic. q. What makes the area so distinct? A. There are plenty of things to see and do and it has some great independent shops, pubs and cafes. q. Why would you recommend people visit the area? A. It’s the friendliness of the people that visitors notice most – come and see for yourself. q. What parts of your job do you love the most? A. I love seeing the amazing things that can be achieved when people put aside their differences and work together. q. Why do you think it’s important for people to shop local? A. I think people are happiest when they feel connected to people and things around them, and shopping local is a great way of staying connected.
Co-owner at The Ram Pub
q. Why would you recommend people visit the area? A. For the great retail, eating and drinking opportunities. q. What are your hobbies outside of work? A. Golf and running.
q. Why would you recommend people visit the area? A. Because it’s a special place looked after by the traders.
q. What parts of your job do you enjoy most? A. I love meeting people and talking, but the hours can be tough.
q. What are your hobbies outside of work? A. I have small children, so at the moment they tend to govern what I do. I have a Lambretta Scooter which is great fun though.
q. Why do you think it’s important for people to shop local? A. To keep people in jobs and to foster a real sense of community.
q. Why do you think it’s important for people to shop local? A. Because local shops retain close contact with their customers to give extra special service.
Murray Jones Veterinary Surgeon and owner of Ashman Jones Vets q. Tell us a bit about your business: A. It’s a small, independent two-branch veterinary practice based in Bath (at Widcombe and London Road). q. Why do you think the area of Widcombe is unique? A. It’s a village in a city with a tight loyal community who want to help and improve this lovely place. q. Why would you recommend people pay the area a visit? A. It’s recently had a complete upgrade. We should be getting more parking spaces very soon when the Shoppers Car-Park re-opens. q. What are your hobbies outside of work? A. Swimming – I’m into open water swims, recently swimming the Dardanelles Straight which is a five mile swim from Europe to Asia. q. Why do you think it’s important for people to shop local? A. Widcombe is one of the last high streets in the UK where over 80 per cent of the shops are independent. We need everyone’s help to keep it this way.
Rajen Doshi Pharmacist at Widcombe Pharmacy q. What do you think of the Widcombe area? A. There is a real sense of community spirit. When I first started working here four years ago I remember being made to feel very welcome. q. Why would you recommend people visit the area if they haven’t yet done so? A. It’s full of interesting shops, buzzing cafes, pub and restaurants in a more serene part of the city. The roadworks around Widcombe have gone on far too long and people could be forgiven for thinking it’s just one big mess to avoid, but the traders are still there and we’ve been promised our car park is coming back very soon so hopefully the parade will be better than before.
Jeremy Boss Chairman of the widcombe Association q. Tell us a bit about your job: A. The WA aims to foster a vibrant local community and to preserve and enhance Widcombe and its environs. It is the biggest residents’ association in Bath with over 500 household and 55 business members. q. What brought you and your business there? A. The WA was set up over 30 years ago to agitate for improvements to the road through the Parade. Whilst achieving improvement in Rossiter Road is an important milestone, the WA has lots of community based activities and events, bringing volunteers and responsible authorities together to improve our area and promote our business members - nearly all independent local traders. q. Why do you think the area is so special? A. It’s so close to the city yet has one foot in the country, and has a great community spirit.
q. What do you enjoy most about your job? A. Every day brings an exciting challenge and you never know who’s going to walk through the door.
q. Why would you recommend people pay it visit? A. Come and see the city of Bath from another perspective; walk through the woods and fields and look back across the city perhaps from the panoramic view from Alexandra Park or with the Georgian framing of Prior Park Gardens.
q. Why do you think it’s important for people to shop local? A. There is a real trend in people wanting to know more about the products they buy. Local shops are the heartbeat of a vibrant high street and without them the place would become soulless and monotonous.
q. Why do you think shopping local makes such a difference? A. Because we have a great mix of independent traders in Widcombe, who, because the of the extended road works, have been having a tough time. If we don’t support and use them then we may lose them.
q. Tell us something interesting about yourself: A. I’m a bit of speed freak and love downhill mountain biking and skiing.
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