A long-established Gainsborough firm says work by West Lindsey District Council to develop the town’s market square is behind its decision to move to a prime town centre location.
Horsleys of Gainsborough is moving part of its business to 11 Market Place, an area of town currently part of a multi-million pound regeneration initiative by the council.
The building, previously occupied by Savers, has been vacant for some time, but with the wider regeneration works within the historic town centre that include a four-screen cinema, the location proved ideal for Horsley’s, a family-run business established back in 1902.
Horsleys managing director, Dave Horsley, described the move as a ‘no brainer’ because of the council’s ongoing development of the site and support available.
“I went to a breakfast club meeting arranged by the council at the golf club last year where we heard about the support available through the Levelling Up Fund and Invest Gainsborough.
“It’s great that we can now relocate our bed shop on Church Street to the town centre to increase our prominence in the town.”
The new location will become the company’s ‘bedroom superstore’ with beds and bedroom furniture. He added:
“With the plans for the new cinema and other development going on here, it’s a massive deal for us moving here.”
Sympathetic repairs to the shop front to enhance the historic setting of the Market Place will be supported by the Council’s Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme (THI). The works will complement the THI development in the town centre to date, which includes the nearby Fabric Store at 5–7 Market Place, which opened in 2023 following extensive building renovation.
West Lindsey District Council has been working with local building owners and tenants to improve the condition of historic buildings. The aim is to reverse the decline of the town by offering grants towards the costs to renovate the buildings, bringing empty properties back into use.
As previously reported, the council was awarded £1.25m to repair, restore and regenerate the buildings in Gainsborough as part of the THI. The National Lottery Heritage Fund award for historic building repair grants was later supplemented significantly by a large additional award from the Levelling Up Fund.
Cllr Trevor Young, Leader of West Lindsey District Council, said he was delighted to see Horsleys moving into the building. He said:
“With the ongoing investment and work taking place as part of the cinema development our aim is to attract further investment and business into the area and with Horsley’s moving, this is exactly what has happened. If we continue to do what we’re doing here, over the next few years we will see the town centre develop in a way we’re trying to achieve.”
Jasper Caudwell, from Pygott and Crone, the agent that handled the sale at 11 Market Place, said:
“We are delighted to see Horsley of Gainsborough take up ownership of 11 Market Place. The deal cements renewed optimism for retail premises in the local area and works towards re-stimulating Market Place alongside the multi-million pound cinema and leisure complex on the neighbouring site.”
Gainsborough is undergoing a hugely transformational town centre regeneration project - ‘Thriving Gainsborough 2024’ including a £9 million development of a four-screen cinema complex, restaurant, retail units and additional car parking provision.
Find out more about the Thriving Gainsborough 2024 project enabled by investment from the Levelling Up Fund on the Invest Gainsborough website