On-going investment in Gainsborough town centre has led to yet another business being able to expand into the area.
Encouraged by visionary rejuvenation work by West Lindsey District Council, business owners, Baz and Lora Hunter, are moving their deli business into Market Place.
They will take over the empty space that was formerly ‘On the Square’, beneath the former town hall. They say they were attracted by the council-led investment, which is helping to re-shape and boost sustainable growth in the town.
The couple’s deli, Alfie’s is currently located on Lord Street, where it has been serving up a variety of tasty hot food since it was opened in June last year.
In the next few weeks, it will relocate and will benefit from a new, extended canopy and sympathetic repairs to all of the shop fronts in the row of units, supported by the Council’s Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).
Baz explains, the new location, the former town hall, will allow them to continue their existing offering, but also expand their business to offer much more.
“We are very excited to be expanding our business into Market Place. The investment into the town centre is fantastic, and we are so happy to now be a part of those plans.
“Having a much bigger unit will mean we can continue to serve sustainable coffee, jacket potatoes, seaside doughnuts and lots more, but also offer a bigger variety and give the public another option for breakfast or lunch too.”
Alfie’s, named after the couple’s young son, will continue to work with local firm Blyton Ice Cream, to serve up a huge range of flavours, as well as some very exciting surprises to be announced soon.
Baz added:
“We have built up a fabulous reputation in our first year, and with a bigger presence and an increased footfall in the heart of the town, we are looking forward to being even better and we are very grateful of the support from the people of our town.”
Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr Trevor Young, said he was delighted to see a local business expand and invest in Market Place.
He said:
“West Lindsey District Council has been working with local building owners and tenants to improve the condition of historic buildings with the aim of bringing empty properties back into use.
“I am thrilled as I know the vitality that Alfie’s will bring to the area and welcome the investment into Gainsborough’s Market Place by another local business. With the ongoing investment and wider work taking place we aim to attract further investment and business into the historic heart of Gainsborough.”
The works on the former town hall 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.
Through investment such as the council’s Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme, we’re committed to restoring historic buildings within Gainsborough town centre, which in turn ensures we’re creating an environment that continues to be attractive and encourages business into the heart of the town.
Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director for Planning, Regeneration and Communities at the Council, said:
“It’s great to see businesses like Alfie’s expanding into the area and this really does demonstrate our strategy of creating an environment that encourages resilient and sustainable growth, is working. This is all part of the council’s wider multi-million-pound regeneration, which includes the creation of new green spaces and a £9 million development of a four-screen cinema complex, restaurant, retail units and additional car parking provision.”
Gainsborough is undergoing a hugely transformational town centre regeneration project - ‘Thriving Gainsborough 2024’ Find out more about the project enabled by investment from the Levelling Up Fund on the Invest Gainsborough website Invest Gainsborough