eading commercial agent Halls is playing a key role in revitalising the Shropshire market town of Bridgnorth.
The award-winning Shrewsbury-based agency has attracted a diverse tenant mix and sense of community to the town’s Central Court Shopping Centre, an established arcade of 12 units for independent retailers and service businesses.
Over the past two years, Halls Commercial has secured successful lettings and agreements across several units. Office 9 is currently under offer, Units 4 and 8 have being actively marketed and let by Halls Commercial while tenancies for Units 2 and 7 have been agreed following direct approaches.
One of the tenants is Lilium’s Imaginarium – liliumsimaginarium@gmail.com – an appointment-only tattoo studio in Unit 8, which opened in August. Co-founded by award-winning tattoo artist Lily Heather and entrepreneur Ryan Antony, the studio is an example of local business investment and ambition.
“Central Court is home to a vibrant mix of young entrepreneurs and from day one the other business owners have been incredibly kind, supportive and welcoming,” said Ryan. “Lily brought her vision to life with the support of Halls Commercial, seamlessly securing the unit and launching the studio just months later.
“Smaller units like ours offer a lot of advantages. Rent is more affordable than a main Bridgnorth High Street unit, which keeps overheads lower, while still being just a few steps from the town centre. The setting gives us the privacy and security our clients value.”
Lily added: “Peaceful yet central, with a creative and supportive business community around us, Central Court felt like the perfect place to make our mark and build Lilium’s Imaginarium into the go-to name for tattoos in Shropshire.
“It feels calm and self-contained, almost like a hidden courtyard. The mix of independent businesses gives it a creative, boutique feel that aligns perfectly with the atmosphere we wanted for Lilium’s Imaginarium.”
Making a positive contribution to the town’s economy is important to both Ryan and Lily.
“From the start, we’ve aimed to be active, supportive members of the Central Court and Bridgnorth community,” explained Lily. “During our studio’s renovation, we worked exclusively with local tradespeople and suppliers, even using local charity and antique shops for our furnishings.”
Ryan added: “We’ve also begun getting involved with local events, like the Bridgnorth Music Festival. We are also in talks with neighbouring businesses, including Dudley Building Society, Voodoo Valley Records and The Court Bar, about hosting future live music events to draw more visitors to the Court and showcase its vibrant independent scene.”
Lily has advice for other small businesses considering setting up in Bridgnorth and Shropshire: “If you’re dreaming of starting a business, go for it! Small, community-orientated shopping arcades, like Central Court, make setting up possible for independent businesses and it’s important to keep local towns thriving.”
Central Court offers flexible units ranging from 177 sq ft to over 400 sq ft, making it ideal for SMEs, sole traders and creative service providers. It’s a similar model across many smaller Shropshire shopping arcades.
Simon Cullup-Smith, commercial agency specialist at Halls, said: “Central Court represents the kind of opportunity that small businesses are increasingly seeking – accessible, well-located and supported by a strong local network.
“We’re proud to have played a part in successful recent lettings and look forward to welcoming more businesses to Bridgnorth.”
To check out available business letting opportunities in Bridgnorth and across Shropshire visit www.hallsgb.com/commercial or contact the company at email: commercialmarketing@hallsgb.com or Tel: 01743 450700
Picture caption:
Award-winning tattoo artist Lily Heather and entrepreneur Ryan Antony outside their studio at Central Court Shopping Centre, Bridgnorth.
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