Celebrating local businesses

With tonight's ADAS Seasonal Fair showcasing local businesses – it starts at 7.00pm in the Public Hall – it's timely to highlight the dramatic changes in Audlem's retail shops in the last year. And in the last couple of weeks, the pace of change has increased dramatically.

New BusinessesTwo weeks ago, thanks to the magnificent refurbishment of the Phoenix building where the old Co-op stood, two new businesses opened: The Flower Company and Audlem Dry Cleaners. Both say they have had a fantastic reception from local shoppers.

Next week, on Thursday 19th November, the third shop in the building, AudlemCycleSports, is due to open, run by local couple Nikki and Tim Ball. They have been cycling for many years and recently formed the very successful Audlem Cycling Club which now has 60 members.

Boots, Chester's, Bo'tiqueAcross the Square, in Cheshire Street, Boots invested in a major refurbishment so Audlem now has a larger chemist's shop.

About the same time, the old bookies' office that had been unused for many years was spruced up and Chester's hairdressers moved in to the village.

Across the road, Bo'tique by Sarah Allan, in the new Moseley's Yard development, is little more than a year old.

PubsThe past year has seen changes in the pubs too with Jo and Allan taking over the Lord Combermere in recent weeks and already returning it to the high quality pub it was under Steve and Helen Nash who left for pastures new at the end of May.

Nigel and Bridie Walker at the Bridge Inn are also newcomers to the village, only taking over the pub last December. They're laying on events throughout the year and the pub is buzzing.

Since Audlem Online was launched just over four years ago, other notable changes we've been able to report have been the opening of the Coffee Lounge by the new proprietors at the Salad Bowl; the launch of the larger, brand new Co-operative Food Store and the very welcome re-opening of the Mill Shop after a period of closure and uncertainty about the shop's future. The Old Priest House also re-opened after its devastating fire.

All these businesses have added to the choice and quality of shopping, eating and drinking in Audlem. Following the lead of ADAS with its Seasonal Fair tonight to promote local business, Audlem Online will be running a series of articles on our local businesses, new and old, over the coming weeks – after all, there's much to celebrate on the Audlem shop and pub scene.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.