Category: COMMERCIAL

The opening of a new independent pet supply shop in Kenilworth is set to get tails wagging all over the town.

‘It’s a Dog’s World and Friends’ will be opening on Saturday, April 9 in Talisman Shopping Centre at the old Charles Ager unit by former Kenilworth School pupil and animal-lover Lauren McDonnell, from Baginton.

The shop will feature all sorts of products for a variety of pets, including homemade toys and cakes for pets made by Lauren herself.

Lauren, 24, had originally worked in a pet shop in Cheylesmore in Coventry, and found her entrepreneurial streak during the first lockdown in 2020 when she baked cakes for dogs and sold them online under the name ‘It’s a Dog-Eat-Cake World’.

An owner of two dachshunds, Rex and Rolo, Lauren knew there was a good market for homemade pet products, especially when so many people bought a pet during the pandemic.

She then branched out into making further items for dogs with her sister business ‘It’s a Dog’s World’. Both proved to be very successful.

With her experience at the pet shop in Cheylesmore and business success under her belt, Lauren decided to take the plunge and open her first shop in Kenilworth – for all pets rather than just dogs.

She said: “I’ve loved pets all my life – I’ve owned just about every animal you can think of – and my work in a pet shop made me realise just how much I’d like to run one of my own.

“I had looked at places in Leamington and Warwick to open it, but I’m a bit of a home bird, so Kenilworth was the place where I really wanted to open my first shop.”

Property agents Wareing & Co marketed the unit and were able to complete the deal quickly for Lauren.

“I started looking just before Christmas 2021 and found the unit in Talisman Shopping Centre for sale. I knew not long after viewing it that it was the right place for my business,” she said.

“Wareing & Co were brilliant to deal with. They ensured all the paperwork was sorted quickly so I could get on with fitting out the store.

“Kenilworth is such a friendly place, and the residents really love to support independent businesses. I’ve already had support from passers-by and other businesses in Talisman as I’ve been getting my shop ready for opening.

“I’ve made sure there’ll be plenty of room in the shop for people to visit with their pets, and I’ll be looking forward to getting to know Kenilworth’s wonderful pets over the coming months – as well as their owners of course!”

Bill Wareing, founder of Wareing & Co, added: “Talisman is a fantastic site with plenty of regular footfall, and Kenilworth is home to plenty of animal-lovers, so we think Lauren’s business will get off to a flying start.

“As a dog-owner myself, I’ll certainly be popping in to take a look at the products and treats for sale at the shop.”

A new steak restaurant has opened in Leamington Spa following a £500,000 investment – and highlights the resilience of the town according to Wareing & Co owner Bill Wareing.

Middletons Steakhouse & Grill has just opened a new restaurant in the former Gusto unit on Regent Court, bringing 35 full and part-time jobs into the area.

The restaurant will be able to serve 190 covers, and features an outdoor area for al fresco dining in the warmer months.

And Bill Wareing, owner of Wareing and Co which marketed the unit, believes this deal shows of the strength of the sector in Leamington despite the challenges posed by Covid-19.

He said: “Middletons Steakhouse & Grill opening in Regent Court is yet another example of how well Leamington, and in particular Regent Court, has weathered the storm of Covid-19 and is coming back strong.

“The restaurants at Regent Court have been managed very well by landlord Columbia Threadneedle, and as such are now in a great position to take advantage of the recovering economy.

“Top restaurant brands such as Middletons moving to Leamington is a sign that the economy is getting back on track, which is brilliant news. 

“We are also in talks with new food and beverage tenants to move into the former Jaeger unit as well, showing further confidence in Regent Court and the town.

“We’re looking forward to seeing Middletons move in and we’re confident they will have great success at Regent Court.”

The Leamington restaurant is Middletons’ ninth after opening its first near King’s Lynn, Norfolk, in 2011, and its first in the West Midlands region.

Stephen Hutton, managing director of Middletons Steakhouse & Grill, added: “We’re so excited to bring Middletons to Leamington Spa.

“It’s a beautiful town and has a thriving dining scene that we wanted to be part of. It aids our expansion plans across the Midlands and we can’t wait to open our doors later this month.

“It’s been a difficult time for hospitality with all the restrictions during the pandemic. But we’ve managed to take our business into Cambridge and now Leamington Spa and I think our survival and progress is due to the strength of the brand and what it offers. It’s all underpinned by a sensible and sustainable expansion model.”

Wasps player Ben Harris is co-launching a new personalised fitness studio in Leamington after going into business with a successful gym owner.

The 31-year-old prop – who helped the Black and Golds to a second-place finish in last season’s Gallagher Premiership – is behind a new joint venture called Studio Worx, which is offering members one-to-one and group-based training programmes.

The fitness studio – which is creating eight jobs – will be based on Livery Street in Regent Court, and is set to open its doors in January after finalising a ten-year lease with Wareing & Company.

Ben is opening the studio alongside experienced entrepreneur and gym-goer Jack Gibson, who has launched five of his own gyms over the last seven years under the Fitness Worx brand, which has a presence in Kenilworth, Warwick, Southam, Bidford and Shrewsbury.

And despite the success of Jack’s gym empire – which now has more than 1,000 memberships combined – the 30-year-old is keen to stress that the Leamington studio will be adopting a different approach.

Jack said: “Unlike Fitness Worx, our Leamington base won’t be a gym, but more of a place where our members can come to embark on their own body transformation programme, under the guidance of a qualified fitness instructor.

“We will have space for up to 120 members to embark on their own physical journey – whether it is losing body fat, building body strength, improving cardiovascular fitness or a combination.

“I’ve become good friends with Ben as we both go to the gym together in Kenilworth – and when I suggested the concept of a boutique style fitness studio he was really supportive of it.

“The idea for Studio Worx came about because I’d noticed that a lot more people wanted the benefits of going to a gym that had a private feel about it – and our concept for Leamington has been vindicated so far, as we have had 80 sign-ups ahead of launching.”

For Ben, Studio Worx provides a welcome challenge away from the pitch in preparation for life after rugby.

Ben added: “I have always wanted to open a gym, and in Jack I have the ideal business partner to learn from and make this a success.

“Lockdown gave us the time to press ahead with developing our plans, and it soon became apparent that there was a gap in the market for a smaller high street-based fitness destination which you see quite often in bigger cities such as London.

“I’m really excited to get the business up and running, and it will certainly help me to prepare for later life when I eventually decide to retire from elite level rugby.”

Jonathan Blood, of Wareing & Company, helped Ben and Jack to find a suitable location for their business, and believes Studio Worx’s impending arrival is coup for Leamington.

He added: “Variety is key to the success of any town centre, and Studio Worx provides that with a different approach to fitness.

“Memberships for the studio are growing already, which will boost footfall into the town centre which will hopefully have a positive knock-on effect for neighbouring businesses.”

An iconic office building in Stratford-upon-Avon has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal.

The Crown Buildings, which occupies a prominent location just off the Alcester Road and is situated next to the Morrisons Supermarket, has been sold to established Midlands-based property developer BPG.

The two-storey, 17,000 sq ft office building, which sits on 1.3 acres of land, was previously home to the local HMRC Tax Office but has more recently been occupied by Stratford College, Avon Support and the town’s Job Centre.

John Southall, of BPG, said: “We are delighted to have completed on the purchase of the Crown Buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon.   

“Our plans for the site include retirement housing or care home development amongst other ideas. 

“The purchase was funded from cash resources within the Group and we continue to seek similar sites.” 

Wareing & Company and Bampton Satchwell Bull (BSB) acted jointly on the sale on behalf of Mapeley Estates.

Jonathan Blood, of Wareing & Company, added: “Crown Buildings is just around the corner from where the first phase of Stratford’s Canal Quarter development is taking place, and just further down the road from the already successful Arden Quarter development – so I am sure BPG’s future plans will no doubt complement the regeneration of the area.”

Andrew Bull, of BSB, commented: “Seeing investment at this level – despite the difficult economic backdrop we are operating in – is an encouraging sign for the future across various sectors, and hopefully deals of this nature can attract further inward investment into the town.”

Warwick District Council has recently completed the purchase of a centrally located building in Royal Leamington Spa for affordable housing, at social rent levels. Located within the upper floors of the Kwik Fit building at 1 Warwick Street, the conversion will see the empty space brought back into use in a highly sustainable town centre location.

Research shows the biggest affordable housing need in the district is for one-bedroom accommodation and the intention is to convert the upper levels to Council-owned flats at social rent levels, predominantly for single people and couples. Social rent levels are the cheapest level of affordable housing and are the model many people remember for traditional social rented homes.

In light of the Council’s recent declaration of a climate emergency, specifications for the conversion work will include sustainability measures.

The Kwik Fit business, which operates from the ground floor of the building will be unaffected by the purchase and will continue to trade as normal, with no disruptions.

The £2.5 million sale was arranged by Leamington-based commercial agents Wareing & Co, who acted for a private investor, based in Birmingham, who had owned the property for 12 years.

Bill Wareing from Wareing & Co said:

“The upper floors of the building were occupied by research company Market Location but they vacated more than a decade ago so it is good news for the town that they will be converted through this purchase by the local authority, and the building will be back in full use.”

Warwick District Council’s portfolio holder for Housing Services, Cllr Jan Matecki commented;

“This new purchase builds on the work we have already begun to increase the Council’s housing stock to include more affordable housing. By utilising a building where the upper floors have remained empty for five years, we’re able to bring a redundant space back into use whilst meeting the high demand for one-bedroom properties. With its central location, close to Leamington town centre and excellent amenities, we hope the development will appeal to single people and couples keen to stay in, or move into the area.”