Welcome to the September HighStreetPositives Newsletter! 🌟

While headlines may paint a grim picture, the reality is different – across the UK, talented people and innovative businesses are working hard to make high streets vibrant and relevant. Our recent HighStreetPositives launch events in Soho and Darlington brought together high street stakeholders – including landlords, agents, retailers, councils, BIDs, charities, and more - celebrating creativity, sharing what’s working, the challenges and highlighting high streets as vital spaces for connection, wellbeing, and investment.

We’re thrilled to welcome Widd Signs as a new corporate supporter for HighStreetPositives! With over a century of experience in world-class signage, Widd Signs shares our passion for vibrant high streets. Alongside our other amazing supporters Nexus Planning, Kesslers London, Greenwoods Legal LLP, The Mosaic Partnership, and Enterprise Nation, their support helps HighStreetPositives stay independent and to grow. We’re actively looking for more like-minded organisations to work alongside us and support us – please get in touch if you are interested in hearing more.

‘The High Street is Dying’ They said…However…

There are loads of positive news stories from high streets across the UK. Here's a selection of highlights, celebrating new store openings, regeneration projects, and other positive developments. Thank you for all your contributions.

New Stores & Expansions

• ArrowHeadz, a UK-based darts retailer and experience brand, has opened its second store in Livingston, featuring six hi-tech lanes for ‘try before you buy’, after launching its first site in Norwich in August 2024.

• Birds Bakery is growing across the East Midlands with a new Ashbourne store and refurbishments in Arnold, West Bridgford, and Derby.

• Cornish Bakery has new sites in Hereford and Woodbridge, with Worcester and Newbury in the pipeline, and are looking for more locations.

• Crew Clothing confirms 20 new UK stores for 2026, in addition to 20 new openings this year.

• Topshop will reappear on UK high streets in February 2026 via 32 John Lewis stores (6 of these including Topman) , with standalone stores also planned.

Fashion & Lifestyle Highlights

• Urban Outfitters has transformed a long-empty Methodist church into a 5,000 sq ft Cork store.

• de Savary London – a luxury British lifestyle brand founded by Amelia de Savary – has launched a 1,644 sq ft pop-up on Chelsea’s Sloane Stanley Estate, showcasing fashion, accessories, and homeware.

• Stradivarius has unveiled a new Belfast store after major refurbishment.

• Arket has opened a 12,400 sq ft Dublin flagship spanning fashion, homeware, and beauty.

• Oliver Bonas is opening in Altrincham’s Stamford Quarter, taking over a former Poundland unit.

• Diamond Heaven has opened its first Dublin store, focused on custom jewellery.

• seddonanddavison brings rustic interiors and gifts to Harrogate.

• Nakagawa has opened its first European pop-up in Shoreditch, blending Japanese heritage crafts with local creative design.

Food & Hospitality

• Richoux, the historic London patisserie founded in 1909, has opened on Langham Place London - with expansion plans including Tower Bridge and abroad.

• Swansea city centre welcomes Carl’s Jr, Rituals, and Popeyes.

• Society Birmingham has opened at One Colmore Square, offering five independent kitchens including Shokupan, Slap & Pickle, and Coffee Bar Collective, with open-plan dining

Community & High Street Transformation

• Cash Access UK has launched six new banking hubs (Monmouth, Batley, Thetford, Morecambe, North Berwick, Earlestown), with 50 more due by 2025.

• Barnsley’s Alhambra Shopping Centre is gaining momentum, with The Perfume Shop expanding into a larger unit on a new five-year lease and the UK’s largest relocation of hospital outpatient services underway as part of the town’s trailblazing Health on the High Street programme. The new health and wellbeing hub will bring thousands of appointments into the town centre from this autumn, attracting an estimated additional 150,000 visits per year and generating at least £1.5 million in extra visitor spend, while boosting accessibility and convenience for local residents.

• Victoria Square, Belfast, gets a boost this winter: Bershka, Space NK (their first Northern Ireland store), and Pull & Bear (tripling space to 16,000 sq ft).

• Chesterfield Market Place has reopened after a major refresh, and the former Eyres store is approved for redevelopment into apartments and commercial units.

• London is recruiting a new CEO to spearhead Oxford Street’s transformation. Apply here: here

• Norwich Market has vacant stalls available to rent (apply by 1 October).

Awards & Recognition

• Headhunters Barber Shop & Railway Museum, Enniskillen, wins BIRA’s inaugural Love Your High Street Award 2025, celebrating its unique mix of barbering, heritage, and community impact. Read more here

Britain’s Social Clubs: A National Report

A new report from the Centre for Democratic Business highlights the vital role Social Clubs have played in the UK for over 150 years, offering inclusive, member-owned spaces for connection, culture, and civic life. Yet many face closure due to fragile finances, limited training, and lack of support. The report calls on government, funders, and the third sector to back these clubs, recommending the creation of a 21st Century Social Club Charter - a framework to provide recognition, training, funding, and long-term support to secure the future of these important community institutions.

Back our Social Clubs: A new report calling for a 21st Century Club Charter

This new report sets out the urgent case for government, funders, and the third sector to back our social clubs.

🚻 Public Toilets: An Ongoing Civic Challenge

Recent BBC stories from Bath, Whitby, and Malton show how the lack (or cost) of public toilets is affecting older residents, local businesses, and council budgets. It’s a theme familiar to HighStreetPositives readers - last September, Aceil Haddad wrote about the UK’s 'public toilet crisis', noting how closures hit high street footfall and community wellbeing. Picking up the baton, Clare Delmar has reviewed Designing Inclusive Public Toilets: Wee the People, a new book by Gail Ramster and Jo-Ann Bichard. Drawing on two decades of research, the authors make a clear case that toilets aren’t just functional — they’re vital civic assets that shape accessibility, regeneration, and even shopping habits. Clare praises the book for turning what’s often a taboo subject into a positive call to action for policymakers, planners and communities.

👉 Read Clare’s full review here.

Join the NEW HighStreetPositives Membership Community

High streets are so much more than shops – they’re vital community hubs that fight loneliness, combat isolation, reduce antisocial behaviour, and boost social wellbeing. That’s why we’re passionate about changing the narrative and bringing together people who truly care.

For just £10/month (£100/year), you can join a vibrant, well-connected community of champions and doers shaping the future of high streets. Our members come from every aspect of the high street – retailers, landlords, placemakers, councils, BIDs, and local community groups. As a member, you’ll get:

• Network, learn, and collaborate with fellow changemakers

• Early invites to events, online meet-ups, and future expert exchanges

• Access to our members’ platform with forums, member directory, and exclusive content

• A lovely HighStreetPositives badge by We Are Acuity to show your support

• Help make this community sustainable, so we can grow our focus on improving high streets

We’re currently just about 100 members strong – don’t miss your chance to join as a founding member before we open more widely. If cost is a barrier, just get in touch — this community is for anyone who believes in positive change.

Join Us – and help shift the high street story from decline to opportunity.

GRO Retail Autumn Event, 30 Sept–1 Oct at Old Billingsgate, London, is the UK’s largest retail property marketplace. Connect with 2,000+ landlords, brands, developers, and investors, access 1-2-1 meetings, showcase expertise, explore flagship sites, and celebrate excellence at the new GRO Awards. Accelerate deals, grow your business, and network efficiently. Find out more information here : https://groevents.com/retail