Viva Lewes Issue #139 April 2018

BUSINESS NEWS
I’ve realised that builders working on High
Street refurbs keep themselves amused by answering
the inevitable question ‘what’s going in
there, then?’ with a variety of made-up answers.
So I’m taking with a pinch of salt the answer I
got when asking just that to a high-viz-vested
chap working in the building at the top of Station
Street that was until recently Santander.
“Ann Summers,” he said. So there you go.
Further up the High Street, a builder was more
forthcoming about the work being done to what
used to be the Lloyds cash-point cubbyhole. As
reported in this space a few months ago, it’s an
extension to Shanaz.
Most of the churn in the town is about eateries
this month. Station Street is worthy of particular
mention: the Turkish coffee shop, Charade,
where Tash Tori used to be, seems to be a place
for real coffee aficionados: I tried a Turkish
coffee which came in a fabulously ornate lidded
container, and tasted superb. Meanwhile down
the bottom, Delish are shutting down after
seven years of selling pastries, pies and other
well-cooked savouries: as yet we have no news
of a replacement.
It’s a period of firsts for Lewes: our first pintxos
bar (see VL#138) followed by our first sushi
restaurant (though don't worry Lemongrass
are still doing Thai, see pg 71) followed by our
first dedicated bagel house. Bagelman have
been trading in Brighton since 1996; their fifth
outlet (and the first outside the city) is where
Cheese Please used to be. Mine’s a Reuben, in
an onion bagel, please.
Anyone who sees an empty space where Fisher
Street Frames and Fleurie used to be, don’t
despair. The two shops, joined at the hip, are
both moving to another side-by-side pair of
spaces, in the basement of the Needlemakers.
Framer Andrew tells me he’s not changing the
name of his company. He also tells me what’s
most likely to fill the space that he’s relinquishing,
then swears me to silence, dammit.
Opposite the station, Surelock Solutions are
shutting up shop, but locksmith Alan Peters
will be going mobile with the same contact
details. And the vape shop next door is going
to be replaced… by another vape shop. So we’ll
still get some interesting smells round there.
Finally, we attended the launch of the 2018
Lewes District Business Awards in the Depot
on March 13th, and we’ve happily agreed to be
on the judging panel again this year. There are
14 categories (Company of the Year, Best Independent
Retailer, Best Green Business etc) and
if you would like to nominate your company
for any of the awards, you have until April 30th
to do so. Visit lewesbusinessdistrictawards.
co.uk for details of all the categories and how to
enter. Good luck! Alex Leith
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