August tips for shopping in Uckfield
Uckfield is to have its own art gallery. It will be called Pop Goes the Easel and an opening ceremony is due to take place on August 13.
The gallery is being run by Mike Harvey Penton, his wife Liz and Trudie Munn, writes Cathy Watson.
The trio will be resident artists but guest artists from around East Sussex will also be featured each month. The plan is to have craft stalls there too on Saturdays.
Liz said: “We want it to be a fun space for people to come and have a look at the art. It will be constantly changing so will be worth coming back to time and again.”
The owners of Sew n Sew, who were on their own in the Market Hall just a few months ago are very pleased to see more space being taken.
Quilting and cushion-making
Lydia Butler and Trevor Brown have now settled their business in a bigger unit and continue to increase their range of stock.
Fabric remnants are proving popular and Lydia said they are ideal for quilting and cushion-making.
There are more knitting patterns too and chairs are provided so you can look through them in comfort.
Also pleased see more units being taken at the Market Hall is Sally Bland at A Taste of Birdineye, an offshoot of the Birdineye Farm shop in Framfield Road.
Look out for shopping bags and gift boxes at A Taste of Birdineye where locally-produced ham and cheese have also been introduced to the shop.
There are rumours that a fish spa might be coming to the Market Hall soon so we’ll keep our eyes open to see if that happens.
Elsewhere in town I'm looking forward to the opening of two shops selling women’s wear.
You might already have spotted a story on the Uckfield News website about Pilgrim which is due to open at the premises most recently occupied by Zamboo.
Edwardian study
Owner Mercedes Hall is hoping to decorate her shop in the style of an Edwardian study and we should soon see signs of activity there.
Read more about Mercedes’ plans in our story: New Uckfield shop promises edgy but classic women’s wear.
We mentioned in Personal Shopper last month that Kay Bevan, who runs the lingerie shop Tres Joli, is planning to open a boutique and solarium at the former Procter Health Care premises.
Kay has sourced some of the brands she would like to feature at Tres Couture and they include Darling which she describes as “very pretty, quintessentially English” and Danish brands Share Female and I Say.
Kay was hoping to open her solarium at the end of July but has been delayed because of a wait for a telephone line to be installed.
She hopes both solarium and boutique will be open at the end of August.
Appetite babies
Have you visited the new food takeaway Appetite which is sharing the premises of Pizza Zone at the junction of High Street with Hempstead Road?
Freshly made breakfasts, lunches and snacks are on offer at the business run by Barry Ashford – chef at Uckfield seafood restaurant Phish – and Arthur Mieczkowski owner of South Africa UK in Church Street.
The men are proud dads of babies Christian and Bunni who are pictured here wearing vests featuring the logo of the new business. Bunni’s mum Elizabeth, Barry’s partner, customised the vests.
Learn more about Appetite in our story: New daytime role for Uckfield shop as Appetite moves in.
A sale started at PipeDreams on Saturday with up to 50 per cent off all men’s women’s and children’s clothing including board shorts and bikinis.
Winter deliveries
Winter deliveries have started arriving but the new stock won’t be appearing in the shop for a while yet.
Julie Hobbs, who runs the shop with husband David, said they were also having to think ahead to Christmas to secure enough scooters for sale during the festive season because there is such a high demand for them.
“We are used to ordering clothing in advance but we would normally order this sort of thing month by month,” said Julie.
There’s a sale on at Carvills which is due to run well into August. There are reductions throughout the store including some specific promotions such as 15% off all fabrics and wallpapers and 20% off selected roller, Venetian and vertical blinds.
There is also up to 20% off Neptune furniture and 10% off all lighting. Look for fabric remnants too.
Lots more items have been added to the sale at Limelight where prices have been cut by up to 50% on gym wear, swimwear, dance wear and Weird Fish clothing.
New techniques for stylists
Stylists at Claire Davies Hairdressing took time out recently to spend a day learning about new cutting, colouring and blow drying techniques.
There were demonstrations in the morning from Redken experts and during the afternoon salon staff practised newly-learned skills.
The day was called Every Day But With a Twist and was designed to teach quick, easy techniques which can be used in the salon. Stylists perfected The Hombre, a look where colour in hair softens in shade from top to bottom, and The Wrap, a style of fringe. “We all thoroughly enjoyed the day and were immediately able to start using the new techniques,” said Claire.
Wet shaves and tanning
Professional Hair Design the new men’s barber shop is now open for business and owner David Thomas is enjoying welcoming customers.
Wet shaves are proving popular at the shop, which is next door to the Dianne Hutt Gallery, and there is interest in the spray tanning too.
Read more about PHD here.
New look for TJs
Around the corner in Church Street TJ Barbers Shop has a new look. It has been freshly decorated and has new flooring.Owner Steve Smallwood is pleased with the facelift.
See also: TJ Barbers Shop gets a facelift.
Kandey is ready for parents looking ahead to buy new school uniform for September.
Owner Jenny Brook is offering trousers and skirts all for one price £12.99. Navy and black trousers have stitched adjustable waist bands in penny pocket boot cut and drop waist box pleat skirts have a side zip.
Looking for a last minute holiday bargain? It might be worth you calling in at Co-operative Travel where they are offering 5% off UK holidays. For example it is possible to have a caravan for a week from £75 from Hoseasons.
The travel agent is also offering up to 10% off Royal Caribbean cruises advertised in the 2011-2012 brochure.
Take in your own bottle - or buy one to recycle - and you can now top up with olive oil at Hartfields Produce Store.
Olive oil top up
Owner James Hartfield is buying the olive oil from the company supplying him with olives that prove popular with customers – and very tasty it is too.
To top up with half a litre costs £3.75, a litre is £6.95.
Vegetables to look out for there at the moment are baby English carrots and runner beans.
Look out for Esra
Did you spot the Courtyard Coffee Shop stall on Luxford Field during the Big Day Out last month?
Owner Esra Baser, who is pictured here with her friend Esmeray cheerily serving a queue of customers, is keen to involve her business in community events.
Look out for them on carnival night, Saturday, September 3, when they are planning to have a stall in the shop doorway. They will be selling fare such as Turkish meszze and borek pastries with a range of salads.
New signage and canopy have been installed at George Moss jewellers. The sign glitters in the sunlight and the whole frontage looks very smart.
The next plan is to update features for window displays, according to sales adviser Antonia Suckling.
Valuation day
Antonia said the shop was stocking more diamond rings at the moment. Some of the stones are coloured, such as canary diamonds which have a yellow hue.
A valuation day is coming up at the shop on Friday, September 2. Appointments can be made to see a valuer from the Guild of Valuers who, for a nominal charge, can give a full photographic valuation of jewellery, including weighing and valuing each stone.
Last but not least in our shopping news round-up a beauty salon has opened at the Freedom Leisure Centre in Uckfield. It is called the Hollywood Beauty Salon and can be found just inside main entrance of the building.
See also:
(Added to site Monday, August 1st, 2011)
