Where to shop in Uckfield this month
A baker is on the verge of completing a deal to set up shop in the premises formerly occupied by the lingerie business Tres Joli at 21A High Street, Uckfield.
Commercial agents Stiles Harold Williams told Uckfield News.com yesterday that the letting should be completed either yesterday or today.
We look forward to being able to tell you more, writes Cathy Watson.
New owner takes over the Hop Barn
A new owner has taken over at the Hop Barn in Olives Yard, Uckfield.
Experienced restaurateur Kim Fishlock has previously run a restaurant in Petworth for eight years and another in the city of London for 12 years.
After spotting the Hop Barn on the market and taking on the business Kim moved to Laughton to be nearby.
“The business came first and then the house,” she said.
Lots of changes are under way at the Hop Barn. It will have a new name, Dru’s Bar and Brasserie, named after Kim’s mother Drusilla, but signs are unlikely to be in place for another month or so.
The premises are being redecorated and period furniture is gradually replacing the modern. Curtains are expected to be up by the end of this week.
Kim said: “I want it to have a nice warm feel to it when people walk in and I want ladies to feel comfortable coming in on their own.”
All the food is fresh and a special treat to look out for with cups of tea and coffee are sponge fingers, or tiny muffins.
Kim is planning to extend her opening hours. She opens from 8am to 5pm at the moment but aims to open from 8.30am to 7pm.
Coffee will be served all day. There is also a full bar and “very nice wine” on offer which is sold by the glass or bottle.
Kim hopes to introduce tapas – snacks that originated in Spain - in the afternoons for people who would like to enjoy a glass of wine with, for example, olives.
Breakfast and any variation of it will be available from 8.30am. Lunches will be served and afternoon teas will be available with scones and clotted cream.
The restaurant will be open seven days a week.
“Eventually I hope to do a nice lunch on Sunday but that probably won’t be until September,” said Kim.
She also has plans for the mezzanine floor – a shop, but stairs need to be installed first to reach it.
Pizza Zone premises to go on the market
Pizza Zone at the top of Uckfield High Street has gone out of business and the premises are expected to go on the market.
Chris Lawson of Lawson Commercial said he was hoping to have the instruction to market the premises shortly and said the demand for shops generally is good.
The former Craft Buddies which Mr Lawson mentioned in our shopping feature last month has now been let and contracts are being drawn up by lawyers.
There’s no news yet on dates for the opening of a new shop selling hand-made wooden toys and sweets at 168 High Street, Uckfield, or on the type of business that is to take over the former Fludes shop on the corner of High Street and Civic Approach but contracts are being drawn up for both.
25% reductions in sale window at George Moss jewellers
A sale window has been introduced at George Moss jewellers.
Every month for just one month the items placed in there will have a 25% discount. After the month they will revert to the normal price tag.
The window will change on the 1st of every month and starting today, for August, the display will be of Baltic amber, very high quality from Poland.
George Moss managing director Robert Suckling said: “This is a beautiful summer stone and it will be shown in a variety of settings, necklaces, rings and bracelets.”
Make sure you have a look and then remember the sale display will change again for September.
Sale time at Carvills
Carvills sale is in full swing and bargains include 15% off all fabric and wallpapers, 20% off selected blinds and discounts on furniture including pieces made by Neptune, designers and makers of handmade kitchens, interiors and garden furniture.
Look out for Apple products at PC Home and Office
Apple products – including pre-owned – and accessories can be found at PC Home and Office. Your own Apple products or other laptops can be repaired there too.
Good news for people planning last-minute holidays
If you are planning a last-minute holiday call in at Co-op Travel where a 10 per cent discount is offered on any Thomas Cook or Airtours holiday booked before the end of September.
Wine and blueberry cider bargains at Noble Wines
Bargains this month at Noble Wines include Leon Carvallo Chilean Merlot and Chardonnary at £12 for two bottles and Crestview Park Californian Zinfandel and Chardonnary again two bottles for £12.
Quints Lithuanian blueberry cider is on offer at £10 for a case of 12 500ml bottles. “We had a similar offer last year and it proved very popular,” said shop owner Charles Mears-Lamb.
Second Chance Fashion opens at Market Hall
At Sew n Sew & Haberdashery a range of Australian leather hats and straw hats are proving popular and the store has opened a new outlet in the Market Hall for second hand clothes.
It is called Second Chance Fashion and if you have clothes you would like to sell – as well as buy – then it is worth calling in. “We don’t buy for enormous amounts of money but at least it puts some back into your pocket,” said Trevor Brown.
Kitchen assistant needed at Hartfields
At Hartfields Produce Store owner James Hartfield continues to expand the business and is keen to recruit a full-time kitchen assistant. “I am looking for someone with a flair for food, who genuinely loves food,” said Mr Hartfield.
In the shop at the moment there’s a wide range of soft fruit such as, nectarines, peaches – including the flatter, sweeter, donut peaches – and cherries.
Don’t forget you can buy freshly made sandwiches there made with thick cut bread or rye, wholemeal and sourdough paninis.
English produce is now available after a slow start this summer including herby salad bags and plums are coming through too.
See also:
August update on the Uckfield business scene
(Added to site Wednesday, August 1st, 2012)
