A specially commissioned survey of Bridge street businesses has revealed that a staggering 9% of the street is made up of coffee shops.
Based on a specially commissioned survey carried out by @shitchester, the highly scientific analysis was based on a visual survey carried out on Tuesday afternoon. For the purpose of the analysis businesses that self identify as cafes have been classed as cafes, whilst other food businesses that serve hot beverages were classed as eateries/restaurants. The 8 coffee shops on the street include: Cinderbox, Jaunty Goat, Bridge street cafe/bistro, bridge street coffee, Leonidas chocolates, Chester pride cafe (opening soon), Caffe Nero and Naughty Badger coffee house and bistro.
The street has 2 visitor attractions in Sick to Death and Breakout Chester with just 2 businesses offering guest accommodation ( not including the in progress luxury hotel). The retail offering on the street (34) makes up 38% of the available units. The latest new shops on the street include Bloom and Albion, Remember jewellery, lifestyle boutique Epicurean, new vintage clothing shop Harley’s Vintage and forthcoming CW Sellers jewellery at the cross.
Alongside the popular cafe businesses, an additional 14% of Bridge street is comprised of 13 eateries/bars/restaurants including: Carbonara at 49 , Paysan/ curious gnome, Five guys, Slug and lettuce Cote, Urbano 32, Crepe affaire, Carluccios , York Roast co , Burger shed 41, Da Noi ,Nandos, and Ice stone desserts.
Hair and Beauty makes up a strong part of the composition of the street with 9%. The 8 businesses we identified on our survey were : Nailista, Las Vegas Nails ,Francesco group, Rebecca Jayne hair, Ego barbers, Room 57, Lamb Chester and BrowHQ (opening soon) .
An additional 10 units on the street provide miscellaneous services including 5 travel agents: King Kabs Chiropractic first, Trailfinders, Principality Building society, Yorkshire building society, Travel bag, Flight centre, Chester stitches, Deva travel ,Hays travel.
Pound Bakery and the Jaunty Goat bakery are the 2 bakeries on the street, alongside 10 empty units,
Commenting on the survey, Chester Health owner Niki Davies said :
“I’m just glad that these units are occupied and not standing empty. Those that say the city is dying would have something to say if they were empty. And it’s very rare you see a closing down sign on a coffee shop…now there’s an idea ha ha ha ”
Her words were echoed by another business owner on the street, Dean Paton of BIG Heritage behind “Sick to Death” the history of medicine themed attraction:
“If someone (chain or indie) has made the effort to set up a business in Chester and put their cash and time behind it, then good for them. The market will decide if there’s too many of one type of business, the popular ones thrive and the less popular ones won’t. If you have a real serious issue with it, then go invest your own savings and time and set up your own non-coffee shop business in the city. There was a time when there was a pub on every street corner, but habits have changed. Chester is in sync with every other high-street in the UK. The only shops I want to see less of in Chester are empty ones…..and maybe the Liverpool FC Shop!”
- The 34 retailers we identified on Bridge street were: City gate menswear ,Bridge street newsagent Untitled phone /repair shop Moda in Pelle, Jojo maman bebe,Pour Moi, French connection ,Florence and company TC Vapours, Remember jewellery Lotus Diamond, CW sellers jewellery (coming soon), Epicurean – Rohan, Bloom and Albion, City news, Suzie K ,Chester boutique, Tessuti, Chester model centre,Cake- Chester Health, Ancient world, Jigsaw, Ellis Brigham,Up and Running, Harleys vintage, Camelot Diamonds The rows jeweller, Lowe and sons, London camera exchange, Goldsmith of Chester ,Nichols and co, Powell’s fine jewellery
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