Wilton Shopping Village rebrands as The Guild

If you've visited Wilton Shopping Village recently, you may have noticed that things are starting to change.

Retail Director Eagle One have been working on a programme of improvements, repurposing disused space with 'ambitions of returning the village to former glories.'

Part of that has involved a new name and new identity for the historic courtyard.

WHY THE GUILD?

In a post on social media The Guild explained the reason behind the new name.

"Our new name has been created to celebrate Wilton’s rich heritage of skills and craftsmanship to bring together a vibrant community of makers and doers in a place where people can enjoy shopping, eating and spending time together."

NEW BUSINESSES

Edinburgh Woolen Mill and Tresspass have left the site but a number of new businesses have opened including a new eatery Herbs & Wild, fine art gallery The Archive, handcrafted upholstery Sofa Smith and global charity The Halo Trust.

The project is being led by Tom Hedges who will be focused on 'combining the unique historic features with new contemporary placemaking and innovations.'

Tom will also be working to enhance accessibility and customer experience.

MARY PORTAS

The self-styled 'queen of shops' Mary Portas has helped creating the new identity for the village.

Phil Maclean from Eagle One said

"It's not just a new identity and logo that we sit on the threshold of, as Mary imparted so much more on that journey to help us make fundamental changes. We will be seeking to inspire visitors to make meaningful connections with our brands and we want to put people before consumers and kindness before profit to ensure we create something truly memorable, sustainable and worthy of such a historic and vibrant town as Wilton."

"Eagle One is committed to investing not only in the built environment but also in people, by providing platforms to enable small businesses to flourish, employment opportunities to local people and supporting the wider local economies of Wilton and Salisbury. "

"Even amid all the challenges thrown at us this year, we believe we have never been in a healthier place to embark of this exciting new chapter in the history of Wilton Shopping Village. "