Independent businesses hopeful to attract tourists to Felixstowe
Beach Street leisure complex launched in December 2020
Last updated 24th Apr 2021
Independent businesses at a leisure complex in Felixstowe are hopeful they'll help attract more visitors to the town.
Despite launching a month before the latest lockdown was imposed, business has apparently been booming and public support has continued throughout.
Most shops located in the complex on the seafront, made of upcycled shipping containers, have been able to offer takeaway services prior to the resumption of outdoor hospitality (12 April).
That includes Shore, Coffee by the Coast which has been closed this week to extend its kitchen and serving area due to the demand, and reopens today (24 April).
Joe, barista at the coffee shop, said: "We'd have long queues around the corner every day and at the weekend it would be all day. I was making coffees and there would always somebody waiting for the next coffee from 8am till 4pm, all day every day.
"We've extended the bar, so hopefully it's going to be a lot smoother and we're going to be able to serve people more coffee and more cake."
Business owners within Beach Street said the area has been popular since launching before Christmas, with many saying it's helped "rejuvenate" that end of Felixstowe.
Phil Rivers owns vegan food retailer, Hank's, with his partner Geoff Bligh, which has locations in Ipswich.
This year they opened their fast food outlet, Hank's Dirty On The Beach, within the complex on the seafront.
He thinks Beach Street will provide benefits for the town: "It's been success from day one and it's just been an absolutely amazing journey here in Felixstowe. We're so pleased with the support we've had from local people as well.
"I've always thought that Felixstowe was a bit of a sleeping giant and it needed a little push in the right direction. I really feel that this is the start of something. It's a love community-feel among the businesses."
Phil and Geoff decided to open a unit after visiting their friend and Felixstowe-based artist, Victoria Petchey, who owns Gallery Box located in Beach Street.
While people weren't able to browse the artwork within the store before the return of non-essential retail, Victoria has continued to bring colour to customer's homes.
She said: "People have still been contacting me and ordering commissions of portraits of their animals and bees. I recently painted Wonder Woman holding an ice-cream, so I've still been working.
"I love having all of this beautiful, brightly-coloured artwork by the seaside. With all the work that's being done along the prom, from here up to Landguard Fort, it's going to be such a lovely destination for tourists to come to and locals to enjoy."
Part owner of the complex, Charles Manning, is hoping the site will continue growing in size and popularity as time goes on.
He said: "We still have two or three units to open, fingers crossed we'll have the beer garden open next week. Everything is outside, alfresco, so we can really capitalise on getting people outdoors and keeping them in a safe environment."