With its juice and cocktail bars, vinyl record stores, cafes, delicatessens, art galleries and even pioneering digital micro-businesses, this area is becoming a hipster’s paradise!
The opening of the Oink Gallery in late September showed Old Town’s retailers aren’t afraid to step off the tried and tested road and go a little crazy now and again.
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The latest artistic addition to Old Town; ARC Lighting and Design[/caption]
Oink’s owner, Mark Pepperall of Hot Pepper Design said: “I think there’s something really exciting happening in Old Town at the moment with loads of independent businesses upping their game; it’s gradually becoming the Clifton of Swindon and there’s so much potential here for it to get better and better!
“It’ll be really great to become one of those businesses offering something completely different to the mix.”
Amongst the new businesses, RPM Records on Devizes Road have now been open for almost six months and have been reaping the rewards of the community spirit in Old Town that comes from the sheer volume of independent retailers.
Co-owner Greg Miszowski said: “There is such a great business community here thanks in part to the Old Town Business Association. It brings all of these retailers together and promotes the area. In the end, if one of these businesses does well, we all benefit because people are coming to see what’s on offer.
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A view down Devizes Road, one of the key arteries in Old Town’s daytime heartbeat[/caption]
“Everything here is just a bit more unique than what you would see on the High Street. The businesses offer such a variety that you wouldn’t see in a big chain store, and people like browsing the area, not just one place. You don’t just pop into Old Town for one thing.
“We’ve had a lot of help from people like Graham at Dotty’s Cafe who has nurtured us through our first months as a company and helped solve problems we didn’t know we would have. I think that independent feel comes across in the service you get and keeps bringing customers back.”
Kris Talikowski is part of the Old Town Business Association and runs The Core juice bar also on Devizes Road. He said: “This area is a fantastic hub that wouldn’t work anywhere else. You could liken it to Clifton in Bristol or Shoreditch and Camden in London. We run the only truly healthy place to eat and drink in the whole town, and that’s something that just wouldn’t work on the High Street. But here it’s perfect.
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The Core on Devizes Road[/caption]
“I got involved with the Old Town Business Association to, forgive the pun, ‘juice it up’ a little and we have plans to improve the image of the area even more with a new app, a magazine and maybe even a historic audio tour to download for free. This area has so much history that needs to be celebrated and the audio tour will give people an insight that only local people would have had until now.
“Old Town is still defining what it is, but is constantly evolving and becoming an independent hub and currently getting a huge uplift from some of the projects like the Locarno development. It’s an exciting time for sure.”
And the artsy offerings extended to your stomach too, with deli’s and even a chophouse to tantalise those taste buds. The only conventional high street place for food is a small Subway outlet just off Hoopers Place and the Co-op supermarket. For the most part, independent food and drink havens like Balula’s Deli, Helen Browning’s Chop House, The Royal Oak Oyster and Gin bar, The Hop Inn, as well as the new cocktail bars like 1801 and Gustas have all contributed to make Old Town a round the clock foodie paradise.
Even one of Old Town’s most famous haunts, The Victoria pub, is getting in on the food-lovers vibe offering gourmet dining with classic pub dishes from locally sourced ingredients.
Landlord Darren Simons said: “Old Town is definitely creating its own identity. I think it provides a lot more choice for people, and they know they are supporting trade directly and get the customer service that reflects that. From our perspective, as a principally night-time operator, we find people are fed up with the nightlife in the town centre and the vicinity of all the clubs, bars and venues like ours helps everyone, both customers and businesses.
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Baila Coffee and Vinyl on Victoria Road[/caption]
“You have places like Baila Coffee and Vinyl down the road attracting a youthful audience, and that translates to younger people coming into the pub on the way past, or getting something to eat somewhere. It’s mutually beneficial and creates a scene that’s supportive, friendly and collaborative.”
The future for Old Town seems to lie in offering a retail experience unlike anywhere else in Swindon; something the high street can’t replicate.
Hopefully Old Town will keep plugging away and defying conventions, as this movement is attracting the right kind of attention, and we are loving all the new shops and places to eat! To keep up to date with all things Old Town, visit: facebook.com/ThisisOldTown
