A UK wide survey* into what people want from their local high street comes up with some interesting suggestions.
Rye has most of the things on the survey’s top 20 list, including the many independent retailers the town is famous for, but what do you think?
The top 20 things Brits would like to see on their dream high street
1. Bakers – 70%
2. Free parking – 69%
3. Independent coffee shops – 59%
4. A bank – 58%
5. A cash point – 57%
6. Independent restaurants – 57%
7. Butchers – 55%
8. A supermarket – 52%
9. Chemist – 50%
10. Cafés – 48%
11. Independent bars – 45%
12. Hairdressers – 45%
13. Quirky gift shops – 43%
14. Takeaway shop – 41%
15. Greggs – 41%
16. Independent book shop – 41%
17. Barbers – 40%
18. M&S – 40%
19. Boots – 39%
20. Longer opening hours – 36%
The top 10 things people would like to see MORE of on their high street
Independent coffee shops (57%)
Specialist food shops (bakers, butchers, delis) (56%)
Independent restaurants and bars (50%)
Bookshops (41%)
Artisan bakeries or patisseries (40%)
Farmers’ markets or food markets (39%)
Greener spaces such as trees, planters or pocket parks (39%)
Independent fashion boutiques (37%)
More independent specialist retailers (e.g. toy shops, hobby stores) (36%)
Outdoor seating areas for cafés and restaurants (35%)
The top 10 things people want to see LESS of on their high street
Vape shops (68%)
Empty/boarded-up shop units (66%)
Gambling arcades (52%)
Bookies (45%)
Payday loan shops/cash converters (41%)
Tanning salons (36%)
Phone repair and accessory shops (31%)
Fast food takeaways (26%)
Charity shops (23%)
Chain coffee shops (19%)
*Survey based on insights from 650 retailers and 2,000+ consumers in the Voices of Retail report created in partnership with Faire. Interviews conducted earlier this year.
Image Credits: Heidi Foster .
I live on the North West coast but have loved Rye since purchasing EF Benson’s wonderful Mapp & Lucia books in your excellent book shop in the 1980’s. I read them every couple of years to be transported back to Rye. I think an indpendent bakery is more appropriate for Rye than a Greggs. Small shops of character are better than chains like Marks and Spencers. We visit Beaumaris on Angelsey regularly and it has a great mix of shops including craft shops. I hope to see Rye again but the long journey on motorways is daunting as I get older. Receiving your news letter helps me feel part of your incredible town.
Wanting less charity shops is mean-spirited in 2 aspects: the obvious being how many charities depend upon funds gained from shops, for example hospices are not funded by the government. Secondly, those of us who are on a limited income eg State Pension only, gain great pleasure and gratitude from finding clothes, books, gifts etc at reasonable prices. Rye has some particularly brilliant charity shops, with friendly and helpful staff.
I think Rye has most of these things to offer locals and visitors, I think the downside is it looks scruffy and unkempt particularly on the highstreet which is a shame
A bit of “Pedestrianisation” wouldn’t come amiss. On busy holidays the high street is choked and the pavements are so narrow.
I’ve said before the high street needs to be pedestrians from Adams to the George hotel, access only for blue badge holders only to park on the left hand side, will the council listen of course not, as mayhem and congestion continues up there.
The problem is that, if you pedestrianise the High Street, the only vehicular access to & from a huge part of the Citadel would be via Mermaid Street and that incredibly sharp, narrow, blind corner between upper East Street and Church Square, by The Crooked Chimney house.
Can you imagine the level of traffic currently going through the High Street, being instead diverted up Mermaid Street and Church Square in both directions? It would be a nightmare!
So apart from blue badge holders, delivery vans, trucks unable to get round the top and down Lion Street and probably bicycles nothing will be allowed through.
That would be interesting………
Of course Tony i see your point,maybe maybe compromise and let van’s and trucks unload in that area on one day of the week,between 8am until 9-30, at the moment all we see is delivery vans blocking the high street,as they have nowhere to park.causing and possible blocking the emergency services,if there was an incident in the Citadel.