Changing face of the high street

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“Nothing lasts for ever” or so the saying goes, the same can be said of Rye High Street and change is inevitable as businesses come and go and in recent years we have witnessed huge changes along our high streets. The banks closing has had a damaging effect on many high streets and has possibly been the death knell for businesses who depended on the footfall they brought to our towns and villages.

The Snug, formally Age UK.

Locally we have seen significant change on our high street, most recently with the opening of the Cornish Bakery in the former Rye Shoes premises and the Snug (pictured above) who now occupy the building formally leased to Age UK.

Further changes are afoot as acclaimed photographer Clive Sawyer and his team put the final touches to his new gallery at the former Edinburgh Woollen Mill building (see main photo) and at the opposite end of the high street, the paint brushes are out as the transformation of The Ambrette Kitchen to Marco’s street food is finalised.

The finishing touches being applied to Marco’s on the High Street, formally home to The Ambrette

Elsewhere in the town there have been more changes, Glass etc. was remodelled last year and is now under new ownership, trading as Soap and Salvation, Mona’s has been and gone, the Pipemakers pub is now under new management and Fletchers tea rooms is destined to become a fine dining restaurant to name but a few.

Soap and Salvation on Rope Walk

Some are averse to change, but change brings fresh interest and more investment which, in turn attracts more visitors to Rye and without visitors spending their money more existing businesses might suffer as a result.

Image Credits: Nick Forman .

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3 COMMENTS

  1. So right. A constantly evolving and changing high street is essential to its survival we must ensure Rye’s high street is fun and exciting. A petition to close the high street to non essential traffic at weekends and bank holidays is being proposed and I think an excellent idea. Make our high street fun place to walk and protect its beautiful buildings.

  2. Last week we were walking along and looked into the window to see what was happening to the Ambrette and was invited in by the owners Marco and Mia to see their new restaurant. What a lovely couple and what an amazing new Street Food restaurant coming to Rye.
    We can’t wait for the opening, it is going to be an asset to the High Street. Marco and Mia told us it’s going to be both family and dog friendly .

  3. I agree Nick it is so important for the town for new businesses to appear as it increases the footfall of visitors into Rye which of course helps the existing business’s too and great for those living in Rye to see the town continuing to thrive in what has been such a difficult time!

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