Business News

TOWN CENTRE NEWS MAY 2024

The Unicorn has been awarded the “Most Improved Pub of the year” by CAMRA

The Tatton Arms has reopened as a Cabaret Bar “The Tatton “with karaoke and live entertainment

Rustic Bar now host regular comedy nights

Roy’s Bar have just installed new Karaoke equipment.

Totties had it’s licence as a sex entertainment venue refused but can still trade as a night club.

The bars are starting to prepare for the UEFA Euros which start on the 14^th June

Brit Fest takes place at Ashley Hall 5-7^th July, this has been organised by The Bowdon Rooms & sponsored by Myerson’s. This is it’s first year and has a really strong line up of entertainment.

The owners of California Coffee/Beverley West have installed a coffee roaster & is currently the only Altrincham café to offer locally roasted coffee

Hive on Grosvenor Road has reopened as an extended unit as a café bar, deli and shop.

JoJo Aalay serving Indian and Nepalese food has opened on Ashley Road

Pho You has opened on Railway St serving Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Thai Food

Casa Italia has announced it will be moving into the former Evuna unit on Stamford New Road.

Development of Rudy’s Pizza on Central Way is underway in the space where One Central used to be.

Retail

MC Watches has opened on George St next to the Bricklayers. Their main focus is watch repairs including many high end brands.

Jake has handed over the management of the store to daughter Maisy, she’ll be the 3^rd generation of the family to run the shoe shops.

Farm Foods has put in a planning application to take over the former B&Q unit in Broadheath

Amplifon has moved into the former H&B unit on George St

Other

HSBC has reopened after a refurb

A Planning application has gone in to Trafford Council for 3 new advertising/defib units to be placed at the Interchange, George St and Shaw’s Road. These will be available 24/7. This would bring the total number of available defibs to 5 which includes one in Goose Green and one at The Roebuck.

Altrincham v Cancer hosted by Pure Gym and organised by Alex McCann confirmed their final total for the year at just shy of £14,500

The day went amazingly well and was supported by A&BCS members – Judie and Ian at the Interchange. Including coping with an outage with the central system so we had no idea where the trams were! Ian is brilliant at the Interchange,

Trevor who looked after the entertainers for me along with Judie who just gets on with things for me,

I’d like to publicly thank the A&BCS Committee members for their help and support

Alex McCann who helped me with social media pre, during and post the day.

Our entertainment on the day was OrangeTheory, who kept everyone on track on Stamford St which is the hill everyone hates to run up! The Absolute and Little Belters.(the little ones are everyone’s favourite!) at the Town Hall, Sports Direct (Marathon Sponsors) who had some amazing drum bands. Radio Alty who went live on the day for us and the Bowdon Rugby Club Choir.

Trevor Holt did a brilliant job with our visitor leaflets for the day.

All in all a great day for the Altrincham community, coming together to do what we do best.

Kind regards

Angela Stone

TOWN CENTRE NEWS APRIL 2024

Calma Salons for nails, skin, brows and massage at Old Market Place.

Lido Advanced Aesthetics has opened on Market St offering facial and skin care treatments.

Does, a coffee shop and selfcare studio was opened on Kingsway.

The Stretch Station – complementary therapy to work outs at the gyms in the area has opened in Old Market Place.

Gharaana a South Asian restaurant has opened in Goose Green where King Pong was. Goose Green is now full again in time for summer when it is a popular weekend venue.

Chesire Cupcakes on Market St, the pretty pink shop offering a range of tasty looking delights.

Nostro Italian brunch a concept café has opened on Hale Road on the bridge heading out of Altrincham.

Pho You will be opening on Railway St where the dry cleaners used to be.

Otters in a Pot are to open in the former Smooch for bubble tea and light snacks.

California Coffee have opened a unit in Two Four Nine.

Broadheath

Temple Place Claypot Rice takeout opened on Manchester Road in Broadheath.

EZH has opened in Broadheath offering gifts from Independent producers across Manchester. Based on Viaduct Road. The Viaducts are becoming very popular for start up businesses in our area.

It seems to be a couple of months for health and well being!

Calma Salons for nails, skin, brows and massage at Old Market Place

Lido Advanced Aesthetics has opened on Market St offering facial and skin care treatments

Does, a coffee shop and selfcare studio was opened on Kingsway

The Stretch Station – complementary therapy to work outs ta the gyms in the area has opened in Old Market Place

Gharaana a South Asian restaurant has opened in Goose Green where King Pong was. Goose Green is now full again in time for summer when it is a popular weekend venue,

Mathnasium has opened on Stamford New Road offering a maths learning school for children. Described as a “maths gym”  and providing a fun and immersive learning environment.

Chesire Cupcakes on Market St, the pretty pink shop offering a range of tasty looking delights.

Nostro Italian brunch a concept café has opened on Hale Road on the bridge heading out of Altrincham

Pho You will be opening on Railway St where the dry cleaners used to be.

Rudy’s Pizza has been announced as coming to where One Central was on Central Way. Planning has been approved. We are currently ensuring that the public guinnel access remains in place.

Otters in a Pot are to open in the former Smooch for bubble tea and light snacks

Masa, an independent art gallery has opened on The Downs.

California Coffee have opened a unit in Two Four Nine.

Broadheath

Temple Place Claypot Rice takeout opened on Manchester Road in Broadheath.

EZH has opened in Broadheath offering gifts from Independent producers across Manchester. Based on Viaduct Road. The Viaducts are becoming very popular for start up businesses in our area.

Trafford Council revoked the Licence for The Railway in Broadheath yesterday. The bar was closed by the Authorities in February pending yesterday’s Licensing Review.

Businesses For Sale

In addition to those reported in January

Ikon Bar, LD24, and the Corner Shop in Broadheath are up for sale.

The building housing Old Market Tavern is up for sale. Sales particulars state the bar is unaffected. The County Galleries building is now up for sale.

Work to the former Wheatsheaf is finally underway. The building will be conversed into a 1 bedroom bungalow, 4 3 bedroom town houses and 1 4 bedroom house.

Hospitality

In addition to a number of new openings and anticipated new openings there has been little in the way of closures or sales which is positive for our Night Time Economy.

Best Bar None – Altrincham were shortlisted in the Town Category at the Award Ceremony in London following the Annual Conference. We’re about to start the 2024/25 scheme with some new additions to the Committee and extending our area to include additional bars in the South Trafford area. We’re looking to continue existing initiatives and new ones to enhance our scheme.

Altrincham is still very much an active participant in the National Organisations Pubwatch and Best Bar None.

Totties have reapplied for their licence following rejection of plans to turn the unit into apartments.

West Beverley now offers a private space for private parties on the first floor. On Shaw’s Road. They also now offer yoga classes.

The Navigation has new landlords who are keen to revitalise the bar.

The Bowdon Rooms continue to offer a variety of events including an Adult Disco featuring music from the 80s!

The BritFest have now finalised their line up and tickets are still on sale.

Events and activities

Altrincham vs Cancer, organised by Alex at Altrincham HQ took place in February involving businesses. local community volunteers and local schools the fundraising for The Christie stands at £8,366.

Paint Altrincham Pink for Prevent Breast Cancer took place in March. Events and activities took place across the town and was supported by BID. The final totals are yet to be announced.

Altrincham won the Sustainability award at the Visa “Let’s Celebrate Towns” ceremony in March.

Stockport won the Sunday Times award for Best Place to live. This year Altrincham failed to get a mention.

Manchester Marathon is on the 14^th April will see runners enter Altrincham from Myerson’s up Stamford Street, along Market St, down Regent Road, onto Stamford New Road and leaving Altrincham over Moss Lane Bridge & past the Leisure Centre, Entertainment and Children’s groups are being organised to cover the Altrincham section fo the route. Ther will be around 24,000 runners taking part and road closures will be in place for the bulk of the day, there will also be changes at the Interchange, though Metrolink and Rail services remain,

BID are organising an Easter Town Trail, this time the theme is Pirates and Princesses – expect to see plenty of Disney Princesses searching out clues on the streets of Altrincham 😊

Local teams Altrincham Football Club and Manchester Storm are both finishing their seasons strongly with late wins. Th teams are strong community supporters.

Manchester Storm Painted the Rink over the weekend of 9^th and 10^th March and took part in the collection of money from bars across Altrincham on the 8^th March for Paint Altrincham Pink.

It’s National Non-League Day on 23^rd March and Altrincham FC have a number of activities planned including encouraging Altrincham to “go red” to celebrate our local football team. The unit on George St is being used for community activities as well as providing a town centre location for ticket and merchandise sales.

Starbucks will be opening a coffee shop in the Spring located in the Stamford Quarter’s Foundation building.

Alt Space in Kennedy House has gone into partnership with leading flexible work space provider IWG.#

EZ Hampers have opened in the Arches on Viaduct Street, Broadheath using merchandise from local suppliers and environmentally driven companies.

Masa UK Art Gallery has opened on The Downs.

For the full story click here: https://altrinchamfc.com/en-us/blogs/news/community-hub-and-retail-store-to-open-in-the-stamford-quarter

Starbucks are going into the Atrium of the old Rackam’s Store.

After 12 years at Brew House in Warrington, Assura the listed healthcare developer and investor has relocated its headquarters to 3 Barrington Road, a building it acquired from Colombia Threadneedle for £8.3m last year.

Assura occupies 9,500 sq ft at the Altrincham building and is drawing up plans to comprehensively refurbish the entire 35,000 sq ft building to improve its energy efficiency.

A Pozzoni-designed refurbishment of the office, formerly known as the Southmark Building, was completed in 2020.

One of the key drivers behind the relocation is its accessibility, according to Assura chief executive Jonathan Murphy.

“Altrincham has unparalleled public transport links into Manchester and beyond with a fantastic business community in the town that we want to be a part of.

“Assura has been through a period of sustained growth and the new office in Altrincham is the start of a fantastic new chapter for the company. We have plans to renovate the office to create an inspirational new environment for our staff and the existing tenants in the building.”

The news of Assura’s relocation to Altrincham comes in the wake of the company’s £119m pre-tax loss for the year ended 31 March 2022.

The listed real estate investment trust is responsible for 608 properties with a portfolio value of £2.7bn. More than 6.3m people are served by Assura’s buildings.

Assura was founded in 2003 and employs 73 people.

Rob Moore has taken on the position of studio director at the landscape design firm’s Altrincham base, while Danny Marsh will move up into the same role in Liverpool.

The promotions and appointments are part of Planit-IE’s expansion plans and follow the promotions of Georgina Baines and Kevin Redhead to director roles in 2022.

At the Liverpool studio, landscape architect Marsh has been promoted to the role of studio director. He joined the firm almost five years ago from IBI Group and has worked on several high-profile schemes during that time.

These include Central Park at Liverpool Waters, Everton Football Club’s new stadium, and the regeneration of St Helens and Birkenhead town centres.

In Altrincham, Moore has also been promoted. He has become studio director after almost 20 years with the firm. In his new role, he will continue to add to a growing list of projects that includes work in Oldham Town Centre, First Street in Manchester, and a 1m sq ft of mixed-use scheme at West Bar in Sheffield.

Managing director Pete Swift said: “Danny and Rob’s work is crucial to delivering Planit’s mission to become a net positive business and deliver a more regenerative future. Their technical knowledge is unrivalled and they have become adept at managing multiple high-profile projects.

“I’m excited to see how they grow in their new roles and how they continue to deliver public spaces that work not just today, but tomorrow and beyond.”

Meanwhile, Mark Fletcher has been hired to lead the firm’s Standish site. In Gloucestershire, he will be responsible for growing Planit in the South West and London, alongside co-founder Ed Lister and director, James King.

Fletcher has joined the firm after seven years working at Pacific Architecture in Wellington, New Zealand.

Lister said: “We opened our rural Cotswolds studio in 2021. Located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty it was the perfect fit to establish and grow Planit’s Net Positive practices and regenerative vision.

“Mark’s arrival and experience will be instrumental in delivering this vision, supporting clients on their journeys to move beyond sustainable practices and help grow our studios across the South.”

Elsewhere across the business, Victoria Ellenbogen has been promoted to senior landscape architect, Yuan-yin Hsieh and Jonny Helm have been promoted to the role of project landscape architect, Evelyn Ho as landscape architect, Molly Deakin to senior graphic designer, and Sam Richmond has been promoted to 3D artist.

In total, Planit-IE employs 92 people.