
All chains are BANNED in our posh English seaside village except for single high street giant – but under a strict rule
SEA YOU LATER All chains are BANNED in our posh English seaside village except for single high street giant – but under a strict rule
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A PICTURESQUE seaside spot in Suffolk is championing independent brands and shops in an attempt to save small businesses.
Southwold, which has earned itself the nickname Chelsea-On-Sea, has rejected high street giants like Costa Coffee and Burger King from stripping individuality from the town.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
This commitment is more than aesthetic — it's economic and cultural
Credit: Alamy
3
By discouraging chain stores from its high street, Southwold has created space for independent shops, cafés, and artisans to thrive
Credit: Alamy
With the backing of local councils and strong community support, the town has resisted the encroachment of corporate franchises in favour of preserving it's small-town character.
Waterstones was an exception to the rule and was given the green light to open, under one condition: it changed its name.
The store agreed to run its business under the name of the former establishment, Southwold Books'.
This commitment is more than aesthetic — it's economic and cultural.
By discouraging chain stores from its high street, Southwold has created space for independent shops, cafés, and artisans to thrive.
These local enterprises often source goods regionally, invest profits back into the community, and contribute to a slower, more personal style of commerce that's increasingly rare in modern retail environments.
Guy Mitchell, Chair of the Southwold & District Chamber of Trade, told East Anglian Daily Times: 'We're very proud that 84 percent of shops in Southwold are independent.
"It's very important that local people and visitors … continue to support those traders.'
Pete Hart, who owns Chapmans Newsagents, also told the paper: "This town is loved for the way it is and if we are not careful our high street will look like any other and will lose its charm and appeal.'
Across the UK, independent and family-run businesses are facing an increasingly steep uphill battle.
One of the biggest issues is the soaring cost of doing business.
Many small shops are grappling with inflated rents, surging energy bills, and increased supplier costs.
Unlike larger retailers, they lack the scale to negotiate better deals or absorb financial shocks.
On top of that, business rates remain disproportionately high for small operators, often penalising them for occupying high street locations that are vital for visibility but increasingly unaffordable.
The shift in consumer behaviour also poses a significant threat.
Online shopping, which boomed during the pandemic, has become the norm for many customers who are drawn to the convenience of internet browsing.
James Scott, owner of Prandium Cafe told Suffolk Business: "Running an independent shop in Southwold is extremely hard.
"The rental of that property is £2,500 a month. Day visitors don't always understand that overheads are too high and think that local shops are ripping them off.'
RETAIL PAIN IN 2025
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025."
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
"By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Celtic transfer windfall chance amid Juranovic Premier League interest
The Parkhead club sold the Croatian international to Union Berlin two-and-a-half years ago in a £7.5 million deal, which reportedly included add-ons, including a sell-on fee. And he's now attracted interest from English Premier League clubs including Fulham and Burnley, according to reports in Germany. Read more: Celtic made a chunky profit on Juranovic after signing him for a bargain £2.5 million from Legia Warsaw in 2021 before selling him to the Bundesliga club 18 months later. He recovered from a serious knee injury at Union and returned in November to play the rest of the season in Germany and win an international recall for Croatia too. He has two years left on his deal in his German capital, but could be tempted to try out the English top flight, which would yield Celtic another windfall for the 29-year-old.


The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Celtic transfer windfall chance amid Juranovic Premier League interest
And he's now attracted interest from English Premier League clubs including Fulham and Burnley, according to reports in Germany. Read more: Celtic made a chunky profit on Juranovic after signing him for a bargain £2.5 million from Legia Warsaw in 2021 before selling him to the Bundesliga club 18 months later. He recovered from a serious knee injury at Union and returned in November to play the rest of the season in Germany and win an international recall for Croatia too. He has two years left on his deal in his German capital, but could be tempted to try out the English top flight, which would yield Celtic another windfall for the 29-year-old.


Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful seaside town named one of UK's cheapest coastal gems with £194k homes
A stunning seaside town that has turned its reputation around and is experiencing a 'second wind' of tourism has been crowned the cheapest coastal resort in England Moving to the coast doesn't have to cost a fortune, especially in this charming seaside town. Demand for coastal properties has spiked by a staggering 115 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels, with swathes of Brits ready to ditch the city for a more laid-back life filled with golden sands and fish and chips. However, the sudden demand combined with limited availability has led to house prices skyrocketing in certain areas. Take Sandbanks, for example - a stunning neighbourhood in Poole, Dorset with crystal-clear waters, golden beaches, that's become somewhat of an A-list magnet in recent years. Here, average house properties cost a whopping £965,708 - more than triple the national average. If the near-million price tag is slightly out of budget, don't worry - as the Co-Operative Bank has analysed recent data to find the most affordable UK coastal towns for both buying and renting. In England, Morecambe came out top, with average house prices at just £194,295. "This Lancashire gem captures the essence of the English seaside, offering panoramic views over the seafront – as well as some of the most affordable house prices in the country," the bank said. "The average house price here is actually lower than in Oban at £194,295, working out as 7.44 times the average annual income. "However, rent prices in Morecambe are slightly higher, at an average of £821 per month. That's 37.7 per cent of the average monthly income." Top 20 seaside locations in UK - full list Oban Morecambe Blackpool Troon Filey Scarborough Whitby Southport Sunbar Swansea Portsmouth Torquay Eastbourne Weymouth Hastings Ramsgate Deal Aberystwyth Margate Newquay Boasting five miles of soft golden sand and an award-winning seafront promenade that looks out onto the stunning Lakeland Fells, Morecambe was once branded one of the worst seaside towns in the country. Now, it hopes to take on the hyped-up coastal resorts of Cornwall and bring its glory days back. "Morecambe offers you the chance to enjoy the many pleasures of the seaside, whether it's flying kites, building sandcastles or enjoying the views across the bay," Hails Visit Lancashire. "Stroll along Morecambe's promenade with an ice cream or have fun seeing it on two wheels, before grabbing a picnic and heading on down to the beach for a spot of sandcastle making or kite flying." Must-see attractions include the TERN project, which features a series of sculptures situated along Morecambe's seafront - from steel cormorants, gannets and razorbills to the statue of Eric Morecambe, which was unveiled by the late Queen in 1999. The Art Deco Midland Hotel has also undergone restoration in recent years - making it one of the town's most impressive structures. Featuring four modern 30s-inspired rooms, six rooftop suites, a top-notch restaurant and ultra-stylish bar, Midland is a great base for exploring Morecambe, or for splurging out on a fancy afternoon tea while soaking in the views. Prices start from £145 per night.