Hinckley has always been a bit rubbish in my opinion. I've been here almost four years and its tiny market town charm, as referenced by Shakespeare in his play Henry IV part 2, had started to wear a little thin. See, it's not the prettiest of market towns, not like Litchfield or Melton Mowbray, but it does have a street market 3 days a week in the middle of town - the town that is pretty much one street, or two at a push. But most of the chain shops you'll find in even the smallest towns haven't bothered with Hinckley. And you know what? That's a great thing! Because now, all of a sudden, lots of little specialist boutique shops and cafes have begun springing up. Shops with genuine unique selling points that have the potential to succeed. There is the new Sewing Cafe which sells gorgeous modern fabrics, including Amy Butler, and where you can pay to partake of refreshments while you socially sew by the hour:
Marmalade Meringue a just opened out of the ordinary independent family run gift shop that also sells the most beautiful cupcakes you've ever seen, as well as sandwiches and 'thirst quenchers'
The new totally modern bridal boutique, Liney's Brides, which has screens and prints of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn around as glamorous and elegant inspiration and where I fell in love with my awesome black wedding dress!
Apparently Hinckley's local council has also just approved plans for redevelopment of the old bus station, which will include a cinema and (very) small shopping centre. Yes, Hinckley is fast becoming a vibrant and exciting place to live, whilst still retaining that cute little market town vibe that saw it at the hub of Midlands trade and industry back in ye olde medieval times.
So is your town, city or village changing for the better or worse?
What do you love about where you live?
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| stitch n bitch?! |
The new totally modern bridal boutique, Liney's Brides, which has screens and prints of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn around as glamorous and elegant inspiration and where I fell in love with my awesome black wedding dress!
The newly renovated Atkins Building, just next to the brand new Hinckley and Warwickshire college which houses the registry office where I will be getting married, as well as a lovely little art gallery complete with smart yet inexpensive cafe, and other local businesses.
Apparently Hinckley's local council has also just approved plans for redevelopment of the old bus station, which will include a cinema and (very) small shopping centre. Yes, Hinckley is fast becoming a vibrant and exciting place to live, whilst still retaining that cute little market town vibe that saw it at the hub of Midlands trade and industry back in ye olde medieval times.
So is your town, city or village changing for the better or worse?
What do you love about where you live?
O0000h, Hinckley! I know it well... or at least I did! It sounds like it's changed a lot since I left the area.
ReplyDeleteI'm around this week (my mum lives in a village nearby), so might have wander around :)
Ah maybe I'll see you around! I live in Burbage, which is technically a village, but is only separated from Hinckley by the train track.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it will have changed a lot on the face of it, but it's getting there!!! xX
The shops sound great, alot better than the 'normal' high street stores! Nat
ReplyDeleteThanks Nat, it's getting there. If you want normal high street stores then Hinckley is not the place! Not good when you want to go clothes shopping (unless you want to exclusively shop at Peacocks, New Look or Dorothy Perkins) but quirky original stores are springing up amongst all the charity shops! xX
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