Knickerbean becomes the 11th shop to shut in Newbury over the last twelve months, when it closes at the end of the week. The soft furnishings shop in Bartholomew Street has endured extra competition from Laura Ashley over the road. Knickerbean is a small chain with outlets in Bath, Bury St Edmunds and St Albans.

It follows in the wake of Sunflower, Sugar & Spice, Zu Store, Officers Club, B&B Hifi, H Samuel, Cramarrs, QS, and the Fishing tackle shop in Bartholomew Street. Costa Coffee closes on August 10, and the Pine Shop in Cheap Street is closing soon.

…..but more shops moving in

The empty shops don’t remain that way for long though. Poundland is moving into the former Mothercare shop in the Kennet Centre. The shop was most recently occupied by pine furniture outlet Days Gone Bye. River Island and Ottakers will be opening in the two shops created by the Camp Hopson refurbishment, and the firm behind the Park Way plans is confident that up to two thirds of the 50 new shops proposed will be signed up before building begins.

Station café shuts

Rail commuters who like to start the day with a bacon sandwich will have to think ahead, after Station Road sandwich bar and newspaper outlet Bitesize closes. Rent rises have been blamed for its demise.

Restaurant refit

Curry fans are in for a treat when a new Indian restaurant opens later this year. The former August Moon Chinese restaurant has been taken over by Abdul Mossaid, who is refitting the shop to take on the likes of stylish tandoori houses Nawab and Indigo Bay.

Teashop returns

The Wharf is to get its café back! The Gallery tearooms open soon to lure in coach parties stopping to stretch their legs on the long drive to the south coast ports and resorts. The Granary Tearooms was evicted by West Berkshire Council last year to make way for a new Tourist Information Office. Now, the empty unit next door has been let as a traditional cream teashop, next door to former mayor Mike Rodger’s Desmoulin Gallery.

Bookie shapes up

Ladbrokes in Market Street has closed for a few weeks for a major refit. The bookies will reopen on July 10. As a racing town, Newbury has five bookmakers.