| The latest high street name to set up in Newbury will be clothing firm Cotton Traders. Newbury.net can reveal that the leisurewear brand set up nearly 20 year ago by England rugby captains Fran Cotton and Steve Smith, is preparing to open in the Birthdays card shop on Bridge Street on May 20. Birthdays – part-owned by former England footballer Bryan Robson – is closing on Saturday after many years trading in Newbury.
Cotton Traders decided to set up in town after discovering a huge following in West Berkshire on its mail order list. It only has 45 stores, and the store refit will take a few weeks.
Bridge Street is more noted for banks and building societies, but Cotton Traders will complement the recent addition of West Cornwall Pasty Company.
Meanwhile, the Kennet Centre has found a fashion outlet to take on the former Wimpy unit at the Cheap Street end of the mall. SOS Trading deals in clothing for 7-17year old boys, and will stock brands such as Ben Sherman, Joe Bloggs and Ugly Duck. SOS opens the first week of April. | 
