Nailsea comes in top five in best high street contest

Nailsea Crown Glass Shopping Centre, named top five high street shops. (Image: Archant)

Crown Glass Shopping Centre and High Street scooped the coveted title in the village category in the Great British High Street competition.

Brigg, Twyford and West Kilbride scored in the top three and will go through to a public vote to decide a winner, while Nailsea and Earl Shilton narrowly missed out on the final.

Centre manager, Charlotte Jarrett, said: “This year’s competition saw a record 230 applicants, so being named in the top five is a tremendous accolade.

“We’re proud that we are being recognised as one of Britain’s best high streets and we hope this will be a real boost for the town.

“Over recent months, new shops have opened in Crown Glass including Costa, School Togs, Nailsea Cycles, Queenies Flower Shop and Young Possum’s Imaginarium which not only improves shopper choice it creates a focus for the community and an attraction for shoppers.

“This is a great boost for Nailsea, and we can’t wait to further improve the town in the coming years.”

While empty units can be found on many high streets, Nailsea has been bucking the trend.

The shopping centre’s landlord Ellandi has been attracting new businesses with the Win a Shop competition and the weekly and monthly markets have been drawing in more customers.

Robin Orchard, owner of Orchards which has been in the town for 28 years, praised the landlord for the high street’s success.

He said: “The landlord tries to encourage smaller businesses to the town and it’s helped.

“Waitrose has given us a good anchorage and we are lucky we’ve still got a very good fruit and veg shop which is a focal point.

“Free parking is a big pull and we are a focal point for smaller villages which have lost their facilities. We also have a lot of functions in the town centre which bring people in.”