That's Good News: looking on bright side in the North Laine

Business editor Finn Scott-Delany on Kensington Gardens

Ever since the first green shoots of economic recovery emerged, the question of returning confidence has been a hot topic.

The Argus launched our That’s Good News campaign to celebrate the newfound feel-good factor.

In January Business Matters visited the North Laine to find out if traders were starting to see a sustained recovery.

Three months later we revisited the area for a health-check and heard a similar message of cautious optimism.

Commercial property agent Max Pollock, of Car and Priddle, gave a glowing assessment of the area and said the vacancy rate was well under 1%.

He said: “You could say business is so good that nobody is putting anything on the market.

“There’s a serious lack of supply, hardly any movement in the market at all.

“Taking that on board, now would be a good time to sell. You would hope to achieve top prices.

“The demand in the North Laine in the last 15 years has been phenomenal.

It really is a place people don’t want to leave. It’s quirky and different to other high streets.”

Some traders we spoke to were similarly optimistic.

Ian Mackenzie, of Immediate clothing, in Sydney Street, said he has seen one of the busiest times in the shop’s 21 years.

Ian Mackenzie, of Immediate clothing

He said: “We’ve had a lot of changes down here, it’s been very positive.

“We’ve got some high-end vintage stock and people don’t want to spend £90 on a designer polo shirt but they’ll happily spend £30 on a second-hand version with us.”

The mild weather was a factor for many in the area.

Lydia Davies, of Independent Rag, in Sydney Street, said: “Before everyone was buying loads of coats and now they’re buying Hawaiian shirts.

Lydia Davies, of Independent Rag

“The weather really helps people’s attitude. We’re hoping for a really busy summer.”

But not everyone was bursting with optimism.

Nicky Harper, of Pussy home boutique, in Kensington Gardens, said: “At the minute things are going really well but I think after the election we might see another downturn.

Nicky Harper, of Pussy home boutique

“Inflation is low, interest is low, and all our customers are happy paying their mortgage.

“But it would only take a small rise in interest rates and it would be a different story.”

Simon Webster Hair, in Gardner Street, has been complementing its usual trade withmagazine photo shoots and fashion shows – but said parking was keeping customers from spending more money in town.

Sophie Webster, of Simon Webster Hair

Owner Sophie Webster said: “It’s usually a quiet time for salons, with people saving and wearing hats but we’ve been steadily busy.

“I think we’ve bucked the trend and haven’t had a drop in trade.

“But this is an expensive area and it’s a shame to see shops closing.

“Shoppers need to be funnelled to the area as some tourists don’t even know it’s here.

“Some clients are put off by parking and say they can’t afford to pay the £20.”

Stephen Bamford, boss at Dave’s Comics, agreed the weather and holidays had created a boost – but preferred to keep his cards close to his chest as far as business was concerned.

He said: “It’s a joy to serve the Brighton public. It’s lovely to have the weather back and the Easter holidays.

“Am I confident? You have to be optimistic in this business but I’m not sure about confident. Optimistic is sufficiently ambiguous.”

Meanwhile the only way Soly Daneshmand, of Ju-Ju clothes shop, Sydney Street, could describe trading conditions was as “erratic”.

She said: “Saturdays aren’t what they used to be.

“It’s so hit and miss, sometimes Mondays are busier than Saturdays.

“We got lots of compliments but people are still walking out empty-handed, it’s baffling.

“Also the business rates are killing us, they are extortionate.”

“I’ve been here 20 years and I absolutely love what I do. In a way I like the unpredictability, it keeps you on your toes. If every day was the same you’d be bored stiff.”

Like others giftshop Sasse and Belle is enjoying the warm weather trade.

Victoria York, sales assistant, said: “January was quiet but its picking up now especially with the holidays. It might be because what we sell is more child-friendly.

“It’s all very weather-dependant.

Brighton is always a hotspot for tourists in the summer and the busy weekends keep you afloat.”

And it would seem the only thing not affected by the weather is piercings.

Punktured, at Gardner Street, has enjoyed an early spring surge in trade with sunseekers keen to show off their pierced flesh.

Julie Greenfield, owner, said: “Business is great. We’ve got two new members of staff joining us to cope with the extra demand.

“The sun always brings happy people out. Even during the floods it didn’t really affect us too much. We don’t get too many walk-ins but most people honour their appointments.

“It usually doesn’t get busy until May but this year it’s happened much earlier in March and April.”

Another trader had plenty to cheer about after an impressive 20 years in business.

Emma Hayes, of Emma Plus, Church Street, a plus-sized designer clothes shop, said it was fairly unusual to last so long in the North Laine.

She said: “Some shops have been around forever but others go quite quickly, so we’re one of the lucky ones.

“It’s difficult to do plus-size online because the fit can be a bit different, so we get people coming from all over the country.

“People are getting bigger and bigger and everyone is expected to be fashionable these days.

“The shops that survive around here have a dedicated customer base which is why we’ve done so well.

“People are very loyal because they love what we do and we’re the only one who does it.”

Are you feeling confident?

In January we asked www.theargus.co.uk readers ‘are you feeling confident about 2014?’

More than 10,000 readers voted in the ballot with thousands expressing positivity about the year ahead.

But a majority did not share the same sunny outlook, with 60% not feeling as upbeat.

A total of 6,481 voters felt that way and it reflects the uncertain picture we are still facing.

Businesses and consumers might be looking ahead to brighter fortunes but the overall diagnosis is far more nuanced – as our poll suggests.

Indeed, it will still take some years before the effects of austerity politics are behind us.

But perhaps this cautious confidence could be one of the positive lessons of the recession.

What's the retail forecast elsewhere?

The North Laine is not the only place to report buoyant trading conditions.

The sunny weather has ushered in a raft of new businesses opening up in the city centre, where the vacant unit rate stands at 5.42%.

Gavin Stewart, manager of the Brighton Business Improvement District, said: “Newcomers such as Present in the Laine in Gardner Street, the My Salon Looks Spa opening In Market Place , Verano Lounge- the fabulous hostelry brought to us from The Loungers - in Western Road and international fashion brands Maje and Sandro in East Street have all found their feet in the last few months.

Gavin Stewart, manager of the Brighton Business Improvement District

“There’s also a lot of buzz about the recent move of Choccywoccydoodah from their Duke Street premises to a grand new café and shop in Meeting House Lane and while we are there, there’s a shout out for the culinary gymnastics of newcomer 64 Degrees, the food critics’ go to eatery.”

The regeneration of the London Road area continues with new openings.

Joe Nichols, manager of the London Road Portas Pilot, said: “London Road has had mixed fortunes in the past. For one reason or another the area has faced a number of different challenges.

“This however is all changing.

“The general feeling on London Road is overwhelmingly positive, businesses are looking forward to a strong 2014 with the new Open Market officially opening next month and former Co-op development being completed later this year, which will bring new residents to the area.”

The vacancy rate has improvedfrom 16% in 2012 to 8% in just 18 months.

New restaurants Meat Liquor and Alcampo Lounge join new digital juke box cocktail bar Shuffle and the newly refurbished Hare and Hounds and Worlds End.

www.visitlondonroad.co.uk