Old Town Just Got a Whole Lot Tastier

Despite the economic down turn, Swindon's Old Town is bucking the trend and housing numerous start-up businesses.

Over the last 6 months a series of new shops have been popping up all over the streets of Old Town.

From two new butchers to a fish mongers and luxury cake shop, Old Town is taking a step back to its traditional routes and hoping to give chain stores a run for their money.

Wood Street Food Hall, which opened earlier this month, has quickly established itself as Old Town's one-stop shop for locally sourced produce. 

The store specialises in fresh fish, free range meat and organic fruit and veg. The business is hoping to become a focal point for local produce in and around Swindon.

Marcus Cole who manages and runs the Food Hall spoke to TGtS about their first month in business and why he's trying to bring the traditional grocers and butchers back to Swindon.

"We're off to a great start, the support and feedback that we've been getting has been absolutely brilliant. I think that it's what everybody wants to see in Old Town and they've really gotten behind us.

Over recent years we've heard about how supermarkets have killed off the community butcher and grocer, but they're beginning to make a real comeback, once again people are willing to pay for quality. You can't beat a traditional food outlet like ourselves, fresh fish is delivered daily and we try to source our meat as locally as possible to ensure that customers receive quality cuts and flavoursome fish."

On why they chose to set up shop in Swindon Marcus added "We saw a gap in the market, this is something that the residents of Old Town were really crying out for. After successful ventures in Winchester and Basingstoke, Swindon seemed like the ideal location for our next venture.

We've been overwhelmed with the popularity of the store so far, business is going from strength to strength but our main aim still remains keeping the level of service high and the quality of our produce higher."

Wood Street Food Hall isn't the only new shop in Old Town getting residents talking. GramoRose Cakes owned by Art graduate Jessie Dennis has proven to be incredibly popular since opening back in November, the kitsch cake shop sold a whopping 3,000 cupcakes in their first week alone.

The company began by supplying cakes to small shops and cafes, alongside running a weekly Saturday market stall in Newbury. After her business began to take off, it wasn't long before Jessie set up her Cupcake Boutique. 

Jessie explained "I didn't plan to start up my own business, I kind of fell into it. Before I baked I was at uni, so this is my first proper job. I studied model making, so we were basically taught to create anything out of everything and be really creative - which is what I'm doing now. I'm applying the skills I've learnt into making cakes. 

On why she chose Old Town to set up her business, Jessie added "It just felt right, I love that Old Town doesn't have a Costa and that everything's owned by real, hardworking people, it means that everyone is really passionate about what they do. I'm aware that Old Town is an up and coming place, so I'm really excited about what the future holds for Glamorosa.