With Covid-19 still spreading, it's been another tough year for businesses in Salisbury.

But despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, and worries over the recent Omicron variant, the city continues to attract entrepreneurs.

In the past 12 months, a range of businesses have been launched across the city centre ranging from a pet shop to sight-loss hub and a zero-waste store to contemporary gallery.

Sofas and Stuff, which has taken over the old Laura Ashley premises on New Canal, is the newest store to launch. It opened its doors to customers on December 27.

According to Salisbury BID, Salisbury city is bucking the trend when it comes to its retail vacancy rate.

The latest figures collected by the BID and Springboard show that in October 2021 the number of empty ground floor units in Salisbury city centre stood at 9.8 per cent which is lower than both the average for the South West (10.7 per cent) and the UK (11.7 per cent).

That figure is also down on the same time last year when Salisbury had a 10.6 per cent vacancy rate for October 2020.

Dan Collins, Business Manager at Salisbury BID, said: “It has not been the easiest of ends to 2021, but the appearance of so many new names on our streets proves that despite another tough year for businesses, that the future looks positive for Salisbury.

“It is a beautiful city that offers many opportunities for business owners and the fact that we have once again been named in the top ten bounce-back cities by Ipsos MORI can only increase its appeal.”

Clearway Pets was one of the first shops to open this year. It launched in the Cross Keys Shopping Centre in February.

Co-owner, Mike Adamson, said of their first year: “It’s been incredible. We cannot thank the local people of Salisbury enough for their support and how they have helped our business grow. We cannot wait to keep that growing next year.”

It has also been a good start for The Vanner Gallery on the High Street, which opened its doors in September.

Gallery Director David Christie said: "We’ve had such a warm welcome, both from residents and visitors to the city. There is a knowledgeable and engaged audience here for good contemporary art and we believe our exhibition programming for 2022 and beyond will give people a reason to visit again and again.

"We’ll be linking in with the 2022 Salisbury International Arts Festival as well, so it’s going to be great year for culture and visual art in the city."

There is more good news moving into 2022, with a new fishmonger due to open on Fish Row, an Escape Room on Catherine Street and a Lebanese food takeaway on New Canal just a few expected in the next few months.

Below is the full list of retails which opened in Salisbury this year.

  • Brown Street, Salisbury’s newest outdoor venue
  • Loake Shoemakers on Queen Street
  • Bohemia on the High Street
  • Sofas and Stuff, the newest store on New Canal
  • CUPP Bubble Tea on Silver Street
  • Wilding, a restaurant on the High Street
  • The Vanner Gallery on the High Street
  • Wiltshire Sight, sight loss hub on Catherine Street
  • Botanic Folk on Fisherton Street
  • Dusty Apron on Winchester Street
  • Blueberry Den zero-waste store
  • Captive Worlds on Crane Street
  • Triple Two Coffee on Blue Boar Row
  • House of Tweed in the Old George Mall (pop up)
  • The Letteroom on St Thomas’ Square
  • Sonder Coffee on the High Street
  • Artisan Wine & Spirit Co, Winchester Street
  • Clearway Pets in the Cross Keys Shopping Centre
  • The Salisbury Orangery on Crane Street
  • The Salisbury Office, luxury office pods

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