The little UK town packed with over 200 independent shops | UK | News

As high streets in all corners of the UK continue to grapple with increased operating costs and economic pressures, one market town continues, according to those who live there, to defy the odds and just get better and better. The town is now gearing up for a busy Christmas period and businesses are looking to the future with optimism.

It has been a particularly tough year for high streets across the nation. According to the Centre for Retail Research, up to 17,000 shops are expected to close in 2025. However, more shops are opening than closing in Dorchester, in Dorset, with more than 20 new businesses being welcomed to the town over the last two years. It now homes over 200 thriving independent businessesand hosts a weekly market which brings in coach loads of visitors to the town. 

“Dorchester is the county town of Dorset and we’ve got some wonderful little shops here,” Jason Allum, co-owner of jewellers Allum and Sidaway, tells the Express. “Most of them are independents too which is always nice, especially nowadays.”

Allum and Sidaway, a fourth-generation family business, has been operating in Dorchester for over 50 years. While the journey has not always been straight forward, Mr Allum believes the future is bright.

The 55-year-old says: “The high street here isn’t like every other high street in the UK. It’s much more unique with a range of shops.

“The local people are fabulous. Many of our clients have been shopping with us for many, many years. We’re very lucky with this. You find that most of the people shopping around here are local. They support their local businesses.” 

“We’re continuously evolving ourselves which has helped us survive all these years,” Mr Allum adds. “We find that the jewellery industry is changing so much so we have to keep up with that.”

He adds: “We don’t get many tourists in Dorchester really. In the summer it might get a bit busier but, for us, our busiest time is the period coming up – Christmas.”

Located in the Hardye Arcade, which is named after the wealthy 16th-century merchant Thomas Hardye, is Simply Stylish. The shop opened three years ago and sells second-hand furniture and accessories.

Its owner, Jana Pahlow, says her business has enjoyed a successful start to life in the town. She credits the availability of parking, the weekly market and the history of Dorchester for the thriving shopping scene.

“I opened the shop up three years ago and it’s all been going pretty well,” she says. “I’m really happy with the trade in Dorchester.

“I certainly have my regular customers and they’re all local. I think the local people are supportive of all the businesses.”

As well as her shop, Ms Pahlow also sells her products online. This has allowed her to gain clients as far away as Ireland and Paris.

She adds: “We’re lucky in this area as there are car parks close by to help footfall. It also helps me pick up furniture and stock easily.”

“We are lucky to be so close to the Jurassic Coast – it’s beautiful here,” Ms Pahlow adds. “Dorchester is also known for its Roman history so people come here to look at the ruins. It all helps us.

“We’re also hoping to benefit in the future from the cruise liners that come into Portland. Some of the people could come up and visit.

“We have a weekly market every Wednesday which brings in coach groups of people. This is great as it gets more people into the town.”

Dorchester Market, held every Wednesday, is set along South Street and South Walks, and opposite Brewery Square. The bustling market features over 200 traders selling everything from fruit and vegetables to hot food, plants and clothes.

House of Phaedra opened on Antelope Walk almost exactly a year ago. The home fragrance and lifestyle store started online before growing and eventually requiring a physical store to meet the needs of customers.

Charlie Adler, who works at the store, says: “It’s a lovely community in Dorchester which has helped the business grow. The Dorchester BID (Business Improvement District) are really helpful for everyone.

“Dorchester is very much a market town so it’s that interesting size between being quite small and community-orientated as well as bringing people in from elsewhere and other towns. We’re doing really well at the moment so hopefully we keep being successful.

“Like other shops, we get our regular friendly faces come in. We’re also very helpful if they have any questions or are looking for something in particular.”

The 55-year-old adds that it’s not only the customers that support the shops in the town. The respective business owners also help each other through thick and thin.

“The independent shop community is great here,” she explains. “All of the owners are part of a WhatsApp group so they’re always communicating and supporting.

“If there’s every any local issues they’ll come together. Also if anyone comes in asking where they can find something, we’ll point them towards the right place. With Christmas coming up it’s a busy time of year for all of us. We’ve been getting ready for it.”

Further down Antelope Walk is Loving by Nature which specialises in baby’s and children’s organic clothes, books and toys. Like many other shops in the town, the store sources many of its items from other local traders in order to remain sustainable.

The shop initially opened on London Road around eight years ago. However, it struggled for footfall so the owner made the decision to relocate to a more central location.

Cathie Loving, 72, says: “The shop opened eight years ago in a different location but it wasn’t ideal really. It was too far out of town and footfall wasn’t great. 

“The shop then moved here around a year and a half ago and it’s been so much better. Footfall is so much better here. We used to get maybe one or two people a week but here more people just come in and browse. It’s so much busier.”

She explains that everything in the shop is sourced from Dorset and the local area. This helps attract customers as they are keen to support local business owners.

“We’re very locally based. Everything we get in is from Dorset and from the local area to make sure we stay sustainable,” Ms Loving says. “It gives us a point of difference and people like that. It benefits the whole local economy too.”

Ms Loving has seen Dorchester grow and grow in recent years. She believes the town is only getting better and stands out from others across the UK.

“It’s a family and community town. Everyone knows each other and is really friendly,” she explains. “It’s amazing in Dorchester now. It used to be so much quieter but all different types of shops are popping up now.

“There’s something for everyone here now I think. You can get all sorts in Dorchester which isn’t like other towns.”

Phil Gordon, project director of Dorchester BID, believes other towns can learn a lot from Dorchester. He says: “To be successful on the high street these days you need to offer something special to attract customers away from the internet.

“Our businesses, especially the independents, do just that with great customer experience, advice, product knowledge and, most importantly, bringing the fun back into the buying experience.”