Business owners say they have University of Nottingham to thank for their popularity
Beeston high street has become increasingly popular with students(Image: Maisie Clarke)
Independent shops have become the backbone of Beeston’s high street.
Connected by both tram lines and buses, the town is only a four-minute journey from the University of Nottingham campus, and it’s becoming increasingly popular with students.
With the university located down the road from Beeston, as well as the newly built Beckton House student accommodation located on Station Road, independent shops have thanked students for supporting their businesses.
Afshin Ganji, 31, owner and general manager of Bistro 66, a popular restaurant located on High Road has attributed his business’ success to the local students.
He said: “Beeston is already a hub for independent businesses; more and more places are opening up. One thing we are really lucky with is the university – the university brings in lots and lots of people all year round, like visitors, which you wouldn’t have in other small towns, so I think for that reason the high street is doing really well.”
The Nottingham-based owner has run Bistro 66 for four years, building their credibility as a well-known name within the community and further afield.
Talking about running a business in Beeston, Afshin explains that: “It’s really good for us, the thing I like the most about having a business in Beeston is the fact that the world walks through our doors every day; we have people come from all over the world.”
“We used to have a business elsewhere and it just wasn’t the same; it was in a village so it was the same people every day, but here we get a nice mix of the two. So you get all of our regulars, and we know all their orders by heart, but then with the variety of people – it’s really cool.”
As an established hub for independent businesses, Beeston is home to a variety of shops, restaurants, pubs, arts and crafts stores, and coffee shops.
Rory Archer, 37, from Bramcote, explains how the University of Nottingham students have helped his independent business.
“It’s the student vibe, the students help a lot. I genuinely think if you took the university away, there would be so much struggle.
“It was seen as the cheaper (West) Bridgford originally; people came here and it’s turned into its own little thing. The students truly help because without the university, there would be less support for independents, with lots of people coming from different places.”
Archer has been operating the Greenhood Coffee House for 11 years, serving freshly brewed teas, coffees, and other hot drinks.
Speaking about the benefits of owning a shop in Beeston, he says: “The footfall is high because we have the students, you’ve got the people who live here, and we’re close to the motorway for people who travel… so in terms of the amount of people who come in, I’ve never found it a struggle.”
Despite the high street hosting some spaces for bigger companies, the communal and supportive feeling remains consistent throughout Beeston.
The Beeston Social, owned by a Nottingham-based bar group, has become a core business in Beeston within the four years it has been open.
Reflecting on The Beeston Social’s experience since its opening, Hal, a manager from Bristol, described how the community has impacted the business.
He said: “We are part of a sort of initiative to have the support network; like we have Ark in the same building, and Rassams, and even though we are distinct businesses, because we share the space, people view it as a package deal.”
“It is nice and I think that that initiative is good to provide businesses with a support network with a natural energy with each other.”
The 24-year-old also explained how Beeston attracts a variety of people from different backgrounds, contributing to the sense of community.
“We are close to the university so you do get a lot of students throughout the day, but the clientele is different to what you would expect. But a lot of students want to go out, it’s definitely, like on Friday and Saturdays, a lot of regulars.”
Although Beeston is already home to many independent businesses, it is continuously growing to support new shops on its high street.
With its prime location for university students and being surrounded by residential areas, Beeston is developing its reputation as a hub for small, local independents, popular with both newly arriving and local individuals.