Bus station has a new lease of life following revamp | Invest Gainsborough

Gainsborough Bus Station has recently been refurbished to provide an enhanced gateway to the town centre.

New shelters, street furniture and CCTV have been installed to improve the experience for passengers, alongside an updated layout to create uniformity across the station and re-surfacing where required.

As previously reported, the Council was successfully awarded £10 million from Central Government as part of the ‘Levelling up’ Programme to regenerate Gainsborough.

The ‘Thriving Gainsborough’ programme has focussed on several interventions throughout the town, including a brand new 4 screen cinema, new wayfinding signage and upgrades to green spaces in the town.

The previous bus shelters have been re-purposed to local Parish Councils throughout the West Lindsey district.

Matt Cranwell, Managing Director for Stagecoach East Midlands, said:

“We’re pleased to witness the transformation of Gainsborough Bus Station by West Lindsey District Council. The recent enhancements include more modern fixtures and bus shelters, as well as a thorough deep clean, to create a more positive customer experience.

“Thank you to our passengers for their patience during the two-week renovation period, during which a temporary bus station was in operation. We hope you will enjoy the improvements made to the bus station, and benefit from the enhanced travel experience provided.”

Director of Planning Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council, Sally Grindrod-Smith, said:

“Delivering a set of upgrades to the bus station is one part of the £18million investment into Gainsborough town centre. Together with improvements to signage across the town and increased CCTV, we continue the transformation to make Gainsborough a safe, friendly, and welcoming place to spend time.”

For more information, visit Levelling Up.

West Lindsey District Council is calling for new traders to come and join Gainsborough Market.

There are a number of opportunities to trade in our historic Market Place on Tuesdays, Saturdays or our monthly Farmers and Craft market, or all three! Trading on the market is a great, risk-free way of trying out a new business idea or expanding from selling online.

You will be in good company and will join a wide range of traders on Gainsborough Market Place, some of who have been with us for years and some who have recently joined us.

Wayne Hill at CoolFish has been trading in Gainsborough for the last 25 years and has built a loyal customer base. He said:

“I first started in the Foodhall and have gradually made our way onto the Market Place. I enjoy chatting away to our customers, selling fish and having a good gossip. I strongly recommend joining the market as a trader.”

Kim Farrier at The Garden Tea Room recently joined several months ago and has found her experience positive, she said:

“I’m a new trader and so far, I have found that the people of Gainsborough are really friendly. We love our customers, and we cannot wait to return for more markets!”

Wilcox Bakery has also been on the market for a long-time and always welcomes his customers with a friendly smile. Kevin said:

“I’m very proud to say that Wilcox Bakery has been trading on the market now for a good 35 years! There are so many friendly faces on the market and our customers are so nice. Come and join the market, you won’t regret it.”

Hannah at Sugar Lips Cupcakes is one of the regular Farmers’ and Craft Market traders with her delicious cakes and bakes the public know and loves. She said:

“It’s really enjoyable being here at Gainsborough as one of the regular traders It’s a well organised market and we love our customers.”

A market has been held in Gainsborough for over 800 years since King John granted the town its Market Charter in 1204. We are investing in our historic Market Place to make it once again part of the commercial and social heart of our town.

The Council’s Towns Manager, Nicola Marshall said:

“We have a friendly line-up of regular traders on our traditional retail weekly market and the monthly farmers and craft market. Now is a great time to get established on the market and take advantage of our incentives to trade.

“Trading on a market is ‘Low Cost, No Boss’ and it’s a great way to start or expand a business with very little risk. We have an exciting Young Traders’ market coming up in June – ‘Trade for a Tenner’ if you are between 16 and 30 years of age.”

It’s easy to set up and there are incentives for both new and young traders.

If you are interested, please contact the Markets Officer by emailing [email protected].

For more information about Gainsborough Market – visit Gainsborough Market where you can also download a trader application form.

The highly successful DN21 Business Awards will be relaunched this summer by Marshall’s Yard with support from West Lindsey District Council as headline sponsor.

Twelve awards are available this year – focussing on celebrating excellence and innovation in the town’s business community.

Centre Manager for Marshall’s Yard, Jodie Pacey said she hoped the awards would continue to put Gainsborough on the map as a great place to work and do business. She said:

“The awards are all about keeping it local and recognising the fantastic businesses we have right here in Gainsborough.

“Organised to recognise some of the fantastic companies in Gainsborough, the event celebrates those delivering great products and service in retail and other business sectors keeping it local in the DN21 postcode area.”

Award categories include ‘Green Business of the Year’, ‘Best New Business’ and a ‘Community Engagement Award’.

West Lindsey District Council is looking forward to putting the spotlight on business that embody the spirit of growth, resilience, and innovation.

Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr Trevor Young said the awards were a highlight for many local businesses. He said:

“We are excited to be part of the DN21 Business Awards. We look forward to bringing together our expertise and resources to shine the spotlight on the business at the heart of our community driving prosperity and success.”

Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director for Planning, Regeneration and Communities at the Council and member of the Invest Gainsborough Place Board described the awards as a ‘cornerstone event’ for businesses. She said:

“The DN21 Business Awards are a prestigious platform for business to showcase their achievements and gain valuable recognition. Over the last year, Invest Gainsborough has promoted lots of positive stories from local businesses in the district and these awards will continue to champion the work they are doing. The partnership with Marshall’s Yard reinforces the awards position and is an important event for the business calendar.”

Nominations will be open on Monday 25 March and the winners will be announced in a glittering awards evening which will be held at Thonock Park on 25 July.

There are twelve award categories open to businesses which include:-

• Retailer of the year
• Customer service team of the year
• Community engagement award
• Green business of the year
• Independent retailer of the year
• Best family run business
• Business of the year
• Business person of the year
• Best trade business
• Shining star (individual award)
• Best new business
• Social media award

Entries for the awards open on Monday 25 March and close on Monday 3 June.

Application forms can be downloaded from DN21 awards or a hard copy can be collected from the Centre Management office at Marshall’s Yard.

Applications are accepted from any business as long as it is registered with a DN21 postcode (full criteria and terms and conditions are also available on the website).

The awards night will be held on Thursday 25 July and can be attended by all businesses in the DN21 area. More information about the award evening and the event’s special guests will be announced over the next few weeks.

For sponsorship opportunities and more information contact Melissa Cutforth on 01427 810706 or at [email protected].

Kyle Marsh is the face behind the new and one-of-a-kind business, Pheonix Rest, as he looks forward to the future of his tabletop games café.

Located on Lord Street, Pheonix Rest opened only a month ago, but business owner Kyle has been wanting to open his own store for a long time.

Being no stranger to this industry, he used to run an e-commerce website selling merchandise for youtubers that create content in tabletop games. Kyle said:

“I’ve worked in this industry for a good few years now and I’ve seen both the good and the bad. I’ve always wanted to do this myself and it was just about finding that opportunity.”

When the building at 25 Lord Street came up, he knew it was an offer he couldn’t refuse and dived straight into the building. He added:

“I’ve always been in and out of Gainsborough, I know it really well as I only live in Retford. Gainsborough is a place that’s developing fast and it’s getting a lot of money pumped into the town; the cinema is a big example of that. I just knew I wanted to be a part of it and that this was the place for me.

“I want to make a feature on the map of Gainsborough that’s unique and something people want. I want to encourage to people that they don’t have to step outside of town, I’d love to try and help get the high street back to life.”

Kyle expressed his enthusiasm on creating a space where people can have an experience that’s friendly and laidback away from mobile phones and retail.

“We offer lots of free activities for people to be introduced into these hobbies like our try before you buy scheme. We want people to come in here, sit down, grab a drink and we will go through a game for free. It gives people an opportunity to understand it before putting money on the table.”

People can also bring in their own games, loan games, or just simply pop in to have a coffee and relax.

They also sell and host popular events for trading card games such as Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh and Disney Lorcana.

Looking forward to the future, Kyle is interested in hosting Dungeons and Dragons events to reach out to a wider audience, get people talking and to enjoy themselves.

“You will spend £60 on an Xbox game and complete it in a week. The benefit of my business is that people are getting value in what they are playing with.

“For example, Warhammer is more of an investment. Once you get settled, you have a sense of completion and ownership. You can play so many different games and scenarios that will never expire. It’s so important for young children and adults to use their imagination. It’s pivotal we do things differently.”

Since opening, Kyle has found a lot of friendly faces popping in to meet him and to see what the business is. He stated that the beautiful element of tabletop games is that it’s for everyone.

“Age, gender or other factors doesn’t matter. From children to grown adults, people of different walks of life come here. We are a family orientated industry too and it’s so nice seeing parents coming in to recognise what we do and knowing their children will enjoy it.

“These businesses in small towns are so important and even better that it’s accessible. This is my sole passion. If I’ve got a roof over my head and people are happy, I’m happy. I want this to feel genuine and for it to be something for everyone. You can’t pay for time.”

To find out more, visit their Facebook, Pheonix Rest.

West Lindsey District Council has approved plans for the WC conversion at Whitton Gardens as part of the ‘Thriving Gainsborough’ regeneration programme of work.

Planning permission was approved by councillors at Planning Committee on Wednesday 18 February.

As previously reported, the Council was successfully awarded £10 million from Central Government as part of the ‘Levelling up’ Programme to regenerate the town, with work ongoing since 2022 as part of the Public Realm strategy.

The plans include transforming the public convenience block to a Café, with procurement announced in due course.

Improvement works have started at Whitton Gardens and will include:

• Tree works
• Shrubbery removal
• Installation of outdoor chess table
• Footpath improvements
• Painting and decorating
• Planting

The park and car park are expected to be closed for nine weeks until Friday 26 April 2024 at the latest, for the work to be conducted in a safe and timely manner.

The site will be fenced off throughout the duration and closed to the public, however, the Riverside car park will remain open at full capacity throughout the duration of the works.

Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr Trevor Young and Gainsborough ward member said:

“It’s great to see that not only has planning been granted for the WC conversion, but work has started on site. Enhancing our green spaces and transforming the WC into a café will be integral in our Thriving Gainsborough programme. We know how important Whitton Gardens is to both our residents and visitors and we cannot wait to see it in all its glory when completed.”

To keep up to date with all the Levelling-Up projects follow us @investGainsboro on Twitter or you can find out more information on the Invest Gainsborough website.

A special ground breaking ceremony in Gainsborough marked the start of construction work on the eagerly anticipated £9m Savoy Cinema.

West Lindsey District Council and Savoy Cinema announced that local construction company the Gelder Group have secured the contract to build the state-of-the-art complex in the Market Place.

The development will deliver a 4-screen cinema complex, restaurant, retail units and car parking provision in Gainsborough Town Centre. It is funded through contributions from the Council, the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP), the governments Levelling Up Fund and Savoy Cinemas.

Gelder Group Chief Executive Officer Steve Gelder used a silver spade to break the ground in a symbolic gesture, signalling the start of the work. He said:

“Having been born and brought up in Gainsborough, I am absolutely delighted that we have been awarded the contract to build the exciting new Savoy Cinema.

“I am passionate about seeing the town develop and grow in prominence in the years ahead. I am confident that the new cinema will provide an important focus point in the Market Place and have the power to bring many more visitors into the town.”

Managing Director Savoy Cinemas Limited, James Collington attended the event. He said:

“Today marks a significant milestone in developing our new state-of-the-art cinema, bringing us a step closer to unveiling the Savoy Experience in Gainsborough. We are looking forward to delivering excellent films, entertainment, and cutting-edge cinematic technology in the town centre for the local community and surrounding areas to enjoy.”

Councillors from West Lindsey District Council who represent the Gainsborough ward and Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Lesley Rollings and representatives from GLLEP and Department for Levelling Up Homes and Communities also attended the event to meet the project team.

The development will also provide a new walking link between Marshall’s Yard and the historic market place, where further investment from the Levelling Up Fund and National Lottery Townscape Heritage Initiative is rejuvenating the historic marketplace.

The scheme has been designed to be environmentally efficient, through the inclusion of solar panels and air sourced heat technology. It will also enhance the setting of the Town Centre Conservation Area through its historic design and use of high-quality materials.

Residents and visitors to the town will not only be able to walk through the Market Place and watch the construction get underway but we are delighted to confirm that we will be sharing a special timelapse images at intervals throughout the build for people to see.

To keep up to date with all the Levelling-Up projects follow us @investGainsboro on X (Twitter)or you can find out more information on our website.

A tattoo studio nestled in the heart of Gainsborough has swiftly emerged as a front runner in the tattoo industry since it opened its doors five months ago.

Wonderland Ink Tattoo Studio has been shortlisted for a Global Recognition Award, which recognises small businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to their field.

Business owner and tattooist Jazmine Chloe May said that when the property on Trinty Street came up, it was an offer and an opportunity she couldn’t refuse. She said:

“When I saw the property come up for rent, I snatched it up. Luckily, I had a little bit of savings, and I was able to put a considerable amount of money into the establishing of the business. My partner helped to get everything set up and ready for me, and even helped purchase things to help me start up.”

Jazmine specialises in a variety of tattooing; fineline, anime, traditional and ornamental. She expressed that her favourite things to tattoo are ornamental mandalas, florals and colour. She added:

“I found that so far, I have a nice client base, and then from my client base I’ve gained their friends and family. I click with every single one of my clients and that makes the job better.

“I think when you are choosing a tattoo artist, it is important to choose not only someone whose work you like that they have previously done, but that the studio and the person is the correct feel and vibe for you.”

Jazmine prides herself on how many people that have left her studio, say how accommodating both herself and her receptionist have been as well as the reasonable price. She said:

“I started from just a few inks and a machine and some studio experience years ago, and with the help of my partner, I managed to build a business that I’m not only proud of, but I’m excited to get to in the morning.

“The studio is fully accessible; we have had wheelchair users who have found it easy getting in and out of the studio. We are fully inclusive, it doesn’t matter who you are where you are from, you are welcome. One of our unique selling points is that the studio is completely female run, which we have found eases a lot of people.”

As well as the tattoo studio, a huge selection of crystals and home-made gifts are on offer at the front of the shop.

“We have a piercer who will be working from the studio a couple of times a week, and also training staff in the studio to pierce, but that date is yet to be agreed.”

The future is bright for Jazmine and Wonderland Ink as she looks forward to her journey in Gainsborough. She has also been approached by major companies and is a now a three times sponsored artist by an aftercare, needle cartridge and numbing cream and spray company.

To find out more about Wonderland Ink Tattoo Studio, visit their social media.

To directly request a booking you can enter all your details via the booking link.

Two initiatives which bridge the gap between individuals seeking work and employers has led to successful recruitment for a new Spar store that recently opened in Gainsborough.

West Lindsey District Council has been working with a range of partners including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to support people into employment, creating a thriving community.

An employment and skills fair, held in November created an opportunity for job seekers to connect with industry professionals and explore various career opportunities. It also offered employers the opportunity to showcase vacancies and career paths.

Alongside the Jobs Fair, partners worked together with Spar to deliver a Sector-Based Work Academy Programme which gave job seekers the opportunity to develop skills, to increase their chance of gaining a job with the employer. It also gave participants a valuable insight to the world of work, aligning them with the specific needs of employers in today’s competitive job market.

In total, Gainsborough Job Centre supported nineteen customers to successfully gain employment with Spar which has been built within the Keepmoat Homes’ Warren Wood development, off Foxby Lane in Gainsborough.

Graham Metcalfe, Lincolnshire Partnership Manager at Department for Work and Pensions said:

“It’s great that we have been able to work on another joint venture with local skills partners, West Lindsey District Council and Lincoln College. Together we have been able to support local people with the skills required by the employer to fill job opportunities, which is great.”

Lincoln College help to develop and deliver the Sector Based Work Academy Programme. Gemma Bush, Curriculum Lead for Online and Community Learning at Lincoln College said:

“These programmes are a great opportunity for local residents to learn new skills and get experience of working in a particular industry as it involves support and input from the local employer and the programmes are designed to help improve job prospects.”

The Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) included workshops on the day in the life of the employer, an introduction to Customer Service and many other topics including:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Applying for a job and Mock interviews
• Certificate in Employability Level 1
• Internet Safety, Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity

For more details about apprenticeships and the West Lindsey Employment and skills Partnership please visit their website.

A long-established Gainsborough firm says work by West Lindsey District Council to develop the town’s market square is behind its decision to move to a prime town centre location.

Horsleys of Gainsborough is moving part of its business to 11 Market Place, an area of town currently part of a multi-million pound regeneration initiative by the council.

The building, previously occupied by Savers, has been vacant for some time, but with the wider regeneration works within the historic town centre that include a four-screen cinema, the location proved ideal for Horsley’s, a family-run business established back in 1902.

Horsleys managing director, Dave Horsley, described the move as a ‘no brainer’ because of the council’s ongoing development of the site and support available.

“I went to a breakfast club meeting arranged by the council at the golf club last year where we heard about the support available through the Levelling Up Fund and Invest Gainsborough.

“It’s great that we can now relocate our bed shop on Church Street to the town centre to increase our prominence in the town.”

The new location will become the company’s ‘bedroom superstore’ with beds and bedroom furniture. He added:

“With the plans for the new cinema and other development going on here, it’s a massive deal for us moving here.”

Sympathetic repairs to the shop front to enhance the historic setting of the Market Place will be supported by the Council’s Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme (THI). The works will complement the THI development in the town centre to date, which includes the nearby Fabric Store at 5–7 Market Place, which opened in 2023 following extensive building renovation.

West Lindsey District Council has been working with local building owners and tenants to improve the condition of historic buildings. The aim is to reverse the decline of the town by offering grants towards the costs to renovate the buildings, bringing empty properties back into use.

As previously reported, the council was awarded £1.25m to repair, restore and regenerate the buildings in Gainsborough as part of the THI. The National Lottery Heritage Fund award for historic building repair grants was later supplemented significantly by a large additional award from the Levelling Up Fund.

Jasper Caudwell, from Pygott and Crone, the agent that handled the sale at 11 Market Place, said:

“We are delighted to see Horsley of Gainsborough take up ownership of 11 Market Place. The deal cements renewed optimism for retail premises in the local area and works towards re-stimulating Market Place alongside the multi-million pound cinema and leisure complex on the neighbouring site.”

Gainsborough is undergoing a hugely transformational town centre regeneration project – ‘Thriving Gainsborough’ including a £9 million development of a four-screen cinema complex, restaurant, retail units and additional car parking provision.

Find out more about the Thriving Gainsborough project enabled by investment from the Levelling Up Fund on the Invest Gainsborough website.

Gainsborough based charity, Journey with Love, is hoping to increase their support they currently offer in the future, which is dependent on securing funding.

Journey with Love was first established as a community group in 2020 and registered as a charity in 2022.

Co-founded by Karen Broughton and her second eldest daughter Siobhan, their objective is to create bags for families who have experienced domestic violence to move on from surviving together to thriving. Karen said:

“I’m the manager and do most of the day-to-day running of the charity, and Siobhan is the Chairperson of the trustees. Journey, with love, was created from our lived experience of domestic abuse from both perspectives of a mum as well as a child which we merged to create our ‘with love’ bags.”

Karen found there was very little knowledge of how to actively emotionally support families who had experienced domestic violence. Karen added:

“The general expectation was you left, started over and just simply got on with life. Although I received lots of practical support, a place of safety in a refuge, help with money, and re-housing. Receiving emotional support would have helped me to work through the aftereffects of the trauma I’d experienced, instead, we stayed stuck in survival mode for years. Looking back, I can see just how much this impacted our relationship as a family, bound by our trauma, not by connection.”

Each Journey with Love bags and bracelets are handmade by Karen and her daughter Siobhan.

They contain; a loved before teddy, cuddle blanket, notebook and stationery (both the teddy and the cuddle blanket have matching sewn-on yellow love heart buttons which makes the bear a Journey bear), and a handmade pair of bracelets; one for the child, the second for the teddy, which can also be used as a comforter if the child is struggling with separation anxiety from mum and/or siblings.

“The items help in a variety of ways, offering comfort, as well as helping families to connect and thrive together by forging new positive memories as a family, through the action of a shared experience with the Journey Bear along for support.”

Alongside this, it is hoped the shared activity of talking, writing and drawing in the notebook about their memories of their experience will become a physical keepsake of happy and positive memories that help balance out earlier negative memories.

So far, the charity has donated 322 bags in Gainsborough, Scunthorpe, Boston and to three different women’s refuges in London called Hestia.

“I’m currently liaising with Lincoln EDAN and Louth Women’s Refuge to provide bags in the future. Lincoln EDAN also has an outreach support service here in Gainsborough.”

Journey with Love recently held a Christmas fundraiser with a total of £225 raised alongside other items that had been donated to them and Nurture with Lydia. This enabled them to provide gifts for 70 children across the country.

Nurture with Lydia is a breastfeeding counsellor and provides support to women pre and ante-natal.

“We are hoping to increase the support we currently offer in the future, dependent on securing funding.”

The second fundraiser is a sponsored skydive by a local resident. All proceeds are going to Journey with Love to enable them to provide more bags. Andy Ralph Butler said:

“I’ve got £350 of my £1500 target. I’ve also managed to get a few items to help raise funds, a signed football shirt, and autobiography. The charity are based in Gainsborough and thought it was an amazing opportunity to help.”

Andy is hoping that the raised money will enable Journey with Love to continue their journey.

To find out more about Journey, with Love, visit their Facebook, Instagram or their fundraiser.