Marshall’s Yard celebrates 16 years | Invest Gainsborough

Opening in April 2007, Marshall’s Yard in Gainsborough have developed strongly in 16 years. Since operating, they have won four awards including a BCSC Gold Award for In Town Retail Schemes in December 2007.

The centre attracts thousands of visitors each week to popular shops such as Marks & Spencer, Superdrug and Browns. Alongside that, it is also home to independent businesses like No17 Coffee Shop and Bar and Caldero Lounge.

Marshall’s Yard Centre Manager and Invest Gainsborough Placeboard Member, Jodie Pacey took on her role at the centre in April 2022, celebrating their 15-year anniversary.

To find out more about Marshall’s Yard and what they do, watch their video below:

Alternatively, you can find out more here.

Strengu, a Gainsborough based health clinic is going from strength to strength, sealing four years of positive growth and a move to a town centre location.

Previously based at Mercury House on Foxby Lane, due to expansion and growth, owner Jen Stainton decided that a move further into town would be great for improving visibility and accessibility.

She said: “Mercury House was a handy location when moving from mobile therapy to wanting clinic space, however I quickly outgrew this location and set about searching for the perfect space in town where I could at long last have the space that I’ve longed for and my very own postcode!”

Strengu offers sports therapy including diagnostic services, consultation, sports massage and other associated services such as cupping, blading, and kinesiology taping, which has been the backbone of the business from day one.

Jen expressed her enthusiasm for her job and how she helps people. She said: “I’m passionate about helping people towards their sporting goals, helping people recover from injury, but many of my clients are non-sporting and the injuries and pain that they have is associated with work, lifestyle and posture – so all are welcome!”

During lockdown, Jen developed the rehabilitation and training side of the business, expanding the Strengu offer to include personal training, nutrition coaching, Pilates teaching and class-based fun for her clients. The move to Hickman Street has further facilitated this with a much-improved space.

She said: “I can’t believe how exciting it is to be here. Blood sweat and tears went into making this the perfect space, and in 2024 we will introduce a gym/Pilates studio, a therapy room as well as a space for the talking therapies. I feel beyond blessed and so excited to open the doors to new and existing clients.”

This exciting move leaves Strengu in the heart of town where so much investment is taking place over the coming months and Jen feels very pleased to be a part of this. She said: “The development along Hickman Street alone, with new businesses renovating space is so good to see and be a part of.”

For class availability and booking and any other enquiries contact Jen on 07811 601 802 or [email protected].

For anyone wishing to find out more about Strengu, visit the Facebook Page here.

Alternatively, you can visit the website for further information here.

Professional MMA fighter Dan Gibbon has recently launched free weekly boxing sessions for teenagers at Precision Boxing Academy at X Church.

After spending ten years in California, Dan opened Gainsborough Mixed Martial Arts Academy at West Lindsey Leisure Centre in 2010, where he also runs Gorilla Fight Team.

Dan competes at an international level and specialises in mixed martial arts, kick boxing, Thai boxing and Muay Thai. He has also amassed over 30 MMA fights throughout his career and won a European title in professional MMA and a C Class Muay Thai title.

At Precision Boxing Academy, Dan does licensed boxing and is now looking to host events and boxing workshops for children and young adults. He said:

“Three months ago, I started doing classes at X-Church and it’s going really well. I’ve had an excellent response from the local community.

“We are in that beginning phase at this stage, but the facilities are state of the art. We have brand new rings and a bag frame which is all safe for both adults and children.”

Dan hopes to keep the club running on a regular basis to support the community with the aim of encouraging hundreds of children to get involved in classes in the future.

“I have a great relationship with the kids. My job is really positive. It’s taught the kids both respect and discipline. A club running on a regular basis would help the area massively.

“I’ve travelled to countless gyms, but the sky is the limit with this and hopefully I can give back to the community.”

The free teenage boxing class takes place every Thursday at 7pm and coaching is offered by experienced athletes that also compete.

You can find out more about the Precision Boxing Academy here.

Alternatively, you can find out more information about Gorilla’s Fight Team at West Lindsey Leisure Centre here.

Our Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities, Sally Grindrod-Smith, and Townscape Heritage Projects Officer, Jonathan Lee, have worked with us on a video highlighting the ‘Thriving Gainsborough 2024’ Levelling Up project.

The programme aims to address the most pressing market failures and systemic challenges that continue to hold the community and town back.

In the video, Sally Grindrod-Smith said:

“We want to see like-minded investors, operators, people that can see there is a huge potential in Gainsborough to come and have a presence in the town, to run their businesses and invest alongside us.”

As previously reported, the project highlights Gainsborough as a growth area that seeks to increase the population and support the local economy.

Jonathan Lee said:

“The Townscape Heritage Scheme is a scheme which is focused on Gainsborough to try and improve the fabric of the historic buildings. The scheme seeks to address the under investment owners have made for a variety of reasons over many years to the historic buildings.”

If you’ve not it already, here is an update on all our levelling up projects from the 4-screen cinema to Whitton Gardens.

 

Last week Thonock Park Golf Club opened its doors for Invest Gainsborough to host a free breakfast networking event for businesses.

Here we gave an update on the Gainsborough Town Centre Regeneration Scheme, new business grant programme, and free business support package.

The event was well attended with lots of enthusiasm regarding the regeneration and growth of the town and the wider district.

As previously reported, as a growth area, Gainsborough is seeking to increase its population to support the local economy with an £18 million regeneration plan from West Lindsey District Council.

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

Alternatively, you can find out more information on business support here.

Eden Tyres & Servicing has opened its newest branch in Gainsborough, bringing the total to 21 across the East Midlands.

The family-run company opened its first garage in 1981 and continues to expand its business, offering everything from tyres and wheel alignment to MOT testing, car servicing and repairs.

It’s first branch, which opened in Normanton, Derbyshire, employed five people, today some 200 individuals work in the company’s retail and wholesale departments.

The company had been searching for a suitable location for brand-new premises, and spotted the ideal site when land became available in Gainsborough.

Eden’s retail director, Jim Nicholls said: “We chose to open a garage in Gainsborough as the site and location were perfect.

“We like to open new garages as this ensures the facilities, workshops and parking really work for our customers and staff, so when the building land next to Morrisons on Heapham Road South became available, we knew this was a great opportunity for us to build a  brand-new branch.”

The company said the Gainsborough site’s size and shape was also ideal in allowing them to create these brand-new premises, providing the room for customer-friendly amenities such as parking and situated in an easily accessible location.

Gainsborough branch manager Barry Campion, who has worked in the automotive industry for over 38 years, said: “We’ve been really excited about opening up here in Gainsborough. The garage here is in a super location and our workshops have been kitted out with the most up to date technology available. I’m confident the new garage will be a real asset to the local community.”

The company said its research ahead of moving to Gainsborough pointed to a demand for this type of service, and a targeted advertising campaign on social media and customer recommendations through word of mouth, have allowed them to build up a customer base relatively quickly.

You can find out more about Eden Tyres and Servicing on their website here.

West Lindsey District Council is calling for all residents of Gainsborough to contribute in a survey to help us understand how you want the new town centre green spaces to look and feel.

This includes the design elements for Whitton Gardens and the former Baltic Mill site where Caskgate Street meets Silver Street and Bridge Street, with a separate survey for each.

Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities encourages all residents to have their say. She said:

“We are working with Project Centre to improve the high-quality green spaces that are Whitton Gardens and Baltic Mill. We encourage all residents of Gainsborough to help us identify what you want in these areas in order to move forward with this exciting project.”

As previously reported, the council was successfully awarded £10 million from Central Government in 2021 as part of the 20 year ‘Levelling up’ Programme, to regenerate the town and help create a ‘Thriving Gainsborough’.

The project has been co-produced with our communities, politicians, local businesses and third-party investors. It develops the momentum created by previous interventions and implements further visibly impactful and transformational change.

Our aim is to create an enhanced network of green spaces and embrace green technologies while addressing the most pressing systemic challenges and market failures that currently impact the town and community.

The survey will close at 9am on 9 May 2023, where the results will be evaluated and fed into the regeneration of both sites.

To take part in the survey, visit here:

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

Celebrating their two-year anniversary, two best friends have come on leaps and bounds since opening their shop front.

Prestige is a beauty salon that is located at 2 Curtis Walk, Gainsborough, and is run by Ellie Dargan, 22 and Ella Wilson, 24.

The two best friends have known each other for three years and following the success of the business they have decided to rebrand.

Previously known as ‘The Nail Loft,’ the re-brand of the salon happened following an extension of services they wanted to give to the local people of Gainsborough.

Ellie said: “We got the keys in March 2021 and spent a month doing it up ready to open up in April 2021! We were both scared as it was a big commitment but it’s the best decision we’ve ever made.”

They revealed that the new name of the salon followed on their favourite gel nail colour they use and because “there are two E’s in Prestige which makes it more personal as we’re Ellie and Ella.”

Ellie and Ella first met back in 2020 while working at different salons delivering different services and are now inseparable.

“We now have a salon which we’re very lucky to call our own. We couldn’t be luckier with the relationship we have with each other. We balance each other out really well,” they said.

The girls highlighted that “working together just happened” to which they fell into and that they never had a set goal of forming a business together.

Outside of the business, they spend their days off together, go out with their partners and enjoy time with each other’s family.

Ella said: “When we aren’t together, we’re constantly speaking. From 6:30am when our alarms go off to when we go to sleep. People would probably think that’s suffocating but it just works!”

Reflecting on the success of the business and the long-term plan, Ellie and Ella’s goal is to continue their path of success.

“The long-term plan is to keep our business and to promote healthy nail and foot care! We love the salon we’re in and love it just being the two of us, so we have no plan to expand in people!

“One day we would also love to get into training as we think we have the best job in the world, and we would love others to feel like that.”

Further information on Prestige by Ellie and Ella can be found here.

Gainsborough is the ideal location to run a business for a variety of reasons, according to David Townsley.

David moved his Villiers Classics car business to 30 North Street, three years ago, renting the showroom on the ground floor of the 19^th century building.

Last year the building was put on the market and David purchased it, retaining the showroom as his workshop, which houses a dozen or so classic vehicles. The cars in stock read like a who’s who of classic manufacturers and include the likes of Jaguar; Porsche; Lotus and Daimler.

David said: “I was running a similar business in south-west London, buying and selling classic cars, similar sized business to this, but the cost of operating it was about three times higher than here and it was proving just too expensive.”

After hearing about the building here in Gainsborough it wasn’t long before David made the decision to move his entire business 170 miles from his Surrey base to West Lindsey, capitalising on the reduced operating costs and the central location.

“It was early 2020 when I moved and everything worked out well from day one. Then the landlord decided he wanted to sell the building so just over a year ago I bought it to ensure security of tenure as the premises and Gainsborough’s location had worked well for us.”

Existing tenants on the site, which included a boxing club, a dance school, and a carpet shop, have since vacated the building, giving David the opportunity to draw up plans for the rest of the site.

“The plan now is to further utilise 30 North Street and offer an attractive, practical, and affordable set of working spaces for local businesspeople,” says David.

“Although the building’s architecture poses some constraints, it conversely offers a range of interesting room configurations. These may well appeal not only to office-based businesses but also to craftspeople and artisans.”

David has been renovating the building over the last three months, improving facilities, and is now marketing the vacant spaces that make up the Villers Business Hub.

“A large volume of the businesses in Gainsborough are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and given the fact a lot of what we’re doing here is geared towards offering the ideal workspace for small businesses, I’m hopeful this new business hub will fulfil the needs of local businesses.

Further information on the Villers Business Hub, can be found here https://www.villiers-hub.co.uk/about-us or you can email David on [email protected]. For further details on Villers Classic Cars visit their website https://www.villiersclassics.com/

West Lindsey District Council has officially appointed award-winning GBM Demolition to lead the demolition of the former Lindsey Centre in Gainsborough.

Demolition work officially started on Monday 19 December and will enable the build of a new four-screen cinema, restaurant and commercial units as part of our Thriving Gainsborough programme of work.

The project is part of a number of ongoing Council investment programmes, which aim to develop the district’s towns and rural communities.

Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Councillor Owen Bierley is delighted to welcome GBM Demolition to the project. He said: “The demolition of the former Lindsey Centre is a focal point of our plans to create a ‘Thriving Gainsborough’. The redevelopment of this key town centre site will not only enable the delivery of the cinema, but also connect Marshall’s Yard with the historic Market Place via a new walk way.

“It is a very exciting time for the town as there is a hub of regeneration activity taking place. Therefore, we really look forward to working with GBM Demolition as they join us in our ambitious plans to bring a real, sustainable change to the town.”

This project forms part of the Council’s ambitious plans to regenerate the wider town centre area, which is undergoing a significant investment thanks to Council’s £18 million Levelling up Programme.

Adrian Corrigan, Divisional Director for GBM Demolition, is delighted to join the Council for the project.

He said: “We’re very pleased to be involved with this demolition project, which is local to us and enables employees and supply chain partners from the locality to carry out and benefit from the works. We think the development of the cinema will be of great benefit to the area, and it’s exciting to be able to play a key role in the improvement of lovely Lincolnshire towns such as Gainsborough.”

The building, which was previously known as Oldrids Department Store, is due to take approximately twelve weeks to demolish, finishing just before the Easter holidays.

Cllr Trevor Young, Ward Member for Gainsborough, is pleased that visual changes are starting to happen in the town. He said: “It’s great to see that the cinema process is starting to take place, and I look forward to watching the positive changes it brings to the town.”

Sir Edward Leigh, MP for Gainsborough, also attended the site on Wednesday 21 December. He said: “This project will have an incredible impact on Gainsborough, it will really make people sit up and take notice. This town deserves it, and I am absolutely delighted and cannot wait to see the work taking place.”

Site assembly and clearance has been supported by external funding including £500,000 from the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and funds from the Levelling Up programme.

Halina Davies, Projects and Programme Executive Manager at the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The LEP has already contributed £4 million to the overall regeneration of Gainsborough through a suite of projects to help restore and revive the town centre and transport infrastructure, creating a coherent, attractive and strong commercial hub that will support a growing town.

“We’re extremely pleased to see this demolition work going ahead and we look forward to seeing the results of this ambitious regeneration programme.”

West Lindsey District Council and GMB Demolition will be working closely to ensure disruption to market traders and businesses around the market place is kept to a minimum. Up-to-date information can also be found on the Invest website here: www.investgainsborough.com/luf/cinema/

West Lindsey District Council’s Director of Planning and Regeneration, Sally Grindrod Smith, said: “As we end 2022 and move into 2023, there are huge and positive changes ahead for Gainsborough Town Centre. We are working hard to deliver a market place that is at the heart of our town, with spaces and activities for people to spend their leisure time, meet family and friends and enjoy our traditional street market in a special historic environment”

To keep up to date with all the projects follow us @investGainsboro or you can find out more information on the cinema and the other projects please visit: www.investgainsborough.com/luf/