Cheltenham’s high street is facing a significant downturn, with a growing number of shops closing and many premises left vacant, prompting concern among local residents about the town centre’s future.
The historic Regency town suffered a major blow earlier this year when Cavendish House, a flagship store on the Promenade that had been trading for over 200 years, permanently closed its doors. This closure has had a noticeable impact on the surrounding retail environment, with many traders expressing a sense of being overlooked.
It is not only the Promenade that is affected; just around the corner, the high street itself shows signs of struggle. Increasingly, empty shops can be seen, some with boarded-up windows and “To Let” signs prominently displayed.
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A recent visit to Regent Arcade during a Friday lunchtime revealed a quiet atmosphere, with well-known retailers such as The Body Shop and Apricot shuttered, while others like Schuh and The Card Factory experienced low footfall.
Residents have voiced particular dissatisfaction with the proliferation of chain coffee shops along the high street. Lauren Stemp, a local shopper, commented: “There’s not much variety in the shops anymore, it’s literally just all coffee shops. As soon as something shuts, another coffee chain opens. We don’t need it.”
Lauren added that while there are plenty of options for coffee and food, the range of shopping choices is limited, particularly for clothing. She plans to do her shopping in Bristol next week due to the lack of options.
A casual walk along the high street reveals the extent of this trend, with at least five chain coffee outlets, alongside fast-food restaurants including McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC, as well as seven betting shops and arcades within less than half a mile between the Brewery Quarter and Roxy Lanes.
David Lewis of Bishop’s Cleeve, who has visited Cheltenham since childhood, described the town centre as “a shambles,” noting its run-down appearance and lack of appeal. When asked about revitalisation prospects, he expressed scepticism, saying: “I think the genie’s out of the bottle, and you won’t get shopping back to how it was.”
Long-term residents Richard and Sally Williams, who have lived in Cheltenham for over 30 years, also highlighted the issue of numerous empty premises. Richard suggested reducing the size of the high street and converting some vacant shops back into housing or diversifying the types of businesses rather than allowing more coffee shops to take over.
Sally criticised the upkeep of the high street compared to other towns like Cirencester and Stratford-upon-Avon, describing parts of Cheltenham’s town centre as “not very pleasant at the moment.”
The couple frequently shop in nearby towns such as Cirencester, Bristol, and Cardiff, expressing disappointment that Cheltenham’s retail offering does not match up to its potential.
Despite these concerns, some visitors still prefer Cheltenham for shopping. Lucy, from Gloucester, remarked: “I probably come here more than I would go into Gloucester for shopping. It’s better here than in Gloucester, there’s nothing there.”
She acknowledged the recent shop closures were unfortunate and expressed hope that lower rents could encourage some shops to return. Despite its challenges, she described Cheltenham as “a better town centre to have a mooch around.”