New Wiltshire Council pop-up shop opens in Salisbury (and it's full of local produce!)

Enhancing the city’s reputation for being home to a selection of independent traders, 36 Salisbury opened its doors for the first time on Tuesday, offering a unique array of high quality locally produced art, craft, food and drink.

Based in the former Co-Op bank at 36 High Street, this new pop-up shop showcases products from more than 70 artisans and local producers at any one time.

Only products that have been produced in Wiltshire or have strong links to the city of Salisbury will be available, including gin, tea, honey, chocolates, jewellery, ornaments, paintings and more.

Over the coming weeks, 36 Salisbury will also have a small pop-up local coffee retailer within the store enabling shoppers to have a drink as they browse.

Various workshops, pop-up tasters, ‘meet the maker’ and other events will be hosted in store to encourage people to have a look at the wide range of products available.

Philip Whitehead, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “We are delighted to be launching this pop-up shop initiative in Salisbury’s High Street.

“It is not only supporting start-up businesses and local independent traders of Salisbury and Wiltshire to gain valuable retail experience for their products, it also encourages our residents and visitors to shop locally.

“With lots of different brands and products on offer all in one place, it even makes shopping easier.”

Open from 10am seven days a week, the 36 Salisbury pop-up shop will be trialled until the end of March 2020.

This initiative, Wiltshire Council bosses say, supports its bid for Future High Street Funding from central government and its longer-term aspiration to create a cluster of small artisan retail/leisure and workspace units, as well as residential space.

This will provide a choice of live/work spaces to suit artisans and start-ups at different stages of their lifecycles, supporting their progression from maker space and start-up units to workshops and larger retail.

Cllr Whitehead added: “We have listened to residents’ comments about schemes that could provide retail space for artisans and start-up businesses. 36 Salisbury is doing exactly this.

“It has brought back into use a large prominent empty shop on the High Street and is giving local entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop so they can take on shops of their own in the future.”

Andy Rhind-Tutt, president of Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, commented: “This is an exciting and welcome addition to the High Street that will help showcase our city’s huge selection of quality independent artisans and drive custom to other businesses in the area.”