Preston Street Revival

While the rest of the country is nose-diving into the biggest recession since recessions were invented, Faversham is bucking the trend, and Preston Street in particular is home to a most welcome and localised revival.

Top Nosh Faversham,

managed by Daniel Peters, opened on Saturday 30th October, and they make

handmade meals to take away, specialising in wraps, bagels and paninis.

I’ve heard favourable things said about their wraps, so they are worth

investigating (although there is a dearth of vegetarian food!).

Alas the Christmas Shop Bargain Shop opposite has closed, although

the good news story is that they’ve moved up the street to larger

premises (I think where Chainstore Massacre were?).

Next door at number 78 is BoodiRoo,

managed by Jodi Bristow, who are a baby, nursery equipment and baby toy

shop. They opened up 10 weeks ago, and will have a new web site at www.boodiroo.co.uk.

A particular favourite are the metal toys which I mistook for wood,

most especially the red and yellow car with go-faster flames.

Further confounding the economic pundits at number 18a is Jittermugs, who also have a Facebook page. They are a coffee shop, selling Good Honest Real Coffee with books! I can’t wait. I like coffee and I like books. They will also (allegedly) be selling home made cake. Did I mention that I like cake as well. They’ll be opening the floodgates on Saturday 27th November. Expect to queue.

And almost next door, where Abacus toys were, at number 19a will be Cherry Computers, who are expanding into much bigger premises. Expect to see even more computers and an internet cafe, with yet more coffee.

In a perverse reversal of the trend, Cliff at Faversham Carpets has moved from 6b Preston Street, to the old Peter Newman shoes at number 6 East Street. But yet again, he has expanded. Other businesses that have expanded recently have been Heselden Hats (web site is www.heseldenhats.co.uk, who have moved from 107 to 109 West Street, and The Anchor Inn, who have opened up a crab shack at the same address, and expanded the restaurant.

Faversham is officially and paradoxically a Boom Town! Now all it needs is yet another supermarket...