We spoke to traders along Fore Bondgate and Newgate Street to hear their views on the town, its future and the plans in place for its regeneration.
Mum and daughter team Carol and Laura Knight run Tinkers Treasures, Fore Bondgate: “We’re really passionate about the town. We’ve got a lot going on here, and there’s money that we’ve been given by the government to make it a better place. We’ve got the castle, we’ve got Kynren, the Spanish Art Gallery. We have got an opportunity to make something of it.
“Bishop Auckland is going to be more touristy, there will be more bars and more restaurants. A holiday feel-that’s what I hope for Bishop Auckland. Give it some more time and it will come together, it will take time, but it will come together. The history, the heritage the community and the people are what make Bishop Auckland so special.”
Husband and wife Wayne and Joanne Furnell started the Bishop Auckland Cupcake Co., Fore Bondgate, six years ago: “Bishop Auckland is an amazing place. Looking ahead 10 years – it will be more touristy, more local bars and restaurants. When you go somewhere and you’re sitting outside and it’s got a holiday feel, that’s what I see for us in the future.
“There is a lot of heritage and history here for visitors. From our point of view, we have seen a lot of tourists coming in coming to see the Castle, the Mining Gallery and the Spanish Gallery. For Bishop Auckland itself there is a real change going on”
Further into town, along Newgate Street, the newly opened Simon’s Butchers is welcoming customers.
Simon and Amanda Hill opened Simon’s Butchers on Newgate Street in early 2022:“We were looking for a larger premises and realised that there wasn’t a butcher in Bishop Auckland. For us, it was the perfect opportunity to expand our business.
“It’s getting busier week on week. We’re building up nicely. We’ve been here for four months and we’re still getting people coming in who didn’t know we are here, so we’re still building our customer base. A lot of people don’t know what’s on the high street and when they find us it’s a bonus, it gives people more of a reason to come into town.
“There’s a lot going on behind the scenes in Bishop Auckland. In the next 18 months to two years there’s going to be a lot of development at the bottom end of the high street that will hopefully bring a lot more people into town and it will hopefully benefit the businesses at the top end of the town too.
“A lot of people through Covid went back to grassroots shopping, through that you find a lot more people shopping locally. Hopefully that will help things in the long run.”
Robert Bedford, Bedford’s Appliance Care, has been on Newgate Street for 50 years: “You can’t live in the past, you’ve got to make things better. I have people dropping in all the time. I have customers who are the grandkids of people I have fixed washing machines for in the past. You need to make it work and put yourself out for your customers. It’s about give and take.
“Hopefully the town will develop, but it will depend on people investing. People have dreams, a lot of people have dreams, a lot of people want to achieve, live the dream of self-employment. It’s hard work, you’re competing against online sales. The whole retail sector is so different now. There’s a business for anybody but you shouldn’t expect a living, you have to work for it and put a bit in to get a bit out. You’ve got to build a customer base and return business.
Find out more about regeneration plans for Bishop Auckland click here.
