The publication of the Warwick Business School graduate Fernanda Salomon’s report “Regeneration in Kenilworth: building in economic resilience” – see our breaking news “Regeneration …..” identified one of the areas that Kenilworth Town Centre Partnership and stakeholders should consider centred around the retail tenant mix in town. Charles Smith of Boston Fieldgate though his role on the Partnership Board undertook to undertake research to get the facts and figures on this. Based upon 1^st November 2011 he analysed the retail offer. In the commercial core there are 165 retail outlets ranging from several hundred sqft to the large food stores. At that date there were 6 empty units accounting for under 4% of the total floor area and since then several units have now been let so vacancy rates are down. The largest user group not surprisingly is the food stores who collectively account for 26% by floor area and 33% by rateable value. Clothing and fashion came in at over 5%, restaurants for which the town is well known and highly regarded accounted for around 11%. 32 use categories were identified and overall there is a strong mix of interesting independents and the multiples. The combination clearly works and provided a good balance.

First floor accommodation in Talisman House within the town centre provided the perfect space for the new gym. Offering some 2500 sqft it provides light airy space in a central location with the opportunity to secure many new members. Boston Fieldgate identified the premises negotiated the lease terms and prepared, submitted and secured consent for change of use from offices in early October when the lease was completed and the gym is now fully operational.

“Nearly eighteen years ago I spotted the write up of the Monopoly Walk in one of the colour supplements and with husband Dave had wanted to do this challenge for some years but the opportunity never seemed to arise” said Gill Frost.

With four other friends Moss and Val Gold and Charles & Andie Smith we were doing one of our regular walks when the topic of fresh challenges arose – this was our chance. “Having spent several evenings discussing this over a few glasses the challenge was set and we embarked for London” continued Gill.

“The walk involves visiting all the properties on the traditional monopoly board. Some are easy to identify but creative thinking was needed to identify “free parking” or “community chest” said Charles but we did it! – starting at Old Kent Road and moving round to pick up Fenchurch St Station, Whitechapel then round to Kings Cross and Marylebone – just under 14 miles on the first day. Day 2 was the around the west end and just in to the city picking up all the retail areas involving just over 6 miles. Old Bond Street and Regent Street were particularly tough trying to steer our wives away from too much retail therapy” said Charles who continued “We had great fun, met some great people doing other challenges, saw some interesting sites, went to places we have never been before and on the Saturday got very wet but we were not downhearted and it is a great way to see the main tourist sites in London. We are now working on our next challenge – the Cotswold Way.”