Beeston is one of Nottinghamshire’s strongest-performing larger retail centres, but traders and residents say a lack of variety is leaving the town centre feeling “stagnant”.
The town, three miles south-west of Nottingham, has a four per cent retail vacancy rate, meaning 96 per cent of its available floor space is occupied. It is the best-performing town in Broxtowe and compares favourably with Mansfield and Worksop, where vacancy rates are around 17 per cent.
Beeston’s High Road is known for its independent businesses, street art, pubs and large student population. Broxtowe Borough Council deputy leader Greg Marshall has previously described it as having “its own mini bohemian culture”.
However, some residents and traders believe the town has too many coffee shops, charity shops, vape shops and barbers.
Dan Matwiejczuk, manager of trading card business Jake’s Breaks, described Beeston as an “easy and nice” place but said it needed more distinctive businesses.
“You only need so many charity shops, vape shops and coffee shops,” he said. “We need more random things that are different and draw people in.
“The second one place closes, it reopens within weeks, but often as another charity shop or coffee shop. It’s quite stagnant, but it works.”
His colleague Dan Pilkington said the former Halifax branch, which closed in June 2026 and is due to become a Starbucks, was the only prominent empty unit he had noticed.
“Once a shop closes, it is automatically snatched up,” he said, adding that independent businesses appeared to be thriving.
Both praised Beeston’s busy evening economy and social scene.
Betty, 83, who has lived in the town for more than 50 years, said the High Road once had butchers, banks and clothing retailers.
“Now I think it’s rubbish,” she said. “There are too many coffee shops, vape shops and barbers.
“There’s nowhere on High Road where I can buy a dress, so my daughter has to take me to Long Eaton.”
Rory Archer, who has owned Greenhood Coffee for 11 years, also believes Beeston has a “saturation” problem.
“Yes, Beeston is full, but everything is pretty much the same,” he said.
He listed numerous cafés already trading in the town and said the arrival of Starbucks would spread existing demand even more thinly.
“The statistics say it is 96 per cent occupied, but occupied by what?” he said. “There are only so many people in Beeston.”
Mr Archer, who grew up nearby, said the town had improved in some respects but believed tram construction disrupted viable businesses and that the pre-pandemic “boom” had faded.
He argued that businesses seeking to open near similar traders should have to demonstrate a clear unique selling point, with councils given greater powers to prevent excessive repetition.
The Government announced in August that councils would receive greater control over the number of vape and betting shops on high streets. Pubs, social clubs and live music venues are also due to receive a 20 per cent reduction in business rates from next year.
By Lauren Monaghan, Local Democracy Reporter