Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 2 May 2021

KIMBERLEY’S OCCASIONS, an independent Nuneaton florist who used to be housed in the New Century Way shopping centre, have relocated into a new unit on Market Place.

They have taken on the former Molly’s Coffee House space, a unit sandwiched in between Boots and Holland and Barrett.

They started trading from the new space on 12 April.

The business, owned by Kimberley Hyde, had to move from New Century Way, as the Borough Council are set to bulldoze the entire complex and car park as a part of the ‘Transforming Nuneaton’ plans.

The planned development works for Transforming Nuneaton on the Abbey Street-based land will see a new ‘Hampton’ by Hilton Hotel built, as well as apartments, and new retail units, which will form a new ‘public space’.

Despite the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic have caused and the short-term disruption over the new town centre plans, Kimberley remains optimistic about the future.

Kimberley is working with her new business co-owners, her mother, Joyce, and her brother, Mark.

In a statement posted to social media sharing site, Facebook, she explained that the work on the newly-refurbished space has been a ‘labour of love’ and that many late nights [have been spent] as a family working to create a ‘stunning new shop’.

She said: “Our fully refurbished shop has been a labour of love. Many late nights as a family working together to create a stunning new shop that has a huge injection of colour. 

“We are so blessed with where the business has taken us, with lots of hard work anything is possible. We would like to thank all of our customers for your continued support, your business really has helped to propel us to where we are today.”

Kimberley further explained that at the start of the Covid pandemic she first thought that the business may have to fold, so she believes the brand has done well to stay in the high street.

She explained: “It has been a very disruptive time but at the start of the pandemic we thought we would have to fold, so we have done well to be able to keep things going.

“We are now able to make a fresh start and hopefully the town centre will continue to pick up after so many shops not being able to trade for so long. 

“We had a really good response at Easter, and we are so grateful to our customers for their support.”

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council supported Kimberley in finding her new premises.

Dawn Dawson, Director for Regeneration, Economy and Assets at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, explained: “The Abbey Street Development is bringing major investment to Nuneaton and will help us bring new life to what is on offer in the town centre.

“It is part of the Transforming Nuneaton proposals which will do exactly that – transform what the town has to offer.

“We are delighted that Kimberley’s Occasions will continue to be a valuable part of our town centre and wish them the best of good fortune in their new premises, along with all our other town centre shops and market traders.”