Mason Moore & Vaughan Moore | 7 June 2022

A FORMER charity shop based on Castle Street is to re-open in Hinckley town centre – but with a unique new use.

Hinckley’s former local Age UK branch, which closed its doors in August 2021, has sat empty and untouched for a total of 10 months.

It was just last month that the Hinckley Free Press had reported that the unit sported an “under offer” sign, meaning that an offer had been accepted but the contracts had not been exchanged.

But now, a new occupant have publicly revealed and confirmed that they are the new takers who are putting the space back in to use.

That is a family-run business named East Midlands Pet and Reptile Supplies. They have placed signage in the front window confirming that they are setting up shop.

The brand have another branch in the county, which is based on Saffron Lane in Leicester.

In a statement shared on the Facebook page for their Leicester branch, a spokesperson previously said: “We’re a long way off opening, but we hope you can join us in our little journey of building our future.”

However, those wanting to pay a visit will not have to wait long, as a timeframe for the opening has been provided on their official Google Maps listing.

It is set to open on Wednesday, 22 June, in two weeks’ time.

This will mark one of the newest businesses to join Castle Street, alongside a new coffeehouse named The Wild Lotus located next door to the Optical People, who are in the process of setting up shop.

Meanwhile, in nearby Regent Street, a new bakery named Addylline is on the way, with plans to ‘open soon’ inside part of the former Voodoo Lounge nightclub, but their opening date is unknown. They will serve up fresh cakes, bread, and other baked goods.

Also on Regent Street, plans have also been lodged to transform Hinckley’s landmark former Yorkshire Bank into a new live music bar which would see music performed on both the ground and first floor of the building.

And, local aesthetic practitioners Youthful Glow have submitted planning permission to give a former hairdressers a face lift in to a new aesthetics clinic, if approved.