Worthing's biggest empty shop trades again

ONE of Worthing's biggest empty shops has been brought back to life by local community groups.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Nov 2009, 17:16 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:05 BST

A 1,200ft carpet showroom, formerly Allied Carpets in Buckingham Road, has been renamed The UpMarket for six weeks, selling vintage and recycled goods, hosting a radio station and exhibiting art to support local charities.

The project is the brainchild of Worthing Lions Club president John Sayles, who spotted the potential of the vacant site and enlisted the help of the Worthing-based national Empty Shops Network and Worthing Borough Council, which owns the site.

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"Our ambition is to help as many local groups as possible," said John.

He has been helped by the advice of Dan Thompson, founder of the Empty Shops Network and a member of Worthing's Revolutionary Arts Group, who said: "This is one of the biggest empty shops initiatives in the country."

The market will run up until Christmas and features a variety of stalls, groups and charities, including Soapbox, which helps provide basic domestic products to families in crisis.

The Lions will present its Cakes For Charity campaign, with a range of cakes made by The Original Cake Co. on sale. There will also be second-hand books available.

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Meanwhile, a wide range of artists and craft-makers will have spaces to exhibit and sell their work and Empty Shops Radio, courtesy of Worthing's online radio star Richard Vobes, will collect an oral history of the town from visitors.

An open community space in the shop will be put to use from 10am to 4pm this Saturday, November 26, by 2nd Goring Scouts, who will use it to host their Christmas fair.

Worthing's Revolutionary Arts Group hosts its Christmas Fair at the UpMarket on Saturday, December 5.

The UpMarket will run from Wednesday until Saturday weekly until Christmas and will be open from 10am to 4pm.

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For more information about the project, visit www.artistsandmakers.com

To find out about Worthing Lions, visit www.worthinglionsuk.lionwap.org

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