Aberfeldy Street is home to a mix of retail outlets, including a grocer, tailor, arts hub, a pub, and a youth boxing club. The Start Here programme seeks to diversify this offer further and draw new footfall to the street – We received an overwhelming amount of great ideas for the Start Here Aberfeldy Street programme this summer. From over 60 applications we selected 3 tenants who joined the scheme this month.
Ongoing development, a limited retail offer and vacant shops undermine what once was a key civic place for local people. The Start Here tenants will benefit from a one-year rent free trial period with additional business support from the High Street Works team. Through this incubation programme and the renovated, colourful streetscape we hope to bring new life to Aberfeldy Street and diversify the street's offer to reflect the needs of the community.
Welcome to Aberfeldy Street
Leon and Joshua from DigiBarber - Two locals who started their journey with an app that allows customers to book appointments with a local barber. Now they will open their flagship barber shop to run alongside the app. As well as haircuts, Leon and Joshua will run free hairdressing skill courses and career advice seminars for 13-17 year olds.
Follow on Instagram - @thedigibarber
Visit - 37 Aberfeldy Street, E14
Natalie from More Life Home - This re-use shop will provide low-cost, pre-loved, refurbished and recycled clothes and homeware items for sale, as well as supply free and heavily-discounted furniture to residents in Tower Hamlets who are in need of extra help. The company's ethos is to raise awareness around the importance of recycling in a highly wasteful society. Therefore, the items sold in the shop will be a mixture of donated pieces and items made, built or up-cycled by the residents of E14. More Life Home will be hosting a range of workshops, events and activities for locals.
Follow on Instagram - @morelifehome
Visit - 41 Aberfeldy Street, E14
Aberfeldy Front Room - This social, event and incubation space that aims to spark local connections and activity in the local area. The space will team up with other local organisations to offer a social hub for local residents, host regular events such as skill-sharing workshops, youth hangouts and community meal projects. The Front Room will also act as a means to channel greater investment into the community with an enterprise incubation programme to uncover skills, strengths and interests. Aberfeldy Front Room will be operated by Aberfeldy Big Local - a group of residents creating lasting change in the community utilising a £1m investment from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Follow on Instagram - @aberfeldybl
Visit - 39 Aberfeldy Street, E14
Poplar is changing and we are hoping that the project will help to build common ground in Aberfeldy Street, creating opportunities for existing and new residents to meet in an inspirational and bustling local high street.
All photos above © EcoWorld / Luke Fullalove