Emporium set to opens at Redcliffe Garden Centre in Bashley, near New Milton

A NEW venue for Forest traders is already proving to be a hit ahead of its official opening next month.

The Emporium at Redcliffe Garden Centre in Bashley is offering more than 200 spaces for lease to local traders.

Emporium owner Jack Warman said the new trading centre will officially open its doors on Monday 1st July, with a ‘meet the traders’ event planned for 13th and 14th July.

“We’ve had a really good response so far, and we’ve already had more than 100 stall holders sign up,” Jack told the A&T.

“It’s all pretty promising. We have a great mix of traders who deal in antiques and collectibles and retro goods, as well as other goods.

“Access to the emporium is via the garden centre, which is a very busy business and has good footfall.

“We have extra parking on site and we’re officially opening our doors on 1st July. We’re having a meet the traders day where people can come along and have a good chat with the business owners before buying something.”

Jack added: “We’re in a really good area for this kind of multi-trader emporium.

“Being at a garden centre on the Forest makes it a good destination business for people who want to have a mooch around and a browse.”

While most of the spaces are 6sqft, several traders have already leased larger floorspaces for their businesses.

It will be open seven days a week, 10am to 4pm.

Businesses leasing out floorspace will also be featured on the Emporium’s social media profiles “at least once per month”.