A beautiful town has a thriving high street thanks to supportive locals and tourists who “go against” big chains. Sherborne is a historic, honey-coloured market town in north-west Dorset. Located on the River Yeo, Sherborne is packed with independent businesses and surrounded by the rolling countryside of the Blackmore Vale.
And locals say their community spirit is to thank for its successful high street. Sam Bourne, owner of Circus Boutique, which has been open for 10 years, told the Express that Sherborne is a great town for independent businesses and it’s “only getting better”. She said: “We had a few empty shops after some turbulent years, like most places, but then lots of new ones popped up, and they’re all independent. We’re helped along by tourism and locals; we always seem to rise above challenges. There’s more tourism now, lots of staycation visitors pottering around the high street, looking at our beautiful architecture.”
Sam added that people tend to “go against big shops a bit”, noting that the town previously had a Costa, but people didn’t like it, opting for independent cafes instead.
He continued: “People support the independents. Covid made it obvious that people really needed to support us.
“But that doesn’t mean we get complacent. You’ve got to keep moving forward, trying new things. We have discerning customers, so we’re constantly making it interesting.”
She added that Sherborne is often “overlooked” in favour of other nearby towns like Yeovil, saying: “People assume it’s a retirement town, but it’s not at all, there’s an awful lot of young people and people who commute. It’s a great place that deserves more spotlight.”
James Budden, a painter who runs Sherborne Arts, said the town is a place “where people can aim high” and that recognises the value of people “putting in effort” to get things done.
Sherborne was named the best place to live in southwest England last year by the Times. The newspaper highlighted the “lively” high street, “impeccable” schools, and an increasing number of start-ups, which points to how the town has transformed from a retirement destination to a bubbling hub for families and entrepreneurs.
The Times said that Sherborne’s beauty is “more than skin deep”, adding: “It’s a drop-dead gorgeous address with a lively high street, welcoming pubs, cosy cafés, impeccable schools, and, above all, a deep community spirit.”
Craig Wharton, who opened Sherborne Antiques Market four years ago with his partner Phillip Traves, said the town is a “terrific place”, with friendly people and “relatively affordable” homes. He said: “I hardly leave town now — everything we need is here and there’s a real community. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like living here. We’re all really proud of the place and what we do here.”