Work begins at Flossie & Boo to return historic shop frontage

Flossie & Boo at 19 Market Place had their planning application approved earlier this year to replace their frontage with a more historically sympathetic approach. The shop is located within Newark's Conservation Area boundary, which was originally designated in 1968 and was reviewed and extended in November 2022.

The work being undertaken at Flossie & Boo will restore the existing shop front to a more traditional and bold design, which has hints of the art deco movement, using features from when the premises was owned by G.H Porter Provisions a century ago. In an almost authentic replica, planned by Guy Taylor Associates of Newark, gold/bronze painted signage on a black painted timber fascia panel will be installed alongside dark green glazed Victorian-style bricks for the stall riser. The building has been prioritised through the scheme due to its high-impact location on the Market Place and close proximity to the Grade I listed St Mary Magdalene's Church.

Work has been enabled thanks to Newark and Sherwood District Council securing £275,000 of funding from Historic England's High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) scheme, which was established to promote the vitality of town centres by protecting, enhancing and celebrating heritage. The project is being funded through this investment with contributions from the District Council and building owners.

Travails Employment Group, located at 1 Appleton Gate, also has planning permission and funding through the HSHAZ scheme to return their shop front to a design referencing what the building would have looked like in the 1940s.

Councillor Matthew Spoors, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: "I am delighted to see that work has started to return the shop front of Flossie & Boo to highlight the heritage of the Grade II listed building.

"Newark has such a rich history and heritage, and it's great news that through the Newark High Street Heritage Action Zone, we are able to improve the appearance of listed buildings and breathe new life into the town by drawing attention to the beauty of these period shop fronts.

"It has been great working with the owner of Flossie & Boo, and we are delighted with the positive response. I look forward to seeing the transformed shop front when work is complete."

Carly, owner of Flossie and Boo said: “I’m really excited that the work has started and is now taking shape. The old frontage has been removed - it looked better in the skip than when it was in the window! The new frontage is being made and I am excited to see it for the first time!”

Louise Brennan, Historic England’s Midlands Regional Director, said: “High streets are the life blood of local communities, and we are committed to encouraging people to keep using and loving them.  I’m looking forward to seeing ‘Flossie and Boo’s’ smart new shop front – made possible with support from Historic England and Newark and Sherwood District Council - which is another positive step in reinvigorating the town’s historic centre.”