Trading brothers display model spirits

The business in Beverley specialises in malt whisky – including some investment buys for connoisseurs.

The shop, Spirit Safe, owned by Richard Parker, is next door to his brother Alistair’s Beverley Model Shop.

Both businesses on Angel Square, on Toll Gavel, are being officially opened tomorrow by Mayor Peter Astell.

By choosing the market town, the brothers, from Harlthorpe, near Selby, appear to confirm what the experts say – that Beverley’s high street retailers are bucking the recession.

Richard, who has had an online business for a couple of years, said: “We went to have a look around in Ripon, Thirsk and Northallerton, but there’s quite a lot of empty shops. We looked at Beverley and we were really surprised at how few shops there were empty.The local investment team at the council were also very helpful. I just fancied doing retail – it is nice to meet people and talk to people.”

The recession, he said, seemed to make whisky more popular, and even an investment choice.

Alistair, who runs the model shop with wife Lyndsey, which sells model trains, Airfix plastic kits and Scalextric, said: “My wife grew up with a brother who was obsessed with cars and aeroplanes and I was brought up with trains. It is something we have been interested in for years.

“There are not a lot of empty shops to choose from in Beverley and it was just chance that there were two side by side that suited our needs.

“It is not a stereotypical High Street, it has a nice mix of independents as well as big retailers.”

Councillor Astell – who will also be opening the new Wickes Store on Swinemoor Lane next Saturday – said: “For too long there were too many empty shops, now the empty shops seem to have been let and new businesses are opening, which is great news for Beverley.”

Ben Gardiner, chairman of Beverley and District Chamber of Trade, said: “I think this is a good example of people giving a vote of confidence to Beverley. It is always great to see independent retailers and to have two brothers side by side is fantastic news.”

A survey of Yorkshire’s high street retailers last month by accountants PwC said Hull and Wakefield had been the hardest hit towns since 2010.

Beverley, Doncaster, Harrogate, Leeds and Scarborough were singled out as performing better overall.

Hairdressing, health and beauty businesses with 19 closures, travel agents with six closures and department stores with four closures had been particularly affected.

Supermarkets, convenience stores and cafés bucked the trend showing growth in the first half of the year.