Recently named by Tendring District Council as the area’s number one High Street, with no empty shop fronts our shopping area has so much to offer the people of our town. During this difficult year our High Street has had to adapt how it operates and serves the community, and from the customers that we have spoken to it seems that it has done so very well. All our shops have offered delivery services where they can, and many have changed opening hours to be there when customers need them. Many have offered online services and have made themselves contactable via social media, or the telephone. In return shop keepers and business owners have really appreciated how Brightlingsea residents have used their local facilities first instead of venturing into Colchester or going online.
Before the pandemic the High Street always tried to put itself at the centre of the community, with shops taking adverts in local press and publications, supporting Brightlingsea in Bloom by sponsoring hanging baskets in the town centre and offering raffle prizes to the many events that take place in a regular year.
Although we do not have the space to write about each business separately what follows is an index of our wonderful shops and business, and what they offer, listed as you walk from the High Street down to the bottom of Station Road.
Wine Well Ltd, off Licence and convenience store
YMCA, free car park & meeting rooms
Brightlingsea Dental Practice, dentist
Ethical Life, great herbs and spices and refill service
Exhale, beauty treatments,
John Smiths, funeral directors (top of Tower St)
Del’s Vinyl, records & collectables
Jenny Elizabeth Flowers, stunning flowers and gifts
Joy, oriental food and ladies clothing and accessories
Toggs, ladies clothing and accessories
Bumbles, greengrocer also offering veg box deliveries
Little Fundraising Shop, charity shop raising funds for local good causes
Plain and Pearl, knitting and sowing
Hyamms Boutique, hair and beauty salon
Learning Centre, child’s education and soft play
D & L Electrical, everything electrical
A Head Start, hair salon (top of Sydney St)
Kemble Coop Undertakers, Funeral Services
Smiths Butchers, high quality locally sourced meats and foods
Ye Old Swan, Public House
Zest & Thyme Ltd, delicatessen
Vines, restaurant
Brightlingsea Bakery, fresh bread and pastries baked on the premises daily
Studio 6, photographic studio
Chloe, hair and beauty
Sugar, hair and beauty
Constable Care, care in the community
Turkish Barbers, men’s haircuts and hot towel shaves
Little Boat Gifts, unique and locally designed and made gifts (top of New St)
Doves, ironmongers and hardware (top of New St)
Brightlingsea Library, offering a host of support and advice services alongside the traditional books (top of New St)
Winkies, Fish & Chips (top of New St)
Star Fast Food, take away (top of New St)
The Brewers Arms, Public House
The Computer Shop, for all your computer needs
The Courtyard Rooms, family run Motel (bottom of Richard Ave)
St James Church
Bargain Stores, hardware, homeware, gardening, decorating and more at great prices
Prentice Carpets, your quality local carpet shop
Davies Barbers, traditional men’s barbers’ shop
Boots the Chemist
Pet Shop Girls, pet grooming & pet food
The Four B’s, Clinical Beauty
Cafe Chic, great coffee, great cake, fabulous food and a relaxed atmosphere
The Autumn Centre, community care
The Ice House, ice cream, waffle and sandwich shop
St Helena Hospice Charity Shop, supporting your local hospice
Number 8, hair salon
Town & Country Estate Agents
Life Care Mobility, mobility aids and vehicles
Spirals, cards, gifts and stationery
Tesco, Silver Topaz, gem stones and natural therapy
Elegant Hair Design, hair salon
Jeremy Soames Upholstery, professional upholsterer
Randell Framing, picture framing
The King Head, public house,
John Fowler Solicitor,
Lucas Estate Agents,
Chapman & Co Jewellers, a wonderful selection of jewellery to suit all tastes and budgets
Ladbrokes, betting shop
Spar, food market and post office
Victoria Café, the perfect traditional café
Lovesee Glazing, for all your glazing needs
Janet Aldridge, needle work and cloth alterations (end of Wellington St)
Vibe, hair salon (end of Wellington St)
Pleass Thomson & Co. solicitor
Patrick & Menzies, opticians,
Seaview, Chinese take away
Colne Medical Centre
Coop, supermarket
The Brightlingsea Museum, find out more about the museum on page 11
The Railway Tavern, public house
The Community Centre, public house & meeting rooms.
As you can see it has an amazing amount to offer.
Although the shops and town centre will not be able to host their usual late night Christmas shopping event this year, they would like to wish everyone a very safe and happy Christmas and they all look forward to serving you in the run up to Christmas and being back open and ready for business in 2021.
Brightlingsea Christmas Tree Festival 