Old Post Office set to become The Bike Hub at Open House Deli thanks to new business collaboration
Winchester City Council is delighted to announce that the Old Post Office building is the latest venue in the Central Winchester Regeneration area to be given a new lease of life.
From January, the building at 4a Middle Brook Street will be The Bike Hub at Open House Deli, a vibrant and unique space run by two established and popular Winchester businesses – Bespoke Biking and Open House Deli.
Bespoke Biking promotes the health and environmental benefits of cycling and encourages more people to cycle by offering bike tours of the city, tuition, bike clubs and repairs; while Open House Deli provides quality food and drinks, all prepared by hand using local produce.
Both businesses were looking for new premises in the city to enable them to expand but were unable to find somewhere that fitted their requirements or budget until they made a proposal for the Old Post Office.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Caroline Horrill, who is also Chair of the Committee responsible for the Central Winchester Regeneration, said:
“We are thrilled that such a vibrant and exciting partnership has been formed between two local entrepreneurs and that they will become part of the Central Winchester Regeneration family. We’re committed to developing our existing buildings and refurbishing them to provide businesses with the space they need."
“’The Bike Hub at Open House Deli’ is a unique and exciting offering to the people of Winchester. The services they already provide for people are second to none and I am very much looking forward to seeing them come together in this fantastic location in the heart of the city. The future of our city is our residents and our businesses, and we are proud to support Bespoke Biking and Open House Deli on the next step of their business journey.”
This is a unique space that the newly formed business collaboration will turn into a deli serving fresh and seasonal food and drinks, a workspace area and hub for all things cycling, including repairs, a shop, bike hire, secure storage space for cyclists’ own bicycles and bike maintenance classes. There will also be a specific seating area where people will be encouraged not to open their laptops or phones. Food and drinks will be served seven days a week and people will still be able to hire bikes from Bespoke Biking.
Rebecca Smith, who runs Open House Deli, believes 4a Middle Brook Street is the perfect opportunity for both businesses to develop. She said: “We are currently refurbishing the space to make something really special for people in Winchester. The council has been a really supportive landlord – they have been very encouraging and shared our vision. We want to provide a welcoming atmosphere for people to come and relax, have food and drink that will cater to their tastes and be part of the amazing cycling culture that there is within the city.”
Heather Evans, who runs Bespoke Biking, added:
“We know that good food and cycling are popular with local people and visitors to the city, so we are really excited to bring this new and fresh space to Winchester and cannot wait to open in the new year. We have both wanted to move forward in our businesses for some time but have been unable to. 4a Middle Brook Street and being part of the exciting regeneration of Winchester, is an excellent opportunity to develop and expand within the city that we both hold dear to our hearts.”
Bespoke Biking and Open House Deli have built up a strong reputation within Winchester for providing quality services to residents, shoppers and tourists, after starting life in the Winchester market. They share the ethos of providing sustainable products, using local suppliers and minimising waste, something which the City Council strongly supports.
The partnership was formed after Heather and Rebecca met while networking in Winchester and both women are excited to open the new venue in early January.
Bespoke Biking currently has a small retail unit on the Lower Parking Level of the Brooks Shopping Centre while Open House Deli, which started in February 2018, runs from a thriving market stall, until it moves completely into the Old Post Office in January.