News Coverage, Wiltshire Times
Trowbridge trader steps up to breathe new life into historic mill - 29th may 2011
^ Shoe shop owner Jon Giles at the historic Stone Mill, which he has just bought.
More jobs and a new restaurant could be created in an historic Trowbridge town centre mill after businessman Jon Giles bought it.
Mr Giles, 47, will redevelop Stone Mill, a late 18th century textiles mill next to The Shires shopping centre, to make room for more businesses to move in.
The property has fallen into disrepair after the previous owners went into receivership, with much of it remaining empty for several years.
At present it has just four occupants, Curves, the ladies’ gym, Face2Face cosmetic clinic, Welcome Finance, and Specsavers.
Mr Giles expects to fill all 11 of the Grade II-listed building’s units within a year. One of the units will be taken up by Giles UK, the parent company Mr Giles, who lives in Atworth, has run for 30 years with his brother Robert.
It owns and runs Mastershoe, a fashion outlet in Court Hall, a building Mr Giles also bought and renovated in 2002.
Six units will be available and Mr Giles is confident a riverside restaurant or carvery could take up the large ground floor unit.
It has views of the river and an outdoor space which could provide up to 50 restaurant seats.
Mr Giles said:
“We are hoping we will be able to attract like-minded businesses with the ones we already have. “But I believe there could also be a great opportunity for a restaurant or carvery to open up.”
As part of the plans Mr Giles will rip out the fixtures and fittings for the Shires Tavern, a pub that was due to open inside the building but never got planning consent, despite a bid be entrepreneur Tom Rothschild.
The pub area will be converted into one of the new retail units.
Other front-runners for new occupants include a massage and treatment centre and a fish spa, where clients place their feet in bowls filled with hundreds of toothless fish which gently nibble away at dead skin.
A new hairdressers, nail bar and coffee shop are also being sought to attract more shoppers in.
“People currently walk past the building and look it with disappointment,” said Mr Giles. “We want to do something about and make it a really valuable part of our town centre again.”
Original Article can be viewed here.
Full house as mill is reborn - 7th April 2012
< Newcomers at Stone Mill, with owner Jon Giles, include Amy Pullin of Trevor and Jon by Amy, stylist Nathan Armor and Michaela Doyle of You Beauty.
A late 18th Century textiles mill in Trowbridge has been restored and reopened as a shopping and business outlet, thanks to the efforts of a local businessman.
Jon Giles took on the challenge of turning around the fortunes of the ailing Stone Mill, which is next to Asda and The Shires shopping centre, last May, in a bid to reopen it within a year.
Every unit in the Grade II listed building has now been filled, with the last two firms moving in this week.
The property had fallen into disrepair after the previous owner went into receivership, with much of the building remaining empty for several years.
Mr Giles, who runs Giles UK, the parent company of Trowbridge shoe company Mastershoe, said: “We are very pleased, because our aim was to fill Stone Mill within a year and we have done that.
“It has involved a lot of work, but it is providing some fantastic opportunities for a lot of businesses.”
The businesses include hair salon Trevor and Jon by Amy, beauty clinic You Beauty, a private members’ gym, the Revolution gym and online secondhand retailer Money 4 Machines.
Plans for a 50-seat restaurant in the unit, which runs along the riverfront, were dropped in favour of the Revolution gym moving in.
Mr Giles ripped out the fixtures and fittings for the Shires Tavern, a pub that was due to open inside the building but never got planning consent.
Instead, a ground floor unit was created and was taken up by the Trevor and Jon hair salon, which is owned by Amy Pullin.
Michaela Doyle, the owner of You Beauty, which has taken a first-floor unit, said: “We had been running the business for two years on Fore Street, but it was spread over three floors, which proved difficult security-wise.
“If you needed to run upstairs for something, you had to shut the shop. But now everything is on one level, which is much easier for us.
“We’ve made a real effort with the decor and we’ve even got each of our names printed on the door of our treatment rooms.”
Original Article can be viewed here.
TV star marks trowbridge bridal shop move - 20th August 2013
TV presenter Jeff Brazier officially opened The Bridal Lounge’s new Trowbridge showroom on Saturday, July 13.
The company has moved from its previous premises in Silver Street to a new home in Stone Mill, next to The Shires Shopping Centre.
During the event Trowbridge Town Crier Trevor Heeks rallied the crowd and Mr Brazier signed autogragphs.
Charlotte Doel, owner of The Bridal Lounge, said: “I am so excited by the move and I would like to thank Jeff, Trevor and everyone who attended for making it so special.” The clothing business specialises in wedding dresses and prom dresses.
For more information about the business click here or call 01225 776354.
Original Article can be viewed here.