Claydons Colchester closing for expansion and refurbishment

A COLCHESTER newsagent is set to close for more than a month to undergo a massive refurbishment and expansion into an vacant building.

Claydons, in the city centre High Street, is due to undergo a refit to restore the Victorian shop front and expand the offering of the business.

The shop, which shares the site with the former Conservative Club, which has been left empty since 2018, is working on a new shop floor plan and new shop frontage.

Shop owner Steve Stutton explained the ongoing work.

Refurbishment - the work undertaken in the old Conservative Club so far (Image: Claydons)

Upgrade - work will see Claydons extended into the ground level of the old Conservative Club by breaking through the dividing wall to create one large space (Image: Claydons)

He said: “In order to extend we are leasing the ground level of the old Conservative Club, which backs onto Claydons.

“We will break through the dividing wall and create one large space.

“We are significantly enlarging the store from 250 sq ft to 1,400 sq ft, fully renovated and refurbished to a high, modern standard keeping with the heritage of the area.

“We will retain the entrance in the High Street and will have an additional entrance on Museum Street. You can see the entrances we have created already if people are passing.

"We will close on September 4 and aim to re-open on October 13."

The shop will continue to serve the famous Mr Whippy ice-cream, plus adding Kelly’s soft scoop ice-cream.

Welcome - Claydons Newsagents in Colchester High Street (Image: Google Maps)

Mr Stutton also said the shop “will be improving its offering” to include a kitchen producing “fresh sandwiches, salads, pastries, bread and cakes”.

He continued: “We are also excited to introduce premium Barista Coffee from Ipswich supplier Paddy and Scotts and breakfast and lunch meal deals.

“There will also be Coke Frozen, a freshly squeezed orange juice machine, Calippo Slush, large range of cold drinks, sweets, crisps, as well as introducing take-home ready meals, beers, wines and spirits.”Site - new plans could see the former site of the Conservative Club reinvigorated with fresh investment (Image: Newsquest)

As for the top half of the Conservative Club, plans have been submitted to alter an extension to the rear of the property by removing its roof and then building two floors on top.

The single-storey extension, which backs onto Maidenburgh Street, would then be brought into line with the rest of the building, which is three storeys tall.

The second and third floors would then be converted into 16 small apartments.

The business is also looking for a food and kitchen manager, with experience.

Applications can be emailed to Mr Stutton at [email protected].

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