What hope for traders at Hope Street Yard?
The fire at Hope Street Yard this month may have captured the headlines, but the community of traders in the hub off Mill Road face another blow, as they are to be disbanded at the end of February when the site is cleared for development.
Among the craftspeople and independent retailers being displaced is Hugh Salt, who has run Cambridge Dutch Bikes there since 2005.
“The fire was at the back of the yard,” says Hugh of the event on January 10. “We’ve all been affected – the carpenter’s unit was burnt out and Hope Street Marimbas suffered smoke damage. This has put pressure on Andrew Goreing, the owner, for the moving-out process, as it has for us all.”
Hope Street Yard was set up as a community of traders in 1947 by Tony Dosanjh, a Sikh, who moved from India to settle in Cambridge. His son Warren took over following his father’s death. The site today is owned by developer Camel Projects (Histon).
“It’s going to be two storeys – offices on top, shop downstairs – but they’ve not published anything. The neighbours don’t know what it’s going to look like, but needs have changed, so where will the cars park for the office?
“It’s all a bit unknown but we have to go. I’ve been looking seriously for three or four months, I can’t find anywhere. The local councillors are supportive but they aren’t estate agents.”
The move threatens three jobs and comes just as cargo bikes are proving their value. Hugh arrived “16 years ago”, initially sharing the space with Electric Transport Shop, now on Newmarket Road.
“The first cargo bike in Cambridge was sold in 2002,” he adds, “and there’s more than 600 cargo bikes in Cambridge now and it’s us that started that. The government has picked up on it.
“We’re a wholesale and retail operation, we need 70 square metres minimum – ideally a bit more. We could hire a container and do distribution from there but here we provide a place for people to come into a cycle-friendly environment and try out a cargo bike – people do wobble at the beginning.
“The high streets are empty but the landlords don’t want to accept less rent. One was asking for £28,000 a year, which is not a sensible figure. Had it been normal times it would’ve been a bit easier, but to be kicked out in Covid times is unbelievable. But the lease has ended, and we don’t have a valid claim in the way that people who pay rent do. To be on an industrial estate would be £36,000 a year – the rents are so high.
“Mid-February is the cut-off date. We have to be gone by the end of February and we want to avoid putting stuff into storage and have the mechanic furloughed. A lot of our trade is people cycling past and saying ‘My brakes need fixing’ so we’d not want to be any further out than Cherry Hinton because the key is being within cycling distance of a central location.”
While Hugh is hoping to set up trade again locally – and is asking for owners of potential sites to come forward – he would also consider other options.
“At 69, it needs someone with a bit more oomph to move this on – the market’s here.”
That market is largely families with children, and the introduction of electric assist has broadened the appeal of cargo bikes.
“Some have been converted for dogs,” Hugh adds.
Cambridge Dutch Bikes has made good use of the space at Hope Street Yard to display the Bakfiets bike range, and to offer try-before-you-buy.
“Prices start at about £1,500 or £1,600,” says Hugh, “which includes everything you need to get going. The top spec, the Urban Arrow, is close to £7,000 – it has a top Bosch motor, piston disc brakes and a belt drive. They’re made in Amsterdam, and because of that we haven’t suffered in the way that Chinese-made products have – and the quality is fantastic.
“You can hire one for £17 a day, and they’re good for deliveries in the current Covid-related climate. We’ve got five or six for hire. We sell the two-wheel and the three-wheel options.
“It’s when families say ‘This changed our lives’ you know you’re doing something worthwhile. If we move out of the Romsey town area or close down it will be a big loss in terms of creating a model of a sustainable city.”
Email enquiries@dutchbike.co.uk if you know of an available space. The full list of other traders at the Yard are:
Felicity Topp – Makers’ Gallery (independent gallery and framers)
Dee Thomson – Cambridge Vintage (antiques and collectables)
Patti Gourlay – Patti’s Antiques (antiques and collectables)
Andrew Goreing – specialist marimba instrument maker
Pete Higginson – Carpintree (carpenter)
Steve Tiplady – furniture restoration
Sirous Veazzadh-naderi – My Persian Kitchen (catering)
Chris Priestley – independent writer and illustrator
John Clarke – local artist
Al Manton carpentry workshop
There was also a puppet maker and others including retro clothing and antiques
