Two businesses move into newly refurbished, former Barclays Bank building in Loftus

After being restored to its former glory, the building opened its doors for the visitor accommodation this week, welcoming visitors from far and wide. Residents will also find a beautiful bridal boutique opening in December.

This is part of a wider regeneration scheme for the East Cleveland town. Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council secured the freehold of the building in December 2019, with the goal of bringing it back to life and boosting community and business confidence in the high street.

The project received funding of £985,000 from the Council’s Indigenous Grown Fund as a co-funded scheme to complement wider investment from the Future High Street Fund (FHSF), which was launched by the Government in 2018. A total of £5.8m was secured from FHSF, along with co-funding of £4.5m from the Tees Valley Combined Authority and £1m from the Loftus Area Growth Fund.

The top two floors of the Grade II listed building is now home to East Cleveland business Odd Socks, which offers visitor accommodation for up to 12 guests over four holiday lets, with the larger lets having communal lounge and dining areas.

Odd Socks also operates Guisborough Town Hall’s visitor accommodation, as well as a quirky launderette with attached café in Guisborough and luxury holiday lets across the North York Moors and coast.

Business owner Michelle McAvoy said: “Loftus’ unique positioning on the North Yorkshire Coast, close to other popular tourist destinations such as Saltburn, Sandsend and Whitby, and its proximity to the North Yorkshire Moors, makes it an ideal spot for visitors to the area to base themselves.”

Based on the ground floor will be bridal boutique, The Silver Sixpence, which sells designer dresses specifically for plus sized women. Owned by Wendy Paylor and her daughter Ellie, the business currently has a store in Brotton.

Wendy said: “We offer plus size brides-to-be the dress shopping experience they deserve. We are a business which is created and ran by curvy women, for curvy women.

“We can’t wait to throw open our doors in Loftus and offer more plus-sized women the opportunity to feel comfortable and give them a positive experience when looking for a dress that will make them feel fabulous on their special day.”

Cllr Chris Gallacher, cabinet member for Economic Development at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “Our aim is to transform the area into modern market town for the future and with the delivery of each project we will be creating a more vibrant place for all who work, live and visit here.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily