Rugby MP urges residents to support our independent retailers this year

The Nest stocks a range of great Christmas ideas made locally and is now in bigger premises on Rugby’s High Street.

Rugby MP Mark Pawsey is urging residents to back small businesses in the borough in the run up to Christmas this year.

Mr Pawsey was in Rugby town centre on December 5 2020 for Small Business Saturday, doing some Christmas shopping and speaking with independent retailers.

These included clothes retailers Albie & Lonnie’s and Sass on Regent Street; Gallachers of Rugby and The Nest; and Hunt’s Bookshop and the Air Ambulance Shop on High Street.

Rugby MP Mark Pawsey at Albie & Lonnies on Regent Street.

Speaking after meeting with retailers, Mr Pawsey said: “2020 has been an incredibly tough year for retailers here in Rugby because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Whilst I know that our retailers are grateful for the unprecedented actions the Government has taken, such as the furlough scheme and business support grants, what they really need is a strong Christmas which means we all need to try and shop locally.”

“It was really encouraging that on Small Business Saturday, the town centre was busy and many of our shops were bustling with queues outside some shops.

"Rugby town has some really great independent retailers who have innovated throughout the past year to continue trading online or via mail order, or who have stepped in to support the community.

"With restrictions easing so that retailers can reopen, I hope that local residents will go out and return that support this Christmas.

“I was also very keen to chat to businesses in the town centre about what more the Government can do to support them as we recover from coronavirus and work to build back better.

"I am encouraged that the Government has brought forward more funding for our town centres through the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, and £1 billion Future High Streets Fund and I am determined to ensure that Rugby and Bulkington gets its fair share of this support.”