Forres bucks downturn trend as 17 businesses open new town centre premises in 2024

Forres is booming if the number of shops and businesses starting up in the town centre over the past year is anything to go by.

Despite suffering the same business setbacks, and cost-of-living crisis as everyone else, the town seems to be doing the right thing when it comes to attracting new business.

It seems hardly a month goes by when we’re not reporting on a new outlet opening on the high street, a business moving to larger premises, or some other positive business news.

We decided to count the movers and shakers in the town centre.

Over the past year, 17 new businesses have started, expanded, or are preparing to open in and around the high street. That’s not counting any home-based businesses, industrial or online-only.

New shops (11)

Under the Leaves (Jan)

Banking Hub (Feb)

Identity Hair (Mar)

Olive Tree Kitchen (Mar)

Wee Beauties (Apr)

MacKenzie of Forres (Sep)

Carol Jayne Boutique (Sep)

Uly + Ro (Nov)

Washington (Nov)

Old Market Refillery (Dec)

UK Nails and Spa (Dec)

Eleven new businesses in the town centre over the last 12 months

Expansions (3)

The Sanctuary moved from 16 High Street to 153 High Street, allowing it to accommodate other beauty-related businesses.

The Barefoot Caster took its place and moved into 16 High Street from a small one-room premises in Leys Road.

Under the Leaves is currently moving from 86 High Street to number 32, previously Sheena’s Lingerie.

Opening Soon (3)

Lore will open as a gallery space at 128 High Street. Work is currently being done to refurbish what was Sue’s News.

Alberto Ricci is opening a wedding dress shop at 132 High Street, after moving from here to number 126.

Aceo are very near to opening the former Bank of Scotland as a ‘whisky-oriented’ visitor centre, cafe and bar.

The new family market on Gordon Street on the 1 December, which although not a town centre ‘shop’ deserves a mention. Organisers made a point of encouraging visitors to park centrally and visit the high street. And they did. Some business owners made the effort to capitalise on this event and opened on a Sunday.

At least two town centre outlets reported record trade on this day.!

See Family market is a resounding success as debut event attracts thousands. This well-organised event returns in April 2025, promising to be bigger and better still.

Top of the league

Moray Chamber of Commerce published its annual report on 12 December, and it too shows Forres as the clear leader for ‘businesses opened’. In a ‘league table’ of new shops, the average across all other Moray towns is 1.5, while Forres is at 10, three times that of Elgin, and ten times that of Lossiemouth.

Extract from Moray Chamber of Commerce Annual Report

Business Gateway told us they had 14 new businesses registered with them across the whole Forres area, which perhaps shows businesses are leaning towards town centre properties.

Non-cloned high street

Pearl Hamilton, who has had a shop (Pearl’s Pet Care) in the Forres area for 43 years, and 25 of those in the town centre, said: “As most towns in the north are growing at a similar rate, Forres offers a ‘non-cloned’ high street, with diverse, small, independent businesses.

“We are thriving in some part due to the many successful accolades of Forres in Bloom with the support of the local community. We stand independent and free of the charges, imposed by BIDs in many other towns.

“We are fortunate to have many award-winning businesses in Forres, that may well be an additional encouragement in choosing to start up or relocate.”

Forres feels alive

Babalu, once a new kid on the block, is now a mainstay of the high street. Owner Laura Hanson said: “I’m super excited about all the new businesses. Forres feels alive. It will hopefully become a shopping destination for visitors from afar. The future of Forres looks bright.”

Butcher Jock Gibson, whose wife Fiona opened a new shop just last month in Tolbooth Street, added: “Forres is a great place to be at the moment; there is a real buzz about it, and it has given us the confidence in investing in both our butchery and our new refill store and micro-bakery.

“What is really nice is that there are so many independent and unique businesses that are offering something different and help put Forres on the map of places to go.”

Lovely high street

So, what is it that makes Forres such an attractive place to do business? There are no financial incentives and no business improvement district; however, when we asked shopkeepers what made them choose Forres, they consistently told us it was ‘a nice town’, a ‘lovely high street’.

It’s only fair that we also note the closures, however, in most cases where a business has closed, a new one has replaced it. The following businesses closed in 2024.

Colonic Health (relocating)

  • The Bike Bothy (liquidation) – relet to UK Nails and Spa
  • Sheena’s (retirement) – relet to Under the Leaves)
  • Highland Beauty Clinic (retirement) – relet to The Sanctuary
  • P.A.L.S (retirement) – now unoccupied
  • Ladbrokes – relet to MacKenzie of Forres
  • Forres Fishing Tackle (retirement) – relet to Identity Hair and Beauty

At our count, that leaves only two town centre premises currently empty and not earmarked for anything, the Royal Bank Buildings and PALS.

What do you think? Why does Forres buck the trend at a time when many businesses are facing difficult economic conditions? What do we do differently here that makes businesses choose Forres?

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You can find out more about local businesses on our Facebook page Forres Local and our group Forres Loves Local. Or get our news in your inbox by subscribing at forreslocal.com/subscribe.

If you have news to tell, or want us to feature your business or organisation, email editor@forreslocal.com

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2 thoughts on “Forres bucks downturn trend as 17 businesses open new town centre premises in 2024”

  1. No parking charges make it a good proposition for a wee wander.
    Lots of local events Theme day ,Grant park 100,Highland games ect
    Friendly atmosphere with good cafes .

    Reply
  2. One thing is it’s full of unusual things – the Tolbooth museum; Nelson Tower tours; mature woods walkable from the town centre; the House of Automata (probably the most unusual!)

    Plus a lot of the shops have really high quality goods, with always something for someone. It was easy to get all my Xmas presents this year in the High St, something I was proud to do.

    Reply

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