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The owner of a new independent bar in Gloucester believes the city has got great potential. Arron Lang has been running The Common Room in Aldate Street since last month having lived in the city for the past six years.
“It’s getting loads of investment at the minute and I think it will be a placed filled with independent places,” said Mr Lang.
“There’s lots of little places popping up all over Gloucester – this road in particular [Aldgate Street] is becoming good. The Turks Head is open, that’s very good, the Viking shop [Odin’s Vision] has got a little bar in there – this whole side of town is becoming very nice.
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“Gloucester is very ready for it all – it’s got areas that are a little bit cheaper so businesses are starting to fill, although it would be nice if they did more to the centre but the rents are rates there at the moment are astronomical. When I was trying to set this place up, I was looking down Westgate Street and the top of Eastgate and Northgate and the rates they were asking were just ridiculous.”
Mr Lang moved to Gloucester for Leeds and said he always wanted to return to the hospitality industry after previously working in it. He said that Gloucester is ‘the perfect city’ for him.
“It reminds me of what Leeds was like 10 to 15 years ago and now Leeds is a powerhouse of a city,” he said. “For us, it’s just a case of getting our name out there and making sure people come back. We are starting to get a regular crowd.
“Being an independent business in Gloucester is very helpful because the community tends to want to look after the city. Whenever people are in here, they’re always saying that it’s nice that another independent business is opening and they would rather support you than a large chain.
“Gloucester BID in particular have been brilliant in supporting all of the businesses. I think they are making sure that the council stays on top in keeping events going in King’s Square – there’s brilliant space there so we’ve just got to make sure that we utilise it.
“If we keep improving the community and building the city, more people will come.”
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