Shop closures are usually bad news for a town centre - and of course they're always bad news for staff and customers.
But when New Look shut in Bournemouth, it was a sign that the landlord had found a higher-paying tenant. Landlords had been given more scope to oust the fashion retailer when they were persuaded to support a company voluntary arrangement in 2020.
Now we know what that new tenant is set to be: A restaurant in the Ivy Collection, spun off from the famous eatery in London's West End.
Menawhile, another empty shop unit is set to be filled in neighbouring Poole, with an indoor adventure park planned for the recently-closed Marks & Spencer store. (Story by Nicole Baddeley.)
And an empty unit in Southampton's Above Bar looks set to be filled, by JD Sports. (Report by Sam Hatherley.)
It's encouraging to be reporting some openings in town centres
- Having two unconnected businesses bearing the initials "P&O" can be confusing. Now that confusion is costing P&O Cruises money, as it spends on an advertising campaign to explain that it has nothing to do with the controversial P&O Ferries. Meanwhile, the fallout from P&O Ferries' sacking of 800 crew continued locally, with a representative of its Middle Eastern owner DP World resigning from his role in the Solent Freeport project.
- Bournemouth has two Business Improvement Districts, both of which faced ballot of levy-payers at the same time. Yesterday saw the Bournemouth Town Centre BID and the Bournemouth Coastal BID both win approval for new five-year terms.
- LV= announced its annual results for the year in which its board tried to sell the business to US private equity. But the figures triggered controversy over the bonuses paid to its chief executive and the costs of the aborted sale.
- A substantial number of jobs could be created in Hampshire if a maker of helicopter engines is successful in its bid to win new MoD contracts.
- A global employer has taken a whole floor of a refurbished office building said to have the best environmental credentials of any in Southampton.
- BT plans to "evolve its payphone estate" in Bournemouth - providing "street hubs" that offer free calls, Wi-Fi, charging and digital advertising. (Story by Jason Lewis.)
- Creditors of the company whose Sandbanks cafe was wrecked by fire eight years ago have been told again that lawyers are still exploring potential rights of action before any dividends can be paid. One of the company's directors has served out his entire ban while the liquidation company has continued.
- Construction company Morgan Sindall has signed a five-year partnership with a Southampton secondary school in order to better prepare students for careers in its industry.
- TEDxWinchester takes place next week, with a famous name among the excellent line-up of speakers. Dame Esther Rantzen told me the topic of her talk would be "fake news" - and she spoke about the dangers of believing lies and appealing stories.
- Hybrid working seems to be here to stay for a significant number of people - and a Southampton law firm is devoting half its new office to "collaborative space".
- Poole's Lighthouse is launching an academy to train the arts professionals of the future.
- Luxury boat builder Sunseeker has become the first associate partner using the ￡1.5m innovation studio at Arts University Bournemouth.
- With free lateral flow testing at an end for millions of people, a Dorset business has launched an NHS-approved kit for 99p. (Story by Ellie Maslin.)
- If you're going to watch AFC Bournemouth vs Bristol on Saturday, there's an alternative to meat pies as local business Mr Lee's hands out free cups of its healthy noodles to fans who arrive early.
- A Southampton woman has created a baby massage oil business. (Story by Maya George.)
- And a Winchester entrepreneur will appear on Dragon's Den next week with his caffeine-packed chews. (Story by Harvey Lindsay.)
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