The owner of a newly opened store is hoping to create a more “vibrant” town centre.

World of Honey, a new venture launched by Southern Counties Honey Ltd, which trades as White Horse Honey, opened at Chippenham Market Place on Friday, October 4.

The business, owned by Stephen Auty, took on the former Hughes & Hughes estate agents building in August and has transformed the empty space into a “vibrant” shop.

Mr Auty, who is based in Melksham, has been keeping bees for 30 years and his operation produces honey from apiaries spread across six counties.

He told this paper the firm’s first bricks and mortar store, which offers honey from local apiaries, beeswax candles, and hive cosmetics, was already popular amongst shoppers.

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World of Honey in ChippenhamWorld of Honey in Chippenham (Image: Newsquest) The 49-year-old said: “The response so far has been really positive because lots of people have come in and have really liked what we have for sale.

“They like the range we’ve got, the fact we’re championing local honey, and they’re excited about the fact we’re making candles on the premises which is a bit of theatre.”

During a six-week renovation, the shop was turned into a “colourful” space full of honey products and equipped with a candle-making station.

Mr Auty added he was “really pleased” with the premises and the fact he has been able to bring “a bit of difference” to the town centre.

He added: “We used a local company to do all the signage internally and externally, the whole project has been helped by the Vibrant Wiltshire grant scheme for the High Street.

“It’s given us confidence to do something a little bit different and spurred us on to open here, it’s so exciting because there’s a demand and we’re seeing how it evolves.

“It’s a good location and people have noticed us because we’re a colourful shop, we’ve got lots of ideas for how we want to take it forward next year.”  

World of Honey in ChippenhamWorld of Honey in Chippenham (Image: Newsquest) World of Honey will hold a grand opening on Thursday, October 31, to mark the store’s start to life in the town.

Moving forward, Mr Auty is hopeful his new store can help spark more vibrancy in Chippenham town centre.

He added: “The High Street is everything and without it people are going to struggle.

“People want a vibrant High Street with a good choice of shops and people have to come back to the independents again.

“We need something interesting for customers so hopefully this is the start of something a bit different in Chippenham.”