Shepton Mallet is alive with community spirit. At the heart of the town’s market place stands a simple crate filled with free fruit for children—a small but powerful symbol of local generosity. Outside The Little Farm Shed, a cherished local business with humble beginnings, a story of growth and community support unfolds. What started as kids delivering eggs to neighbors to fund a trip to Glastonbury Festival has blossomed into a thriving family-run farm shop, buoyed by local pride.
This community-driven ethos extends throughout Shepton Mallet. The town boasts a community bookshop stocked entirely with donations from residents. Just a short walk from the market place lies the dormant Amulet Theatre, an old arthouse cinema which locals hope to restore one day through fundraising.
In an era when struggling High Streets have become all too common, Shepton Mallet is determined to turn the tide. Dan, 47, director of Interim Spaces, explains the initiative transforming the town. Originally from New Zealand, Dan spent 18 years in London working on business ventures but found the city’s vastness overwhelming. During lockdown, the shift to remote work made him realize the immense potential of working and innovating in a smaller town like Shepton Mallet.
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Interim Spaces offers local entrepreneurs a lifeline: nine months of rent-free retail space, paid bills, and dedicated mentorship. This support empowers fledgling businesses to thrive amid soaring commercial rents that are pushing many traditional shops out of High Streets across the UK.
Laura, 40, a lampshade maker and one of Interim Spaces’ beneficiaries, believes Shepton Mallet brims with opportunity. After a career as a university lecturer, Laura followed her curiosity and passion to craft unique lampshades—creative pieces that brighten any room. Now, she combines her love for teaching with hands-on workshops that share her craft with the community.
Another success story is Ami, 34, who runs The Black Thistle, a plant shop in the town’s Market Square. A recent recipient of the grant, Ami moved to Shepton Mallet from the busy city of Bristol and has been overwhelmed by the warm response from the local community.
Shepton Mallet’s mission is clear: to nurture small businesses and revitalize its High Street. In this fertile environment, humble egg rounds grow into thriving farm shops, academics reinvent themselves as artisans, and the High Street stands strong in 2025 and beyond.