CITY CENTRE MANAGER OPENS NEW CASTLE STREET STUDIOS

City Centre Manager John Harvey used city sized scissors to cut the bunting signifying the opening of Castle Street Studios, an exciting collaboration of businesses and talents brought together in Castle Street.

City Centre Manager John Harvey / Erin Cox of Erin Cox Jewellery / Steve Marson of The Cubelab / John Cowen of Mekonta / Emily Gladstone of The Attic / Caroline Shortt of BAS Mooarc / Phoebe Stockman of Isabelle Montagu and Lucretia Van Rijbroek of Buttons & Beau

Driving force behind the project Erin Cox of Erin Cox Jewellery, left her premises in the coveted Magdalen Road earlier this year and bought the 300 year old building hoping to offer young businesses affordable letting space in a sought after area of Exeter.

Erin Cox says, “I'm so pleased to have the studios officially open, there is a real hub of excitement amongst the businesses here and we are all looking forward to a successful year of trading.”

The former home to Crosse & Cross Solicitors now collection of creative companies includes five start-up companies. The seven businesses include: award winning architects BAS Mooarc who have had projects featured times on Channel 4's Grand Designs; bespoke wedding dress designer Isabelle Montagu; two innovative website designers The Cube Lab and Mekonta; art gallery and picture framing service The Attic; Buttons and Beau offering everything from bunting to bags made from the very best cotton and silk and Erin Cox Jewellery, the driving force behind Castle Street Studios, who showcases her own designer jewellery and work from other contemporary British designers.

John Harvey, City Centre Manager says, “It was a honour to open Castle Street Studios which sees a network of creative people heading up exciting young businesses. It is a perfect illustration of the way Exeter City Centre is developing and entering an exciting era of positive change.”

Erin was born in Exeter and launched her jewellery business in her back bedroom, after five years and three different studios Erin opened her first boutique in 2008 on the coveted Magdalen Road. Erin knew there was a lack of affordable lettings in the centre of Exeter and so created Castle Street Studios to encourage independents and start up businesses to compete and have a presence in the centre of Exeter.

One of the business owners Phoebe Stockman of Isabelle Montagu says, “Castle Street Studios has come along at the perfect time in my business development, as it will enable me to further progress my label providing me with a new professional space in the heart of Exeter.”

John Harvey adds, “Exeter City Centre is moving very strongly in the right direction at the moment. There is a significant amount of ongoing investment and the development of Castle Street Studios is a distinct sign of business confidence. A yes vote in the BID ballot this year will help us keep up the the momentum for investment, change and renewal.”