An actor who was one of the key players in Game of Thrones gave up some of her time to help a good cause in Leicester.
Bella Ramsey became famous around the world for playing the fierce young noblewoman Lyanna Mormont in the HBO TV series – with interest in the show recently rekindled by the widely anticipated release of spin-off series House of the Dragon.
She was in Leicester to open a White Rose charity shop, which specialises in second hand clothes for men, women and children. The brand was launched by Nottingham Trent University graduates Grace Walker and Angie Ford in 2009 and already has a dozen stores in Nottingham, Newark and Sheffield and an online presence.
The new Market Street shop in Leicester came about following a commercial property deal advised on by local law firm Nelsons.
As well as finding fame in Game of Thrones, Bella, who was born in Nottingham and studied at stage school in Loughborough, is also known to children around the country as Mildred Hubble from the TV adaptation of the Worst Witch – which won her the young performer award at the 2019 British Academy Children’s Awards.
She said: “I’ve been to so many White Rose shops, I love them.
“I’ve purchased various things over the years. You can find some really great things and the shops are beautiful. Leicester is my city as well as Nottingham, so it’s great White Rose are here.”
James Smith CBE is the founder and chief executive officer of Aegis Trust, a British NGO which campaigns to prevent genocide worldwide and which is supported by White Rose.
He said: “White Rose’s ethos is clear – to reduce fast fashion’s impact on the environment, reduce textile waste, and to help fund the Aegis Trust’s excellent work.
“We are dedicated to providing high-quality, handpicked recycled fashion that gives our customers the opportunity to find and express their unique personal style and we are so excited to bring our passion for fashion to Leicester.”
Nelsons, which has offices in Leicester, Nottingham and Derby acted on behalf of the tenant to finalise the lease agreement with landlords SKL Property & Investments.
Liam Wilkinson, a senior associate and solicitor at Nelsons who worked on the deal, said: “It is great that the deal has been finalised so that James and the White Rose team can open the doors to their shop in the heart of Leicester.
“It has been a pleasure working with White Rose as they begin their next chapter, and we wish them both the best of luck for the future.”
Lee Reynolds, head of retail for White Rose, said: “Working with Nelsons made the process really quick and straightforward, which has been greatly appreciated as it means we can quickly begin our journey in Leicester and beyond.
“We cannot thank them enough and are excited to see what the road ahead has in store for us.”
