In a smaller, quieter part of Nottingham, residents say they have no complaints - apart from that they would like to see more shops in the area. Despite the lack of shopping options, people still love living and working in Highbury Vale.
With well-established businesses that have stayed in Highbury Vale for years, people have reminisced on what the area used to be like. Highbury Vale, located in the Bulwell Forest Ward is home to over 4,000 people. With independent businesses, a pub and reliable public transport, Highbury Vale is around a mile away from Bulwell.
Oliver Baker, 65 lives in Highbury Vale. Now retired, he said: “It’s not bad living here, I’d like to see more shops but I use the ones that we have. We have a local [pub] but I remember the pub, The Highbury Vale, it was a good pub, most people in the area drank there.”
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The pub has since been knocked down and converted into flats. Oliver added: “They closed the community centre down because people weren’t using it, I think it needed a good plan to get a new chairman with new ideas that could have turned it around and got more people in there.”
The Highbury Vale community centre was placed on the market in 2022. Locals had voiced what they’d like to see happen with the unused site too.
Owner of Poppy Flowers on 182 Highbury Road, Debby Heer has owned the shop for the past 18 years. Born on the local estate, Debby said: “I’ve never had any problems here, at the shop we do flowers for funerals, weddings and anniversaries.
“There used to be a Co-Op across from the shop, I would like to see that come back and more shops to increase footfall.”
Phil Morris, 67 lives in Highbury Vale. Now retired, Phil said: “I go to Bulwell quite a bit but I do use the corner shop here and I go into Bradbury’s Bakery from time to time.
“Highbury Vale is one of those places people pass through there’s not much here.”
The Bradbury Bakery on Highbury Road has stood there for over 50 years. Earlier this year, it was reported the bakery’s McDonalds McMuffin dupes were becoming popular.
Local barber, Aram Nawzad has recently moved to Highbury Vale from Newark. He said: “The people here are nice, it’s quiet and peaceful. Compared to Newark it’s more quiet there, I was in the city centre but I haven’t been here for long. It's been around a month.
“I’ve visited a few of the shops and people are friendly.”
