Fresh look for Sleaford

If you love riverside walks, special exhibitions, amazing arts and crafts and lively events, take time out to discover recent changes in the town. By Glynis Fox.

Anyone who hasn’t visited the town for a few months may be surprised to see how many changes have taken place and the variety of businesses that have moved in or expanded.

There have been many stories about the recent revamp of the town’s Market Place. Now finished, it continues to welcome people to shops like the fashion outlet Bellissimo Boutique and dessert shop Waffle & Chill, which overlook the “square”. It is also proving to be a great focal point for the town’s events.

Opposite you will find the Bristol Arcade, which has welcomed enterprising new tenants over the past few months. Southgate is another area which has witnessed a variety of comings and goings, including the growth of the Sleaford indoor market.

The Hub (A National Centre for Craft & Design) is a must for visitors who love to view the latest work by professional artists and makers, take time to enjoy a coffee break and who want to find a special gift.

This year the Market Place has hosted a variety of events, with more to come. The traditional town council’s market takes place on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays in the Eastgate car park. In May, the Market Place welcomed TravelLight – staged by the Sleaford Climate Action network and NKDC (North Kesteven District Council) – which encouraged people to learn about making greener transport choices.

In June, The Zone – a new attraction for Sleaford – featured a vibrant, purpose-built pop-up space where young people could chill and create, giving those between the ages of 11 and 18 free access to culture in the heart of their community.

Sleaford on Sea is currently proving to be a fun attraction. The pop-up beach, funded through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, will stay in place throughout the school holidays, finishing on 4th September.

There’s also a Makers & Creators Market on 13th September and a Teenage Market on 20th September, with more events to come.

If you love tracking down uniquely crafted gifts or have a passion for artistic pursuits, you will enjoy dipping into The Hub, which sits close to the River Slea.

Inside you will find all sorts of individually-made items, from ceramics to jewellery, paintings, cards and more, as well as its popular café.

CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
Change is always on the agenda at The Hub, which curates and hosts an amazing mix of interesting exhibitions.

The latest showcase is dedicated to artist Winifred Nicholson’s relationship with the tradition of rag rug making. This exhibition features a collection of artworks dating from the early to mid-20th century and gives a unique insight into Winifred’s artistic collaborations and their relationship to her home in Cumbria.

If you are crazy about colour and have an artistic streak, you’ve two great reasons to pop into The Art Shop and Studio, nearby in Navigation Wharf.

Owned by professional illustrator Ruth Burrows, it is bursting with an amazing choice of art materials, irresistible books and quirky gifts and you can also get advice for your own special project.

Apart from doing commissioned work, including illustrations for books, publicity materials and editorial requests, Ruth also shares her expertise in fun Sketchbook sessions in her studio.

Sleaford is also a great place to find murals. There are mosaics along the path running alongside the River Slea, with panels depicting the sources of power for navigation boats, wind, horsepower and human power along the east bank.

Step inside Gladstone’s Yard, which leads into Money’s Yard, and you will also find six mosaic panels reflecting different aspects of Sleaford.

Also, check out a fantastic mural on the gable end wall of number 10 Boston Road. Created by award-winning artist Peachzz (Megan Russell), it was developed with the owner of the property and recent business arrival, Treeline Dental, and is funded by government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with a contribution from the owner.

The building, which is near the town’s museum, has also had repairs and restoration done to its historic shopfront through the Sleaford Shopfront Grant Scheme #UKSPF.

The stunning artwork depicts the beauty of the River Slea, complete with local wildlife and heritage, featuring shimmering drops of water shaken off the wings of a duck and swan, the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly and Viola riviniana, the regional flower for Lincolnshire.

NEW INITIATIVES
Sleaford Navigation Trust chair Chris Hayes says there are high hopes of getting the town’s tourist boat running on the River Slea. Named after former Sleaford banker Benjamin Handley, there is still more work to do to get this attraction ready to offer fun passenger trips from The Hub up the River Slea to Cogglesford Mill.

“We wanted to start running trips this year, but there have been problems clearing silt and debris and we’re awaiting permits from the Environment Agency to allow us to do this work. We will also need to lift a bridge on the Eastgate stretch of the river and install a landing stage at Cogglesford.

“When the boat is finished, volunteers will need to be trained to skipper the vessel and run the service.”

If browsing around the shops and finding quirky new businesses is your thing, Sleaford has several areas well worth a closer look – including Millstream Square, the Riverside precinct and Bristol Arcade.

Passionate about upcycling and revamping furniture and more, retired nurse Roberta Hunt started the Happy Crafters group in Westgate, then went on to open a shop in the arcade 18 months ago and has since moved to bigger premises in the arcade.

“I’m really excited to have so much space, to better display a range of items that shoppers can choose from to make their homes unique. They include home décor goods, including Frenchic paints, refurbished furniture and a wide range of gifts.

“Upstairs there is another large room where I am planning to host a variety of workshops, where people can enjoy crafty sessions. The cost will include some starter kits.

“Some sessions will also allow people to bring their own pieces of furniture to decorate, and there is also a smaller studio space for my own use.”

Another business which was preparing to open as we went to press is the Little Oven Bakehouse – the brainchild of William Hayes and Amba Heath, from Helpringham. William, who is busy turning out irresistible sourdough loaves, brownies, pies, pasties and cakes, as well as takeaway sandwiches, loves the fact that his unit has a large window which means that passers-by can see what he is baking.

INDOOR MARKET
It will soon be a year since father-and-on Alan and Lee Taylor launched Sleaford Indoor Market in the ground floor of the former M&Co’s retail outlet.

Their dream was to create a community, skills and shopping hub and the first phase has allowed a mix of traders – including regular and pop-up business owners – to build up a customer base with less risk.

Lee said: “The market is doing well and we have changed things a bit for renters, including offering day rates if needed. There is also a café, Cosy Corner.”

Alan and Lee have also moved the parcel courier service Press2Play from the Riverside Precinct to the market, which should help to bring in extra footfall.

Originally they were looking to have a skills centre on the upper floor of the indoor market, in collaboration with Grantham College, although that is on hold at the moment.

GOING GREEN
For anyone who wants to see North Kesteven District get a recycling ecoPlant for the next phase of the Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park, there’s excitement on the “green front” too.

This would bring an innovative clean-tech company and waste plastics recycler to the town, marking a new green chapter for the local economy and better news for the environment.

Clean Planet Energy, part of the Clean Planet Group, is a UK-based clean-tech company which builds ecoPlants that convert hard-to-recycle plastics into circular products for use again in industry.

The company has identified the Enterprise Park, off Pride Parkway, as the ideal site to build its second Clean Planet Energy ecoPlant so far in the UK. This would mean a significant investment in excess of £35 million for its construction.

If successful in getting planning permission for an ecoPlant in this location, Clean Planet Energy is estimated to bring 50-70 direct new green jobs to the local area, while reducing the amount of waste plastic in the UK which is either incinerated, taken to landfill, or might end up polluting the environment.

The ecoPlant would process up to 25,000 tonnes of traditionally non-recyclable plastic waste each year, from fast food containers and shopping bags, to plastic films and more, supplied from waste processing companies by contract.

Sitting on 8.5 acres of land, it would transform this waste plastic into Purified Pyrolysis Oil – an alternative to the ‘virgin’ fossil oils needed in the petrochemical industry for creating a circular loop, instead of endless plastic production using new fossil oils.

North Kesteven District Council leader Cllr Richard Wright said: “This puts Sleaford and North Kesteven on the map when it comes to tackling hard-to-recycle waste plastic and finding innovative, tech-based solutions to the growing problem plastic presents.

“The company is also a great fit for the ethos behind Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park, which we are developing to unlock new opportunities for businesses while also leading by example on energy-saving measures and building better.”

As a new waste processing facility, the ecoPlant development would require planning consent from Lincolnshire County Council. Submission by Clean Planet Energy is expected before October 2025. If approved, full operations would be expected to begin once construction is completed.

A TASTE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
Located in the heart of Sleaford in Southgate, Tablez Café Bistro is a popular eatery serving a delicious English menu with a Mediterranean twist.

Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, this award-winning venue offers indoor and outdoor seating, with a balcony option too.

Finalists in the Best Tea/Coffee Shop in last year’s Taste of Excellence Awards and Gold Citation award-winners in the Best Restaurant category, Tablez has earned a reputation for its tasty dishes and welcoming customer service.

Popular favourites include full English breakfast, salads, steak burgers, pancakes and waffles as well as traditional Turkish meze, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.

Don’t miss the special Turkish nights on the last Saturday of every month.

Open Monday 8am-7.30pm, Tuesday 8am-2.45pm, Wednesday 8am-4pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 8am-11pm, Sunday 8am-12.45pm.

For more information call 01529 300922 or find Tablez on Facebook: Tablez-Cafe-Bistro-Sleaford

JOIN THE HARVEST CELEBRATION AT MAYFIELD VINEYARD
As the golden glow of late summer settles over the Lincolnshire countryside, rows of ripening grapes bask in the final weeks of sunshine at Mayfield Vineyard, and anticipation builds for our annual grape harvest.

At Mayfield Vineyard, we believe in doing things the traditional way. Our grapes are hand-picked, ensuring the highest quality fruit makes its way into every bottle we produce. This labour of love is a true community event, and we warmly welcome volunteers to join us in this timeless ritual. In return for their efforts, our pickers earn “wine points” – a small gesture of thanks that can be redeemed for wine rewards.

But harvest season is just one of the many reasons to visit. Mayfield Vineyard also offers a selection of charming holiday lets, each with its own private hot tub for unwinding beneath the stars. On-site, guests can enjoy paddle tennis, table tennis, and even spend time watching our pigs, who are always happy to greet new faces.

If you’re looking for a relaxing countryside escape, Mayfield Retreats offers the perfect blend of luxury, leisure and laid-back charm.

This September, come and be a part of something special. Join the harvest, meet the man behind the wine and raise a glass to tradition.

Fraser Key enjoys meeting people and selling directly to his customers, appearing most Fridays at Stamford Market.

Additionally, you can find him at the Fulbeck Artisan Market, held on the second Saturday of each month including upcoming dates on 13th September and 11th October, and Stourton Fair on 14th September. These markets are perfect opportunities to sample and purchase some of the ‘Owl Collection’ and learn more about its story.

For bookings, gift vouchers, or more information, visit mayfieldvineyard.co.uk, email events@mayfieldvineyard.co.uk or follow us on Instagram: @mayfield_vineyard_lincs and Facebook: Mayfield Vineyard, Lincolnshire

PASTURES GRANGE – DESIGNS FOR MODERN LIVING
Keepmoat’s latest development is the ideal choice for first-time buyers, families and those seeking a laid-back lifestyle.

Located in the charming village of Quarrington, just a stone’s throw from the historic market town of Sleaford, Pastures Grange offers a perfect blend of modern living and countryside tranquillity.

This stunning collection of two, three, and four-bedroom homes is thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of contemporary living. There is something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a semi-detached home or a spacious detached property.

The homes are built with energy-efficiency in mind too, with advanced insulation, high-performance double glazing and modern efficient boilers – this is not only good news for your carbon footprint, it’s great for your pocket too!

Superb location
One of the standout features of Pastures Grange is its excellent connectivity. With easy access to the A15 and A17, and the nearby Sleaford Station, commuting to nearby towns such as Newark, Grantham and Boston is a breeze.

The development is also within a 30-minute drive of the cobbled streets of Lincoln, offering a wealth of amenities and cultural attractions. The local area of Quarrington is a picturesque village with a rich history and a strong sense of community. You’ll find a handy Co-op for everyday essentials, St Botolph’s C of E Primary School, and a historic Grade II-listed church.

Just a mile away, Sleaford offers a range of supermarkets, shops, cafés, bars and restaurants, as well as a regular farmers’ market where you can buy local produce.

For families, the area boasts an excellent choice of respected senior schools, including Carre’s Grammar School, Kesteven and Sleaford High School, and St George’s Academy, all rated “Good” by Ofsted.

This makes Pastures Grange an ideal place to raise a family, with quality education right on your doorstep.

Keepmoat is proud to be a five-star home builder for customer satisfaction, and at Pastures Grange you’ll experience this commitment to quality first-hand.

With three stunning show homes available to view, you can see for yourself the attention to detail and high standards that go into every home.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to be part of the Pastures Grange community. Visit www.keepmoat.com/pastures-grange to book an appointment today and discover the perfect home for you

Photographs: Mick Fox

We Recommend

Heritage at its heart

Star

All about Alford

Fresh look for Sleaford

Town in the spotlight

Ladies who lunch

View all