Regatta business spoilt by downpours

INDEPENDENT businesses in Henley say they had a mixed trading period during Henley Royal Regatta.

Clothes and gift shops and hospitality businesses were busy but experienced a slowdown on Friday and Saturday when it rained
persistently.

Footfall in the town centre was said to be down by about a quarter.

Laurence Morris, who runs Laurence Menswear in Duke Street, said: “It wasn’t a bad week for us because regatta week is always good but it could have been a lot better.

“That was down to the weather, the state of the economy and the election, which all had a bearing on footfall, which was certainly down.

“While the number of international crews appeared to be up, we didn’t seem to get as many visitors as we have done in previous years. Maybe they were planning to come to Henley but decided to change their minds due to the weather.

“I have long campaigned for better signage at the station to direct visitors from the station through the town or some sort of information booth so people can be pointed in the right direction.”

Elie El-Choueiry, owner of Henley Menswear, also in Duke Street, said: “It was a good regatta for us — we were up on previous years.

“We had people coming in to buy jackets, trousers, shirts and ties. Green and salmon pink were the popular colours and we had people who needed to dress correctly for the enclosures.

“The weather on the last three days affected us very badly so while it was a good regatta for the business, it could have been much better.”

Mackenzie Ray, of the Valse Collection in Reading Road, which sells new and second-hand clothes, said she had an “absolutely brilliant” week.

She said: “We sold really well and I am hoping for more of the same for the Henley Festival this week.

“We sold a little bit of everything and towards the end of the week we sold a lot more jackets because the weather had changed.

“We had some women come in who were dressed incorrectly with their dresses being too short for the stewards’ enclosure at the regatta.

“Were we affected by the weather? Yes and no. I did think we would sell more dresses but then we sold a lot more jackets than I thought we would. People also bought a lot of accessories, such as handbags and sunglasses.”

The experience of hospitality businesses was mixed with some unable to make use of their outside seating areas during the downpours.

Becky Benson, who owns the Cheesy Grape in Market Place, said: “Friday was a washout as it rained really heavily and meant we couldn’t use our outside space, which was a big loss for us.

“But we showed the football on Saturday and that worked really well. We were really busy and we may do that again.

“This was our third regatta and for people to come back to see us definitely made it worthwhile.”

Restaurateur Nuno Rosado, who runs the Square in Market Place and Al Forno in Reading Road, said: “I don’t think it was as busy as it has been previously.

“We did okay but we didn’t break any records. The weather meant we had fewer covers as we couldn’t have tables and chairs outside in the square.”

Steve Luscombe, who runs Luscombe’s in Bell Street, said he would have a regatta every month based on his success.

“It was banging,” he said. “I have never had so many people in here and it was my first regatta in town.

“Friday was probably our best day. The weather was insane — when we thought it would get better, it just got worse but we were doing pizzas out of the window and champagne, caviar and cocktails inside.

“On Friday and Saturday night we had three sittings and I extended my hours until 3am. I also had winning Dutch crews staying with me upstairs and when they won, they came down and celebrated.

“Overall, it was fantastic and I absolutely loved it.”

Keti Maglakelidze, who opened the Geo Café in Friday Street in January 2021, said it was her best regatta so far.

She said: “After we first opened we had the pandemic and inflation and then last year we shut for three months due to neighbouring building works, so we didn’t have time to prepare for the regatta.

“But this year we were well prepared and did really well with people coming to us for our pastries and coffee.

“We have an orangery out the back, which is covered, so that really helped us during the rain.

“We were busy throughout and customers came in waves. We had repeat customers who would bring friends and other people with them.”

Lorraine Hillier, who runs the Hot Gossip coffee shop in Reading Road, said trade was down on last year due to the weather and not being able to use her outside space.

She said: “The regatta was all right but trade was quite a bit down on last year, which was due to the weather.

“It was the first time that I didn’t really see the colour in Henley in the daytime because of the rain. It did spoil everything.

“We did have quite a few people coming in to escape the weather when it was just too bad to be down at the regatta.

“That did bring people into the town centre but it just wasn’t the weather to be sitting outside soaking up the atmosphere.

“It also hit our takeaway service because people who would come and pick up a sandwich and then take it down to the river didn’t want to do that this time.”

Ricky Martin, who owns Franco-Belge in Duke Street, said: “It was a pretty normal regatta for us.

“We had a really corking lead into it with the women’s regatta and when all the competitors and visitors started to arrive for the royal.

“Friday and Saturday trade dipped due to the rainy weather but it came back again a bit on Sunday. Overall, I’d say we had a very good regatta.”

Grace Leo, owner of the Relais Henley hotel in Hart Street, said: “It was really positive and in terms of turnover it was a record year.

“Ironically, the rain helped to drive people indoors, particularly on Friday night and during certain other days. There were a lot of visitors but also some local regulars who came in.

“We had some DJ music playing at the front of the hotel which meant people would linger with a beer and something to eat while listening.

“We were fully booked in the hotel for the week. There were a couple of people who left early when certain crews didn’t make the finals but that’s normal.”

Zoe Ferreira, who owns the Henley Larder in Duke Street, said: “It was a funny old regatta what with the weather but the town did feel very buzzy and we had lots of people in who were interested in local products, specifically looking for stuff from Henley, which is what I am all about.

“We had more than 100 picnic orders, which was the best ever.

“It really was lovely to see people taking a genuine interest in what was made and produced here. They were interested in some of the artists I represent and the greetings cards, candles and pictures with Henley on.

“People went wild for the Fairmile Vineyard fizz and the Henley-on-Thames stick of rock.”

Bea Pearson, owner of Wild & Rust in Duke Street, said: “We were very well-prepared as we take the period from the start of the women’s regatta to the royal and, overall, we were 35 per cent up in terms of sales and saw some fantastic footfall.

“The royal regatta week started strong but the weekend was disappointing in terms of footfall in the town. Overall, however, the business performed well despite the continuous downpours.”

She said her latest limited edition A3 prints of oars, which she commissions every year, sold well.

Lorna Dunlop, who runs the Henley Florist in Hart Street, said the weather affected her trade.

“I wouldn’t say it was disappointing,” she said. “We had people needing flowers for their boats, lunch parties and lapels.”