Haslemere Travel has moved after more than 20 years in the same premises – to smaller premises just across the road.
The travel agency will reopen after the UK lockdown in its new premises in a listed building on the high street in the Surrey town of Haslemere, although initially it is likely to have a locked-door, appointment-only policy.
Owner and managing director Gemma Antrobus, who bought the business five years ago, made the decision not to renew the shop’s lease around nine months ago but had to wait for new tenants before moving out.
The previous premises were too big and the overheads too high for the agency’s needs, said Antrobus.
She said: “I want to move us to the next chapter of our business. We did not need all that space.
“There were a couple of properties we had our eye on but the one we settled on is across the road on the high street. It is a listed building, with beautiful high ceilings. It’s a characterful building.
“We have downsized our back office size massively but still have space on the shop floor for five desks and brochures. We no longer have a lounge but we will have a sofa. It’s a more useable space.”
The shop was more recently an art gallery and had previously been a wine bar.
