Grade II listed building becomes wedding hot spot in Truro

8:50am Saturday 24th November 2012 in Cornwall

Princes House in Truro is now home to a number of wedding businesses

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A Georgian building left empty in the centre of Truro for two years is to become home to a number of bespoke wedding businesses.

New tenants of the Grade II listed Princes House, on Princes Street, will include award-winning photographer Simon Burt, make-up artist Ella Butler, wedding dress specialists Anna D’Souza and Annalise Harvey, hair stylist Sarah Hooper of Capella, Jemma Waterfield of Smooch Beauticians and milliner Holly Young.

Princes House, once described as ‘the finest house in Truro’, maintains many of its original features, including a grand mahogany staircase and elaborate Rococo plasterwork.

However, it was the very features that make the building’s interior beautiful that made it almost impossible to lease.

Miller Commercial’s head of commercial department Rob Redgrave said: “What has become apparent in recent years is that older traditional buildings have become less popular as office space, almost to the point where they are obsolete.

“We identified pretty quickly this building could not be altered to suit the market – the challenge was to find occupiers to suit the building.”

The agency looked at several possible uses for the former Georgian mansion including a café, restaurant, a centre for antiques dealers, a hotel and even residential flats.

Because it was listed, however, any work to adapt the premises would have proved expensive and time consuming, so it was decided that small occupiers for each room, moving in en-masse, were what was needed.

The marketing generated interest from a group of small creative business who were set up in studios or workshops nearby and all able to move at the same time – as well as all being connected to the wedding industry.

Word spread fast and four more wedding related companies have since joined them.

This week Miller Commercial is finalising a deal that sees each business taking on a separate lease for their room inside the building, ranging from £900 to £3,900 per annum.

Mr Redgrave said: “This is an unusual deal, but then Princes House is a unique property. Considering we let a retail unit on the same street this year for £20,000, by collaboration these companies have achieved a high street location at an affordable price.

“It’s extremely pleasing to see such an iconic building in use again, and we wish all the occupiers the very best of luck and hope their union will be happy one.”

The owner of the building, Nick Bryant, said the companies had brought the building back to life.

Princes House will be open to the public during late night shopping on Wednesday December 5, 12 and 19, when one of the collective will be able to show people around.

An official launch will be confirmed in February. In the meantime there are two remaining rooms available. For more information contact Rob Redgrave at Miller Commercial on 01872 247013.

Comments(1)

Gill Zella Martin

says…

1:32pm Sat 24 Nov 12

Excellent idea.
Gill Zella Martin

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