On Tuesday evening I mentioned the Haven Community Hub – a repurposing of former department store Havens in Westcliff-on-Sea – in my speech to the Clothworkers’ Company, though I’d never visited it in person.
So, yesterday, while still in London, I thought I’d take a trip out to Essex!
The old department store is even more the heart of the community now than it used to be.
Graham Soult
The cafe inside the Haven Community Hub
The Haven is fantastic! With a cafe, units for small businesses, activity and support groups, and regular events and classes, it means that the old department store is even more the heart of the community now than it used to be.
The Haven hosts an impressive programme of classes and events
The boards behind Clare – who kindly gave me a tour of the building – show just how busy it is throughout the week.
But the proud department store heritage isn’t forgotten. There are visual reminders everywhere, and Havens still occupies the top floor – but now as the base for its successful online operation, rather than as a physical shop.
The heritage of the old Havens department store is proudly celebrated
Back in 2013, when the physical Havens department store was still open, I interviewed boss Nigel Havens for my blog. Even then, he was clear about how the high street was evolving, and its need to “provide a social and leisure offering” as well as retail. You can still read that post here.
The handsome frontage of the old Havens store is largely unchanged
So, it was great to meet and chat to Nigel while visiting the Haven Community Hub yesterday.
Arguably, his ideas from 2013 have since become mainstream thinking about how high streets need to adapt – and as the social heart of its community, the Haven is showing how it can be done!
Get in touch
We often appear in the press talking about the history and re-use of old department stores, and have worked with several towns in which the repurposing of such properties has been a priority.
Please do get in touch if our expertise on this topic can be of value in your particular place.
All photographs by Graham Soult. A version of this post was also published on LinkedIn here.
