New business opens following first successful Town Centre Business Grant

A new beauty salon is the first business to receive a grant under the new Dover District Council Town Centre Business Grant Scheme - and the salon has now been officially opened by the Chairman of Dover District Council. 

The new business, called Urban Calm sunspa, lash and beauty bar, is located on Bench Street in Dover and was officially opened by the Chairman of Dover District Council, Cllr Sue Chandler, on Saturday (10 November 2018).

The owners of the new salon, sisters Sacha and Leanne Eastwell, have been awarded a grant of £8,500 from DDC. The grant has helped the owners to expand their business by renovating a previously empty shop on Bench Street. The sisters had previously been running businesses from their homes in Dover, and they have now been able to grow their business and continue their success story in the area. 

Cllr Sue Chandler, Chairman of Dover District Council, said: "It was a delight to open this new business in Dover, and to wish Sacha and Leanne every success for the future. This is a great example of how our Business Grant Scheme can help bring empty town centre premises back into use." 

Sacha Eastwell said: "Receiving the grant has allowed us to expand the new salon, enabling us to create more beauty facilities available for local beauticians or apprentices to come and join our team. We feel the contribution has given us a much better chance of not only growing our own businesses, but helping to create a professional work space for others, and we are very grateful for the grant funding, which has contributed towards our new venture."

DDC’s new grant scheme offers grants of up to £10,000 to bring commercial properties back into use or to upgrade or improve the appearance of empty premises in designated town centre areas in Dover, Deal and Sandwich.  For more information see the Town Centre Business Grants page on the DDC website.