This is the Love the Lakes shop in Keswick as it is now in St John's Street. Read on for a diary of the transformation the shop undertook to reach its final form...

Love the Lakes, Keswick

Remember the Love the Lakes Bowness story?

Well, it is happening again but this time it is in Keswick. We have been looking around for a suitable place in northern Cumbria almost since the Bowness shop started and finally we have found somewhere. The big legal wheels were certainly turning slowly to get hold of this place but finally it has happened and the deal is signed. The shop is on St. John's Street which is at the top end of the main street in Keswick, less than a minute's walk from the Moot Hall and opposite White Stuff and the Keswick Lodge.

The shop fitters move in on Monday 6th June and we hope to be open by the end of the month - more details to follow. In the meantime, you can follow our progress with the shop on this page, initially with the 'before' photos and the run in to the finished article.

 
View Larger Map

The shop was formerly Lakeland Racing, a betting shop but was perhaps better known in Keswick as a butchers shop. It is two shops knocked into one in a similar manner to our Bowness premises - we are on the lower floor, Star Beauty above.

This is where the counter will be, looking to one of the exterior doors. All panelling and ceiling tiles to be removed and replaced.

The old counter which will be removed as this is the main sales area.

A new stock room and toilet is going in that far corner.

Wednesday 9th June

The strip out of the old shop fit (and the older one underneath that!) has started and there is no power in the shop yet, that will be reconnected on Thursday hopefully.

Looking from the main sales area across to the new toilet/stockroom which will go in the far corner. The till is going in front of and parallel to the wall with the cubby hole in.

Sharp intakes of breath looking at the left hand side of the shop, again looking towards the stock room.

The old counter and fittings have gone, the false ceiling that was there has been removed and what was underneath needs a bit of work. The cladding on the walls is going and they will be framed out and clad with the familiar green matchboard as in the Bowness shop...and of course the carpet is going too - it is glued down (of course) to make it that bit trickier to remove.

We had a look under the orange fascia, thankfully it is wood and the exterior will be finished similarly to Bowness. We put the signs in the window to let people know who was moving in and the notice of application for a premises license to supply alcohol as required by law.

Tuesday 15th June

There is a planned lull with work at the moment with only electrical work ongoing as the shop fitters are elsewhere - they will be back with a vengeance next week for the big transformation.

New stock room partition in place (use the air con unit for reference in the older photos above).

Counter area.

Almost ready for framing out, cladding and decorating. That burgundy carpet is free to a good home...as long as you take it up and remove it!

Friday 18th June

Fixing the holes in the ceiling and removing old cladding from the far wall.

A shelf! (right), just to see what it looks like. First fix electrics are now complete as well.

Oh no, not that again...I hope that's the right colour (see the Bowness story!). Hopefully that is undercoat.

Tuesday 22nd June

The green matchboard is being fitted to give the shop the familiar Love the Lakes-y feel. Thanks to ridiculous building regs, the pointless disabled alarm is being fitted to the new toilet over on the right...it would be easier just to shout if there was a problem, it's not as if anyone would be a million miles away!

Base units built ready for cladding.

It will soon be ready hopefully - painting tomorrow, second fix on lights Thursday, flooring Monday (mebbe and there again, mebbe not!). So much to do...but we'll get there in the end!

Thursday 24th June

Things have moved out a bit, the opening date was set to be the first weekend in July but realistically we aren't going to make that date now so it will be the weekend after (with luck!). These things are never straightforward and one or two problems have been uncovered during the shop fit.

Matchboard, base units, slot system and shelves fitted.

The decorators are in prepping for internal painting.

New window bases and beds to be made as the old ones crumbled to dust!

Monday 28th June

Slatwall panels fitted, counter due later this week.

Decoration ongoing.

The track lighting has been fitted.

The exterior has been undercoated, windowsill to repair.

Thursday 1st July

Well, we're nearly there now and today marks the end of the major work. 'All' that's left to do is finish the decoration inside and out, fit new flooring, put the shelves up, get some stock in...

The base units are painted and the ceiling is all sorted out. Some shelves and brackets are there on the floor, only 120 of them to fit for team Love the Lakes.

The counter is in now (with my pink handbag on it lol!) and the delivery people thoughtfully left it outside on the pavement at 9am this morning. At least they left it blocking next doors entrance and not ours!

Soon be there. Come to think of it, that carpet's not looking so bad, just needs a bit of a hoover...(if you think Louise would have that you are much mistaken!).

Friday 2nd July

Everyone has gone now, only the painters and floor in fitter today. It looks like Louise got her way and new flooring is being fitted! (That is not the flooring BTW, it is the plywood base).

I have sleepless nights thinking about putting all those shelves (right) up.

It's looking good though, it looks a lot lighter and brighter in here now than when we moved in.

The exterior is being painted Love the Lakes green, the windowsill has been repaired and that is the alarm man come to do his stuff. Looks like Rachael, the shop manager, is cleaning the inside of the windows.

Wednesday 7th July

Flooring complete (almost).

Let there be shelves!

Clean up and stock up tomorrow.

Thursday 8th July

Stock on the shelves.

Lots of boxes to unpack.

Signs and window graphics completed. The shop has to open this weekend as this ad is in today's edition of the Keswick Reminder!

Friday 9th July

We never quite made the intended test run this afternoon but everyone worked extremely hard on a long day to get things ready for the weekend - we will open in the morning at 9.30, so hope to see you there! What a transformation to those photos at the top of this page and we are proud of the results. This journey is ending and another just beginning.

See what we sell on line - www.lovethelakes.net

Return to top