We chat to Cavendish Arcade’s newest owner Solanki Holdings on his love for Buxton
Another landmark building, Buxton’s Cavendish Arcade, has been purchased by Solanki Holdings UK and International - the same developers who own the former museum and Hardwick Hall - and the top boss says he wants to keep the businesses thriving.
The man of the moment Nirad Solanki has chatted with the Buxton Advertiser about his latest acquisition the Cavendish Arcade and his plans for the Grade II listed shopping centre.
It was announced on Wednesday January 21 that the company had purchased the arcade.
Asking him what his plans are for the building Nirad said: “I want it to thrive.
“There are some great, unique independent traders in there who are doing wonderful things and I want that to continue.
“But we don’t want to change the feel of the place, only work with the businesses to enhance it.”
Nirad says one of the empty units will become Crafty Cavendish — a tap house with lots of different craft beers and be an ‘adults only R&R space’ but the rest of the shops will be remaining as they are.
“People come to the Crescent and the Pump Room just to look at the old baths so I want to draw people in and show off what a fabulous space it is and show off the assets the Cavendish has and bring more footfall to the space.”
The Cavendish Arcade is a former public baths that was converted into a shopping arcade in 1987.
Nirad said: “This felt like the natural progression for us after acquiring so many landmark sites in the town and when the opportunity came up I couldn’t turn it down.”
Nirad says he has remortgaged his house and put his own money on the line to make the deal happen.
He said: “That’s what some people don’t see, they think it's the council selling off assets. It's not, it’s me taking a chance on something in a town I love.”
Nirad’s love affair with Buxton started two years ago when he visited the town looking to buy an underground bunker and saw the history and heritage of the town.
“My intentions are pure.
“I love everything about Buxton even down to the street lights at night and it feels like you are stepping back in time.
“There is a lovely quaintness but with wonderful independent traders making the town unique.”
The Cavendish Arcade is home to Charlotte’s Cafe, Wild Olive, Pizza Express and Peak Ascent Cycles to name just a few. Speaking about his vision for the Cavendish he said: “It’s full of well established businesses which are doing great, the paint a pot art studio, the clothes shop, the beauty salons. “People support them because they believe in them and so do I.
“But I want more people to know about them. I will be pushing advertising, maybe have events in the central space, get some digital advertising up to promote other local businesses but I don’t want to change what is already working. I want to work with it to enhance it.”
This new venture is a passive income which will help support other projects in the town that do require more financing.
He says in the year since he first signed for the former Peak Buildings which housed the museum, and magistrates court to now he says the Solanki name has earned a good reputation in the town.
“People know I’m not out to make a quick profit, I'm in this for the long game and because of my love for the town.
“I’ve made good friends already and I’m an open book.
“If you have questions come see me and we will go for a beer or a coffee - I'm in Buxton most Fridays.”
Nirad says more exciting things are in the pipeline for the company in relation to Buxton but as things have not signed and gone through the legal work he can not tell us about them yet.