ANOTHER business has left, putting yet another nail in the looming coffin of Somerset’s supposed County Town and I am still struggling to show my partner why I wanted to move back here and to find things that he would enjoy living here.

He is from Camberley (Surrey) and that town is much smaller than Taunton, but is very much buzzing with life and atmosphere, leaving Taunton in the stone age. 

I am 27 and Taunton is my home town and has been the setting of most of my life, but it seems to be run by ‘dinosaurs’ - and this is where the problem lies.

They seem to be ignoring and sneering at any little new modern businesses who want to bring life back into this town.

I am referring to the rumoured Hubbox restaurant that could be moving into the old Roots Cafe on St James Street. The older community members have very loudly expressed their distaste for ‘another obesity factory’, when what they do not realise is that this is the very establishment this town needs.


READ MORE: Hubbox given the green light for Taunton restaurant


It’s a popular chain alive with the “modern age” that you find in the major cities and they want to be in our town!

It’s somewhere for younger generations to go, take kids, meet new people and even post to Instagram showing off that Taunton can keep up and is relevant. 

There is nothing for us in this town right now and the older community want to shout at it and take it away from us, as if they fear change. 

This is now where I want to appeal to anyone with capital wanting to start a business or rent/buy a shop in Taunton. 

As one artist to another, please don’t jump into the hairdresser and tattoo parlour scene! Taunton is already full of them and it’s become very disappointing to see new ones pop up all around town.

Please stop thinking about it and get creative! You have raised the capital, use it to start something new and unique, something Taunton does not have. 


READ MORE: Poundworld in Taunton to close - or is it?


Here’s one of my personal ideas you could use - Poundworld is doomed, so once it’s gone, the building could be used for an indoor paintball area or laser tag. It certainly has the space for a small arena. 

Or one better, someone please reopen the Live Lounge on High Street and bring the live music scene back to our town or even open a comedy club.

Maybe this could lead onto the Brewhouse being used for more local gigs. This would be especially great so that the Brewhouse will have some more use once it’s had it’s renovation.

I am just buzzing with ideas for what this town would love, and would be willing to offer an extensive list if anyone is curious and would like to save our town, as well as several ideas for the proposed Firepool development.

I myself am looking at opening an art-related establishment in East Reach in the near future, but I require the capital first, which is the hard part for many of us, this is why I am reaching out to any of you who are about to start a business here.

Don’t be a sheep, do something niche and unique and help bring youth back to this tired old town. 

JESS H
Taunton