Why we invested in Derby: Nixon Coffee

Next year, the new £45.8 million Becketwell performance venue will open its doors – providing a major boost, not just to Derby’s cultural offer but also the immediate neighbourhood.

The 3,500-capacity venue will kick-start an exciting new chapter for the Becketwell neighbourhood.

Once open it will host over 200 cultural and commercial events each year and is expected to attract an additional 250,000 visitors to Derby.

To prepare for that influx, local businesses and landlords are working with Marketing Derby to help create a vibrant, interesting and welcoming feel to Becketwell.

Among them is Jai Sandhu, owner of Nixon Coffee, in Abbey Street, who recognises the opportunity, and, as a result, is investing in the area.

“I see it as an opportunity to create a sort of Ancoats of Derby,” says Jai, referring to the former industrial  area of Manchester, which has been transformed into a bustling, hip neighbourhood of apartments, bars, restaurants and independent businesses.

“Food and beverage, retail, barbers, beauticians, artisan cakes and doughnuts and, you know, quirky spins on businesses.

“That’s what I see in this area and, having  with spoken with some of the older local residents, that’s what this community had many years ago.”

Jai says there has already been a huge benefit from being part of the landlord group that Marketing Derby has assembled, gaining a better understanding of what other businesses are planning in the area and being able to work in a unified way to achieve progress.

And while he was already confident enough to invest in the area, Jai believes others cannot now fail to see the opportunity that the new performance venue will bring.

He said: “When you build a structure like that, holding 3,500 people at capacity, it’s impossible not to have some sort of windfall of business from people entering or leaving those premises.

“I know when I go out somewhere, I don’t just go and come back. You go and explore, or you spend a bit of time in a restaurant, you spend a bit of time in a bar. Naturally people will be spreading out into the local area.”

An extensive interview with Jai is included in the latest edition of Marketing Derby’s Innovate Magazine. To read it, visit https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ea5784cecc.html .