Bath’s independent retail sector is becoming more – not less – vibrant, one of the city’s leading commercial property figures has said in response to criticism by Bath-based celebrity chef Ping Coombes.
The 2014 MasterChef winner voiced her concerns on social media over the influx of national chains to the city, which she claimed has forced independent shops out of business. 
She tweeted that she was “so sad that lots of independent shops have closed down in Bath”, adding “instead we are inundated with chains”.
In a second tweet she said the city was at risk of losing its “unique sense of individuality”.
But Mike McElhinney, retail partner in national property consultants Carter Jonas’ Bath office, dismissed Ms Coombes’ claims.
He said while the retail landscape had changed and some high street brands had opened in the city, the comments painted a misleading picture about the city.
Carter Jonas recently published its Retail Edge report which shows 58 retail deals completed in the city centre last year. Of these, 37 involved independent retailers and 21 went to national chains.
“Bath has actually become more vibrant,” said Mr McElhinney, who has worked in Bath for many years and has handled scores of retail deals. “The city’s food offering has been boosted by independents such as the Dark Horse cocktail bar in Kingsmead Square, café Cascara in Upper Borough Walls and pizza restaurant Dough in The Corridor.
“Northumberland Place has recently seen the arrival of Phylosophie hair salon and boutique jewellers Violet Mai and Bill Skinner Studio.”
He said a further two independents, one in fashion and another in food, would shortly be opening at numbers 6 and 10 Northumberland Place.
“The reports also suggest that there are more empty shops in the city, but vacancy rates as of December 2015 were almost identical to December 2014,” he said.
Ms Coombes is a global ambassador for Malaysian food and will be publishing a cookbook on the cuisine next month.
