Fresh fruit and veg retailer signs up for revitalised Alban House Hereford

Hereford shoppers will have a new source of fresh fruit and veg when the second of the retail units at the restored Alban House in High Town opens.

Cherries & Berries Ltd has joined Principality Building Society as tenants of the two retail units on the ground floor of the building that has recorded its tenth anniversary since the fire that devastated the building in 2010.

The new business is very much a family affair. Now run by Paul Totney, it was founded in 1982 by his father Geoffrey who had a small shop in the Black Country he ran with his mother.

Now Paul’s sons Harrison and Macauley sell their fruit and veg from a number of Midlands markets including Hereford, Leominster and Tewkesbury.

Paul’s brother Jason Totney will be the manager of the new shop which they hope will create between three and five jobs initially.

Paul said: “We’ve worked on the markets across the Midlands for nearly 40 years and we love the business. I wasn’t necessarily looking to open a store but Alban House was suggested to us and it is in such a great location.”

He was introduced to Alban House and the opportunity to open there by Julian Owens at Hereford agents Arkwright Owens.

Julian Owens said: “We knew Paul as one of the regular market traders and I thought he might be interested in opening a new shop in such a prime location in High Town.

“Alban House has been one of the most high profile and talked about developments in Hereford for a long time and it is great to see it being brought back to life in this way.

“We wish Paul and his family all the best with their new venture.”

Subject to planning permission for the security and display element of the frontage, Paul hopes that Cherries & Berries Ltd will be open in early December to herald the end of Lockdown 2 and the approach of Christmas.

Cherries & Berries Ltd was advised by Dawn Price of Marches Law and Elevate Property Group by Paul Broad of Harrison Clark Rickerbys Solicitors.

Many of the owners of the 18 individually styled properties have already moved into Alban House, including The Nook, a two bedroomed one character cottage in a gated setting with a walled patio, which has also recently sold.

David Hofton, sales and marketing director of developers Elevate Property Group, said: “We now have only four apartments remaining. Two face south and have views over the city towards Hereford Cathedral and two face on to High Town, enjoying the ambience of this Conservation Area in the city centre.”