TWO more new businesses have opened their doors, with the owners hoping to cash in on the custom the new Strand is attracting.

TWO more new businesses have opened their doors, with the owners hoping to cash in on the custom the new Strand is attracting.

Surfers Paradise, run by Dave and Elle Welch, has opened in Rolle Street while award-winning landlords Demi and Oliver Bainbridge have unveiled The Grapevine, a gastro-pub at the foot of Victoria Road.

The Welch’s have come back fighting – af5ter trading Honiton for six years they were hard by the recession, going from three members of staff to just Dave.

Dave said: “Letting employees go is one of the hardest things to ever have to do as an employer, especially when they are the ones that help you get your business to where it is. “The hardest part though was having to let a family member go!”

However, they have now come through the tough times and have been able to employ three more members of staff.

The recent economic decline, he said, also helped shape a business that although born from ‘surf culture’ now resonates more urban popular culture: “During and after the recession people’s buying habits have changed and coupled with the fact that products are readily available on the internet has meant that we have also had to change.

“We have seen a marked decline in the brands we were selling, and have shifted our focus from just solely selling ‘surf’ brands to selling more urban and culture brands.”

Demi and Oliver Bainbridge have been in the licensed trade for 15 years mainly running gastro pubs and CAMRA award winning pubs real ale pubs in Bristol.

One was even listed in the Sunday Times best Sunday lunch guide.

Ollie said: “The first few weeks have gone really well, people are slowly finding us and coming back for regular visits all the time.

“We have been welcomed with open arms and we are getting such positive feedback about what we have done.

“Each week it is busier and we feel very confident about the future. Now that the Strand is nearly finished I can really see that the vision for Exmouth is becoming a reality.”

In the New Year they hope to run charity quiz nights every Sunday and live music on Friday nights.

“The aim of the Grapevine is to provide a friendly mature place for people to eat, drink and enjoy good company,” he said. “We are very keen to be part of our local community and look forward to being more involved in the various events the town has going on.”