| Further signs have emerged of tough trading conditions in Newbury, with the news that tattoo parlour and alternative clothing shop Area 51 is moving out of town on Saturday.
The Bartholomew Street shop has achieved notoriety for exploiting a legal loophole to sell magic mushrooms, alongside T-shirts and ‘goth’ memorabilia aimed at a younger market. The shop was named after the secret military base supposedly used by the US to cover up evidence of UFOs.
At least 13 stores of 300 shops in Newbury have closed their doors in the last year, and retail experts predict worse to come. The number of shoppers out and about, known as footfall, has shrunk 5% in the last year, creating tough conditions in niche markets.
Yesterday, Newbury.net reported on the imminent closure of furnishings shop Knickerbean, adding to a rollcall in the last year including Wimpy, Our Soles, Soaperior, Zu Store, Sunflower, Swampys toy shop, Taste delicatessen, Days Gone Bye, Cramarrs, Officers Club, Sugar and Spice, H Samuel, QS, the Pine Shop and Costa Coffee.
However, new additions include Café Nero, Laura Ashley, Starbucks, and the soon-to-open Animal surfwear shop in Northbrook Street. | 
