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BUSINESS NEWS On Mountfield Road, opposite Priory School, Flint Barn Fitness have opened up a new gym in the pretty building pictured right. We’ll be taking up their offer of trying the facilities out - including obstacle training - so expect more soon on this one. There are two more empty spaces to rent in the basement of the Needlemakers. Perrymans are ‘closing their shopfront to focus on design shows and online sales’ (plus they’re having a baby); you’ll still be able to get hold of their furniture at From Victoria, in the same building, and online (perrymandesign.com). Next door’s Modal are going too – a sign in the window says they’re changing their business plan so as to sell party accessories. Round the corner in Castle Ditch Lane, in that pretty little square/car-park outside Martyrs’ Gallery, Louis Browne has set up a <strong>Lewes</strong> office as a notary public, specialising in helping customers sell property, do business or get married abroad. We’ve also learnt that Sarah O’Kane will be exhibiting her circle of artists in Fisher Street Frames from <strong>March</strong> 1st. Fiona Abbott tells us that she’s starting up a dedicated yoga and personal training studio on Western Road as a permanent base for her Soulfit concern. And a big welcome to Clarriots Care, a branch of the nationwide homecare service, who’ve set up a new office in town. It’s all go on Station Street, with rumours of a Turkish café in what was Tash Tori, and the Royal Oak looking splendid after an expensive refurb. Anyone remember those saloon-style yee-hah swinging doors? It’s a long cry from those days. While we’re on pubs we understand that the Dorset is changing hands, and the latest managers of the Rainbow in Cooksbridge have called it a day, after just three months. We don’t want to double up too much on what Chloë King has written in Edible Updates (see pg 77) but it’s worth repeating that Pestle and Mortar are moving their Asian food operation into what was Laporte’s, and cooking hot noodles, too, making us a four-Thai town; and what was the Real Eating Company (and The Long Room, and Elphicks) is becoming Trading Post Coffee Roasters (there’s another branch in Ship Street, Brighton) run by the people behind Ooh Ah Café on the seafront. A few months back we took a visit on this page to the building works of The Spithurst Hub, outside Barcombe. This is a state-of-the-art business centre which will be the HQ of So Sussex, the company behind the Elderflower Fields Festival, and much more besides. They offer private offices, workshop spaces and hot desks to other businesses, and a conference and meeting space, too. And there’s a cookery school! It’s all very swish, for its rural setting. Finally a mention for the <strong>Lewes</strong> District Business Awards, set to launch on <strong>March</strong> 13th, with the winners announced in July. Last year Wave Leisure won the blue-riband ‘Business of the Year’: start thinking of who you’d like to nominate in <strong>2018</strong>. Alex Leith 99