Bridal boutique Dressplace opens new store in Courtaulds Building on Haydn Road, Nottingham

A bridal boutique that started life in Southwell ten years ago has opened a major new store in a historic Nottingham building.

Dressplace, which owner Helen Dickson started on Westgate, Southwell, in 2009, has moved into the iconic Courtaulds Building on Haydn Road in the Sherwood area of the city.

The new location houses both Dressplace Bridal Boutique and an outlet store, Brides & Mothers Designer Wedding Outlet.

Helen opened Dressplace after many disappointing bridal shopping experiences with her three daughters.

Aiming to offer the service she wished her daughters had received, she set up a dress agency in Southwell selling pre-loved gowns to brides-to-be and their mothers.

She wanted to ensure they all had a calm, respectful and pleasant shopping experience.

The business quickly went from strength to strength, attracting customers across the UK, and moved from Southwell to George Street in Nottingham’s Lace Market in 2014.

Two years ago Helen also opened a Brides & Mothers Designer Wedding Outlet at Ransom Wood Business Park near Mansfield.

It was the success of this outlet, and the demand for one in Nottingham, that led to her decision to settle in the historic Courtaulds Building, a large site that would allow her to offer the outlet services within the same premises as a bridal boutique.

Kerry Elliott at Fraser Brown Solicitors acted on behalf of Helen to secure the lease for the 6,300 sq ft store, which opened for trading at the end of December, offering designer bridal gowns to order and ready-to-wear bridal gowns at reduced prices.

The new store is next to the Courtaulds factory shop at the opposite end of the building to the Nottingham Free School.

Helen said: “For more than 25 years, I had planned to open my bridal boutique and my desire to do this increased while accompanying my three daughters in their search for their dream wedding dresses.

“I discovered that the whole bridal experience could be very stressful, with very poor service from many boutiques.

“ I vowed to open a lovely, calm wedding boutique where everyone is treated with respect and leaves with a smile on their face.

“I opened my first Dressplace in Southwell back in 2009, and its initial success led to us moving to a more central premises in the Lace Market area of the city centre.

“Over time, we decided to look for a larger, more accessible site and settled in the fantastic historic spot that is the Courtaulds Building.

“The huge size of the site has allowed us to incorporate our outlet and boutique services into one space and we have our own huge free carpark too.”

“We would like to continue offering exceptional customer service with an expert alterations service to every customer, whatever their budget, and we are already growing our team with two new staff appointments, bringing the total staff number to 14.”

Kerry Elliott, senior associate, commercial property at Fraser Brown, said: “The new premises in the Courtaulds Building will give the company the necessary environment to facilitate progression and I wish Helen every success for the future.”