Work begins on new shopfronts and art installations at Keynsham’s Temple Street

Works to improve shop fronts and enhance Temple Street in Keynsham will continue this month as part of a regeneration scheme for the town centre. 

The £65,000 Keynsham Shopfront Improvement Programme will see Temple Street Canteen - soon to be re-branded to Savour Cafe & Kitchen - and Savour Deli, Refill and Farm shop transformed with upgraded frontages in pastel colours in keeping with the street’s Victorian character.

The upper floors of the shops and those of the three adjacent shops will also be improved as part of the project.

Working with Keynsham Town Council and Keynsham Leisure Centre, Bath & North East Somerset Council also hopes to bring splashes of colour and fun to the opposite side of the street between February and March 2023 with three art installations that will reflect and celebrate the history of Keynsham.

One of these installations will be a light installation in the covered walkway from Temple Street to Riverside Square in the form of projected drawings co-created by children from local schools and artist David Mackie, depicting different periods in Keynsham’s history.

Residents will be invited to help shape the designs of the other potential installations through events taking place in the February, details of which will soon be announced.

Two flash artist residencies will be starting at the end of January with the successful artists and information about their public exhibition and workshops to be announced soon.

The improvements are part of the Keynsham High Street Heritage Action Zone (HS HAZ) and Keynsham’s Local Cultural Programme which provides cultural activities to engage people with their local high streets. Keynsham HS HAZ is a heritage-led renewal programme funded by Historic England that aims to continue to make the High Street a vibrant place to be.

The Temple Street Improvement Project to widen pavements, install planters and parklets and enhance views of the street in both directions was completed in spring 2023 ahead of the shopfront improvements.

The shopfront works have been awarded £65,000 from the HS HAZ and are being led by the landlord of 20 – 30 Temple Street and business owner of Temple Street Canteen and Savour, in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, said: “These high-quality shopfront improvements will continue to make Temple Street more welcoming for residents and visitors and contribute to a stronger sense of identity in this historic Keynsham street. The exciting art installations will widen the reach of the High Street Heritage Action Zone and Local Cultural Programme, bringing colour and vibrancy to the area near the leisure centre. I’m especially pleased that the light projections were based on drawings by members of our community and that residents will have a chance to influence the final designs of the street art. I hope lots of people will get involved.”

Rebecca Barrett, Regional Director at Historic England South West said: “The improvements to Temple Street’s shopfronts and the new art installations will celebrate the old and the new, revealing Keynsham’s historic character and showcasing the creativity of the people who live and work here now. We’re excited to see the results.”