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8 Great Norwood Street (formerly 3 Bon Marche Place)

In 1902 this shop was occupied by the Beehive Drapery Stores. But by 1906 this had changed and Mr Thomas Evans and son were in business here as tailors. In 1909 the Evans paid £22 per annum rent for these premises.

​The building was sold with vacant possession in 1923 and by the following year the trade had changed to H. Payton Wireless Stores, who were previously in the Lower High Street. They sold electrical and wireless accessories and radio sets and charged accumulators. Britain’s first live public broadcast from the Marconi factory in Chelmsford only took place in June 1920 and the first regular programmes from the BBC began in 1922, so this shop was at the forefront of a social change. In 1924 they advertised a 3 valve wireless set for £8, when the average male weekly wage was about £5.

Gloucestershire Echo, 18th October 1924

Payton’s relocated to Suffolk Road in about 1928 and these premises were left in the hands of Mr Sydney Lloyd, a boot maker, with whom they may have previously shared space for a few years. Frederick Lloyd traded here until at least 1962.

​By the early 1970s these premises had become one of the many antique shops that arose in this part of Cheltenham. It was then owned by R. Wolstencroft, who was here until at least 1975. In 1991 the shop was called Cobwebs, and it specialised in antiques, bric a brac and stripped pine furniture.

1991
Little Boho Café, 2013

In the early years of the 21st century this shop changed again when it became a café called Little Boho. Today the café is owned by Rob, who came to the UK in 2017 from Eindhoven, where he worked in digital marketing for a large electronics company. His aim is to preserve the atmosphere of Boho as a community-focused café. In addition to a large selection of sandwiches, bagels, breakfast and lunch options, Rob specialises in mini Dutch pancakes. Downstairs is an area for children called Mini Café Boho.

Café Boho

For more information click here.

Research: Stuart Manton & Karen Wilson (January 2020)
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