Pictures of shops and businesses in Helston in 2009

With the town centre streets ever-evolving, the Packet is taking a trip down memory lane to look back at pictures of shops and businesses that were in Helston 15 years ago, in 2009, compared to what is now here today – can you remember them all?

The top of the town has changed completely. Back in 2009 there was Pictures and Things gallery and framers (now near the bottom of Meneage Street), Steven Hall Pharmacy (now next to Helston Medical Centre), Pendarves Property Management, the Helston office of the West Briton, Bray & Co estate agents and Halifax with Premier Mortgages.

These have since become The Lady Eve Vintage clothes shop, The Bookshop in Helston, Gilchrist Exotics and Daisy Chain.

A bit further down, Nationwide, the Cornwall Air Ambulance Charity Shop and Bella Rosa (toys downstairs, flowers upstairs) have been replaced by Don't Forget the Hamper, Pica Rico deli and JST financial advisors.

The Indian restaurant Saffron went on to become Bollywood Spice, before changing tack and is now a kebab shop in 2024, while next door was Mr Simms sweet shop for a time, before it became a tattoo studio, then arts and crafts gallery, and is now a 90s vintage clothes store.

Of course it’s impossible to forget much-loved bakery Horse & Jockey Bakery, which closed in 2018 and has now become Philps, while in 2009 William Hill bookmakers was next door but has now become opticians Specsavers.

Meneage Street in 2009 also featured Miller Countrywide's original office, the Cornish Candy Shoppe, Threshers off licence and Dorothy Perkin, while now there is Smile Dental Care, Jenkin’s Sweet Shop, Raison opticians and Costa.

Before Boo Koos was its forerunner Shimmy's (after Ultimate Video), with Jag phone shop, Grip skating clothes shop and in the distance Stokes fruit and veg – now Sands, the Cornwall Animal Welfare Trust charity shop and Rowe's Bakery.

Who remembers when Betty’s Café, and before that Hellys Tearoom, was actually a gift shop, Crazy Daisy? One door up there is the same frontage in 2009 as what is now Miller Countrywide, but back then it was Julian Graves health food shop.

Further down, Merlin Framers, Miller & Son (later Millerson) and Premier Photos have all gone since 2009 - now Pictures and Things, The Tattoo Hub and Neville J Harris insurance brokers.

Stead and Simpson shoe shop was still there in 2009, but looking a bit worse for wear. It did go on to have a refit, but closed in 2012. Meanwhile Warrens used to have red branding in 2009 before it went through a number of makeovers, ahead of its closure last year. 

Moving into Coinagehall Street, in 2009 HSBC was still going strong, with fondly remembered electrical shop ETS next door, while The Beehive was already in existence. The first two have been replaced by Cornwall Great Escape Rooms and BeGorgerous hair and beauty salon in 2024, while the Beehive has had a makeover.

A few doors down, Off Your Head barbers has been given an update between 2009 and 2024, while clothes shop New Look and lettings agency PDQ have been replaced by the Bolenowe Animal Sanctuary charity shop and The Bridal Studio.

Further along still, the Children’s Hospice South West building is still a charity shop in 2009, but back in 2009 it was Cancer Funding for Cornwall (formerly Macmillan Nurses) run by Margaret Fitter.

On the opposite side of the road, in 2009 the JobCentre near the top of Coinagehall Street, while next door was C3s cafe and bistro, and above that Heathercraft - now the Fisherman's Mission charity shop, Beijing Cuisine and Fatty's Barbers.

Of course Oliver & Son furnishers took up the large building that is now Wetherspoons.

The Coffee Bean is still going strong 15 years apart, just with different signage, but the popular bakery and sandwich shop Mothers has become a fresh fish shop (taking over from Tinner's Bakery in the meantime) and the Seven Stars pub was given a complete overhaul and new name following a number of years of closure in the interim, and is now the Inn and Still.

• Do you have any photographs going back even further? We’d love to look back 25 or 30 years ago, to when Woolworths, the arcade and the vegetable shop that is now Bet Fred were all trading in Helston. Email emma.ferguson@packetseries.co.uk if you can help!