Another Weigh, the Kendal zero‑waste refill shop, has secured its future in the town after agreeing a six‑year lease extension at Wainwright’s Yard.
The shop, which first opened at the yard in February 2021, has renewed its tenancy until July 2032, the landlord said. The move guarantees the presence of an independent, environmentally focused business in Kendal’s town centre for the coming years and underlines the growing demand locally for low‑waste alternatives.
What the lease means for Kendal
Another Weigh operates on a refill‑and‑reuse model: shoppers bring containers to buy loose food and household goods by weight. The business was founded by Amy Bray when she was 17 and has since become a familiar name for residents looking to cut single‑use packaging.
- Premises: Wainwright’s Yard, Kendal town centre
- Original opening: February 2021
- Lease extended until: July 2032 (six‑year extension)
- Business model: refill and reuse; customers bring containers
- Profits support: Another Way, a youth environmental charity
The extension will be welcomed by regular customers and the neighbouring independent retailers who say the shop helps generate footfall in the yard. Landlord Eric Wright Group hailed the business as an example of how social enterprise can be commercially viable on a modern high street.
“Another Weigh has proven that social enterprise can achieve long‑term commercial stability on the modern high street. They bring a unique, independent energy to Wainwright’s Yard that drives local footfall,” said Jonathan Phillips on behalf of the Eric Wright Group.
Community and environmental impact
Another Weigh also channels profits to Another Way, a charity that engages young people in conservation projects and climate action. The link between the shop and the charity provides a local route by which everyday shopping decisions can support environmental work in the region.
A member of the shop team commented on what the extension means for customers and the wider community. She said the staff were pleased to make a long‑term commitment to Kendal shoppers and highlighted the shop’s recent changes to opening hours — now open on Mondays — to better match local needs.
“The staff at Another Weigh are very pleased to announce this commitment to our wonderful customers old and new. We pride ourselves on listening to them and that’s why we are now open on Mondays,” the team added.
They noted that recent very warm, dry summers have encouraged more people to look for ways to reduce their environmental impact, pointing to a rise in demand for accessible, affordable alternatives. The shop says changes need not be big or costly to make a meaningful difference for households in Kendal.
Local retail picture
Wainwright’s Yard hosts a cluster of independent businesses and has become a pocket of retail diversity within Kendal’s centre. The retention of Another Weigh is likely to support the yard’s mix of traders by keeping regular customers passing through, which local businesses say helps them survive in a challenging retail environment.
While national retail trends continue to put pressure on town centre shops, this renewal shows how smaller, niche operations that meet specific shopper needs — in this case environmental and low‑waste purchasing — can secure longer tenancies and continue to add character to Kendal.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Opening at Wainwright’s Yard | February 2021 |
| Lease extended until | July 2032 |
| Business model | Refill and reuse; customers bring containers |
For Kendal customers, the extension represents continuity: a familiar independent that supports local causes and offers a practical route to reducing household waste. For the high street, it is a sign that community‑minded retail can still find a sustainable foothold in town centres when landlords and businesses work together.
