AN ANTIQUE store has brought hundreds of rare finds to the city after it opened its doors this month.

Robin’s Nest Emporium is now open at the former Natwest bank on High Street, Southampton, bringing with it 60 traders who sell their antiques inside.

Although it originally opened on February 29, the branch had to close its doors after just two weeks of trading due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Owner Nathan Alexander and other staff members spent two months fixing up the store for the official opening day, as the building was left in “bad disrepair”.

Daily Echo:

The 40-year-old, who also owns two other branches in Shirley and Fareham, said: “We took on the building, which left in quite bad disrepair, and had to do quite a lot of work inside.

“This is our third branch, and this one is beautiful, as it’s an old Italian Natwest Bank. It could be anywhere, you wouldn’t think the building is in Southampton as it’s nice and peaceful.”

Amongst the antiques sold include jewellery, furniture, mini vehicle collectables, and clothes.

The building also has a coffee shop for customers upstairs, where they sell cakes, and hot and cold drinks, which also leads out onto a decking area.

But like other businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the store has seen a fall in its finances during the lockdown.

Daily Echo:

He added: “We’ve lost a lot of trade with cruise liners, as the building is right on the corner of where they would be taking photos as we have St Michael’s Church out the back - we are in the middle of every photo opportunity.”

When asked why he wanted to open a building in central Southampton, he said the building was empty and that the city needed an antique store.

An old Daily Echo clock which hung outside the Southern Daily Echo Offices in Above Bar Street is also being stored at Robin’s Nest Emporium’s Oakley Road.

Robin’s Nest Emporium is open from 10am every day.