Big shoutout to the independent businesses keeping Witham’s high street lively, from the coffee spots and cafés to the salons, trades and little specialist shops tucked just off Newland Street. If you’re trying to spend local this week, take a wander in and ask what’s made in Essex or sourced nearby — you’ll be surprised what you find. Who deserves a proper mention right now, and what’s the one Witham business you’d genuinely miss if it wasn’t there?

Big shoutout to the independent businesses keeping Witham buzzing, from the High Street cafés and barbers to the brilliant local trades and makers you find through word of mouth. If you’ve discovered a hidden gem lately, tell us who deserves a little extra love and why, and we’ll feature a few favourites next week. Where are you spending locally this month, and what’s one Witham business you’d miss if it disappeared?

If you’re in Colchester and haven’t yet made a habit of popping into the independent shops around the Dutch Quarter and along Sir Isaac’s Walk, this is your nudge — there’s brilliant coffee, thoughtful gifts, and genuinely helpful faces behind the counters. We’d love to shine a light on a few local favourites this week, so tell us: which Colchester business do you always recommend, and what’s the one thing they do that keeps you going back?