Editing Shepton Mallet (section)

==Economy==
It is felt locally that Shepton Mallet has been in economic decline for some time.<ref name="timetoplan">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mendip.gov.uk/Documents/A%20Portrait%20of%20Shepton.pdf|title=A Portrait of Shepton Mallet |publisher=Mendip District Council and Strategic Partnership |date=December 2008 |access-date=17 February 2010 |page=2 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110927072115/http://www.mendip.gov.uk/Documents/A%20Portrait%20of%20Shepton.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref> Some 350 manufacturing jobs were lost in the late 1990s and early 21st century.<ref name="timetoplan"/> However, the District Council asserts that despite the loss in manufacturing, on which Shepton Mallet historically depended, more jobs in distribution, business services and public administration, health, education, quarrying, construction and hi-tech services have been created, so creating a more balanced economy. In 2001, there were slightly more jobs in town than the economically active, giving a small influx.<ref name="timetoplan"/>

The town centre has a high proportion of empty premises in Market Place and the adjacent north end of High Street, but the pedestrianised Town Street north of the Market Place to Waterloo Bridge has had marked investment in its heritage, bringing almost full occupancy. Since 2010 a quarter of independent shops is emerging in Town Street and Market Place. Since 2004 town-centre buildings have enjoyed a Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mendip.gov.uk/Download.asp?path=%2FDocuments%2FMinutesAndReports%2FMeetings+2010%2FCMCP%2F20%2E04%2E10%2FItem+12+Shepton+Mallet+Heritage+Economic+Regeneration+Scheme%2Edoc |title=Central Mendip Community Partnership report: Shepton Mallet Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme |publisher=Mendip District Council |access-date=10 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312141832/http://www.mendip.gov.uk/Documents/MinutesAndReports/Meetings%202010/CMCP/20.04.10/Item%2012%20Shepton%20Mallet%20Heritage%20Economic%20Regeneration%20Scheme.doc |archive-date=12 March 2012}}</ref> and a Townscape Heritage Initiative,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sheptonthi.co.uk/site/ |title=Shepton Mallet Townscape Heritage Initiative |publisher=Mendip District Council |access-date=10 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815064102/http://www.sheptonthi.co.uk/site/ |archive-date=15 August 2010}}</ref> which makes grants for building repair, reinstatement of architectural features and enhancement of public spaces, and for community involvement, education and training. As the body that bid for the funding, [[Mendip District Council]] has run both schemes, but decisions lie with a steering group of the main stakeholders in the town.

For centuries there has been a Friday market in the Market Place, but it has declined for some years. In 2010 there was initial interest in attempts to revitalise it, but the stallholder numbers still fell.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Use shops to boost town |url=http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/shepton/text/Use-shops-boost-town/article-2829161-detail/article.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505135523/http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/shepton/text/Use-shops-boost-town/article-2829161-detail/article.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |access-date=10 November 2010 |newspaper=Shepton Mallet Journal |date=4 November 2010}}</ref> In recent months a number of suitcase traders have supported the market on a regular basis, which has attracted local interest.

The furniture store Haskins, which originated in the town in 1938, has its main showroom in the High Street Haskins Retail Centre.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.haskinsfurniture.co.uk/ |title=Haskins Furniture |access-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310013659/http://www.haskinsfurniture.co.uk/ |archive-date=10 March 2010}}</ref> This includes other shops: a supermarket, [[Edinburgh Woollen Mill]], Ponden Home, [[Pavers Shoes]] and an outlet clothing store. Retail jobs rose in 2006–2007 with a new shopping development, including a [[Tesco]] supermarket, a clothes store and other retailers on a site just south of the town centre, once held by a footwear factory. This attracted national media attention when protesters occupied the site to try to block the felling of an avenue dating back to the 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=24695 |title=Tree Protest Camp established at Shepton Mallet, Somerset |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070617080855/http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=24695 |archive-date=17 June 2007}}</ref> It also split opinion in the town between those awaiting revitalisation and those who feared that local traders would fail to compete, bringing further High Street decline.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theoneshow/backstage/2009/05/what-did-you-think-of-the-one-34.html |title=The One Show |date=18 May 2009 |publisher=BBC One |access-date=18 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924161448/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theoneshow/backstage/2009/05/what-did-you-think-of-the-one-34.html |archive-date=24 September 2015}}; {{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theoneshow/consumer/2009/05/18/is_your_high_street_healthy.html |title=Is you high street healthy? |date=18 May 2009 |publisher=BBC One |access-date=18 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105172408/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theoneshow/consumer/2009/05/18/is_your_high_street_healthy.html |archive-date= 5 January 2010 }}</ref> Kilver Street has a [[Mulberry (company)|Mulberry]] Factory Shop near the old Mulberry headquarters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mulberryfactoryshop.com/#/contactus/storesandstockists/ |title=Mulberry Factory Shop Locator |access-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401025118/http://www.mulberryfactoryshop.com/ |archive-date= 1 April 2011}}</ref><ref name="Stone23"/>

[[File:Babycham fawn SheptonMallet.jpg|alt=Statue with a stylistic deer in yellow and white with a blue ribbon round its neck.|thumb|The [[Babycham]] fawn outside the brewery]]
Shepton Mallet housed three major alcoholic drinks producers. [[Gaymer Cider Company]] closed in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.candcgroupplc.com/brands/ciders/gaymers |title=Gaymers Cider |publisher=C&C Group plc |access-date=14 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021083045/http://www.candcgroupplc.com/brands/ciders/gaymers |archive-date=21 October 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.candcgroupplc.com/brands/ciders/blackthorn |title=Blackthorn Cider |publisher=C&C Group plc |access-date=14 November 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211204544/http://www.candcgroupplc.com/brands/ciders/blackthorn |archive-date=11 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Constellation Brands]], former owners of Gaymers, still produces [[Babycham]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.babycham.com |title=Babycham |access-date=25 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704173654/http://www.babycham.com/ |archive-date= 4 July 2008 }} – see History section</ref> Family-run Brothers Drinks produces [[Brothers Cider]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.brotherscider.co.uk/about/contact-us-send-us-your-thoughts/ |title=Brothers Cider Contact Us |access-date=25 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220025708/http://www.brotherscider.co.uk/about/contact-us-send-us-your-thoughts/ |archive-date=20 February 2010}}</ref> and runs a contract bottling operation for other drinks firms. In October 2016 it was announced that the cider factory and bottling plant would be taken over by Brothers Drinks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shepton Mallet cider mill saved by local firm Brothers but some jobs still cut, according to Unite |date=19 October 2016 |url=http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/shepton-mallet-cider-mill-saved-by-local-firm-brothers-but-some-jobs-still-cut-according-to-unite/story-29823220-detail/story.html |publisher=Somerset Live |access-date=20 October 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020172936/http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/shepton-mallet-cider-mill-saved-by-local-firm-brothers-but-some-jobs-still-cut-according-to-unite/story-29823220-detail/story.html |archive-date=20 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shepton Mallet cider production secured as former owners step in to save historic mill |date=20 October 2016 |url=http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2016-10-20/shepton-mallet-cider-production-secured-as-former-owners-step-in-to-save-historic-mill/ |publisher=ITV News |access-date=20 October 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021001611/http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2016-10-20/shepton-mallet-cider-production-secured-as-former-owners-step-in-to-save-historic-mill/ |archive-date=21 October 2016}}</ref>

As well as an annual [[Royal Bath and West Show]] and other [[agricultural show]]s, the [[Royal Bath and West of England Society|Royal Bath &amp; West Showground]] near [[Evercreech]], {{convert|2.5|mi|abbr=on}} south-east of the town, hosts events such as [[New Wine]] Christian festival and the National Adventure Sports Show, fairs and markets including Shepton Mallet International Antiques & Collectors' Fair, and exhibitions and [[trade show]]s such as the [[Amateur Gardening (magazine)|National Amateur Gardening Show]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bathandwest.com |title=Royal Bath & West Society |access-date=3 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408180132/http://www.bathandwest.com/ |archive-date= 8 April 2014}}</ref> Until recently, [[Royal Bath and West Show]] hosted the [[Soul Survivor (charity)|Soul Survivor]] Christian festivals.