Welcome to the Hatch Newsletter August 2025 Edition — your monthly roundup of retail, property, and hospitality updates. This issue covers smarter ways to fund your fit-out, how to save on business rates, key government reforms, and what’s new at Hatch, including updates to our property search tools.

Funding Your Fit-out

Funding options

Opening your first store, café, or restaurant is exciting, but the fit-out costs can feel daunting. The good news? There are plenty of ways to finance it:

• Grants & Competitions – Free funding you don’t have to repay, though applications can be competitive and time-intensive.
• Government Start Up Loans – Up to £25,000 per founder at a fixed 6% rate, plus 12 months of free mentoring.
• Debt Finance – From traditional bank loans to flexible SME lenders like iwoca or Funding Circle. Best if you’ve got a proven model or cash flow.
• Equity & Accelerators – Trade equity for capital, mentorship, and growth support. Ideal for high-growth startups.
• Angel Investors – Individuals who bring not just money, but industry knowledge and connections.
• Crowdfunding – Build a community while raising funds, either through equity or rewards-based models.

Each route has its trade-offs, whether that’s ownership, repayment terms, or time commitment.

Choosing the right funding path

There’s no one-size-fits-all. If you want to stay in control, consider grants, loans, or rewards-based crowdfunding. If mentorship, investor backing, and scale are priorities, equity or accelerators might be a better fit. Crowdfunding can also be a powerful way to validate customer demand before launch.

For a full breakdown, check out our blog: How to Finance Your Fit-out.

Business Rates Relief

What might you be eligible for?

Business rates can be one of your biggest ongoing costs, but many independent businesses don’t realise how much relief they could claim. Here are the key schemes:

• Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR): 100% relief for properties with a rateable value up to £12,000. Gradual relief for properties between £12,001 up to £15,000.
• Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Relief: 40% off bills until 1st April 2026 (capped at £110k relief per business).
• Empty Property Relief: Up to 3 months’ exemption for vacant properties.
• Charitable & CIC Relief: Charities get 80% mandatory relief (with potential for 20% more). CICs can apply for discretionary relief.
• Transitional Relief: Cushions sudden changes in rateable value.
• Hardship Relief: Discretionary, for businesses in severe financial difficulty.

Reliefs aren’t applied automatically, so you need to register with your local council and actively apply.

For the full guide, read out our blog: A Quick Guide to Business Rates Relief

Founder Stories

Catch up with Bewliehill 1 Year After Opening Their Second Store in the City

Opening one store is a milestone, but opening a second is a whole new challenge. We caught up with Angus, founder of healthy grab-and-go brand Bewliehill, one year after launching their Liverpool Street site.

For Angus, the timing of when to open a second site wasn’t just about finance, it was about proving the concept could scale. “I felt confident the time, money, and energy I was investing could grow into something bigger,” he reflects.

The journey hasn’t been without challenges: the build-out costs were higher than expected and sales were poor in the first few months which was particularly stressful. But there have been major highs too — from record sales days, to serving repeat customers, to seeing the brand’s community double in size.

His advice for other small business owners thinking about expansion?

• Know your product and costs inside out
• Get a good marketing strategy pre-launch
• Temper your expectations – you’re starting afresh so get ready for the grind

Angus acknowledges opening a second store was harder than anticipated, but “absolutely worth it.” The experience has strengthened both the brand and his belief in its future growth.

Read the full story here.

Who’s Hatched

Postmark opens on Northcote Road

This month we were thrilled to see Postmark open their latest store on Northcote Road, Clapham Junction, a long-standing ambition finally realised.

Postmark, a family-owned business best known for its high-end cards, gifts and stationery, has grown from 4 stores in 2019 to 14 today. We’ve been proud to support that journey, helping them secure prime locations across London including Victoria, King’s Cross, London Bridge and Battersea Power Station.

Northcote Road has always been one of the most competitive retail spots in South London. When the opportunity arose at No. 72, we connected Postmark with the landlord, negotiated lease terms, and ultimately beat other parties to secure the unit on a 10-year lease with a good rent-free package and 5th year break clause.

The new store officially opened its doors in July 2025, giving locals the chance to enjoy Postmark’s carefully curated collections in one of London’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

“Hatch has been instrumental to our growth and will continue to be so. Excellent market knowledge and insights help to make the right decisions every step of the way. Highly recommend.”
– Mark, Owner of Postmark

Read the full story here.

News and Opportunities

Government to cut red tape for hospitality

The government has announced reforms to planning and licensing rules designed to make it easier and faster for entrepreneurs to turn empty shops into thriving cafés, pubs, and music venues.

Key measures include:

• A new National Licensing Policy Framework to streamline and standardise applications.
• Creation of hospitality zones with fast-track approvals for alfresco dining, extended hours, and community events.
• Stronger protections for long-standing pubs, clubs, and venues, with developers responsible for soundproofing residential new builds nearby.
• Expansion of the High Street Rental Auction Scheme to bring empty units back into use.

The reforms aim to reduce costs, cut delays, and bring more vibrancy to high streets. Industry leaders have welcomed the move, while stressing that lasting relief on business rates will be key to making sure new venues can thrive once they open.

You can read more about the announcement on our blog: Government Plans Major Red Tape Cut for Hospitality Businesses.

What’s Been Going on at Hatch?

Phase Two of the Property Roundup Tool

Our Property Roundup Tool has now entered its second phase. This update means more accurate and useful data, giving users a fuller picture of the market. With this enhancement, it’s easier than ever to stay ahead of opportunities and spot the right property at the right time.

Business Listing Page

Our Business Listing page continues to gain traction and is actively being viewed by agents. It flips the search process on its head: instead of hunting for properties, you can list your exact requirements, and commercial agents will send you suitable options. This makes the search a two-way conversation and significantly increases your chances of finding the perfect match. You can check out some of the brands that have created listings here. To create your own listing, send a short overview of your business, your logo and any relevant images to isaac@hatch-retail.space.