A RECENTLY opened Andover beauty salon has benefitted from its first instalment of a £1,000 grant from the borough council.

Citrine Spa, run by Trang Thi Huyen Nguyen and her husband Tim, recently opened its doors on Union Street, Andover as a nail bar and beauty salon.

The pair have now received their first £500 of a £1,000 Independent Retailer Grant courtesy of Test Valley Borough Council.

Trang said: “We are really pleased to have received this boost from the council. We’ve enjoyed our time in Andover and long may our success continue in our new premises.”

Tim added: “Having had the support from the council and given our previous experience, we’re hopeful that we’ve got the right combination to be even more successful!”

Ward councillor Victoria Harber said: “Trang and Tim are very experienced and are certainly established members of our community!

“I’m sure they will go from strength to strength and I wish them both luck.”

Recipients of the £1,000 grant receive half of that sum after three months of trading and a further £500 six months later.

To be eligible for the grant, new or existing independent businesses must occupy a town centre ground floor unit which has been vacant for at least one month.

Qualifying businesses include shops, restaurants and cafes. These funds have become available to the community as a consequence of the council’s prudent investments, financial management and use of the New Homes Bonus.