HAMPSHIRE Independents party founder and Basingstoke businessman Alan Stone is celebrating a milestone first anniversary of his Salisbury shop.
The Gatehouse, which opened in Salisbury High Street last year, offers an eclectic selection of antiques, jewellery and curiosities – plus a range of aquariums and terrariums.
Owner Mr Stone, 60, who also runs Squirrels Antiques in Basingstoke, has been working with jewellery and collectables for more than 40 years.
The Salisbury shop is spread over three floors at 51 High Street and describes itself as a ‘living museum’ with a botanical twist thanks to Captive Worlds, a separate aquascaping business that occupies the bottom floor after relocating from Crane Street.
READ MORE: Antique shop that celebrated 40th anniversary is Basingstoke Gazette Retailer of the Year
Staff have enjoyed a busy first year, thanks mainly to their regulars and tourists, and hope to entice more locals through their doors in 2025.
He is helped by store manager Rachel Underwood and a team of part-time staff.
Mr Stone's Squirrels store in Basingstoke was voted by readers as the Gazette's Retailer of the Year in 2021.
This store was started by Ros Austen, Phil Woods, Albert Stone (Alan’s dad), in 1981. The young Alan was just eight at this time.
The business specialises in antique silverware militaria, guns, knives, swords, and jewellery – gold and silver. They do free valuation work for most of the local solicitors for probate works and free identification works for customers.
Squirrels also offers free opinions to customers about everything related to antiques and the collectible world.
SEE ALSO: Business owner Alan Stone vows to tackle housing and healthcare in election bid
Mr Stone is also a regular candidate for Basingstoke at the general election.
In the last election, which saw Labour candidate Luke Murphy beating incumbent Conservative MP Maria Miller, Mr Stone got 571 votes.
The Brookvale resident, who has attended Sherborne St John Primary School, Hilsea College in Oakley, and Queen Mary's College, had positioned himself as the "most local candidate" in the race.
Mr Stone said he stood as a Hampshire Independent candidate because he doesn’t believe the main parties “care about individuals over their party donors and supporters”.
In 2015 and 2017, he stood as a UKIP candidate, getting 8,290 and 1,681 votes respectively.
In 2019, he got 746 votes as a Hampshire Independents candidate.
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