Two ceremonies have taken place to formally welcome two new businesses to a shopping street.

Bros Barbecue Burger and Shake, which specialises in burgers, steaks, gourmet hot dogs, grilled dishes, and milkshakes has opened in Chorleywood, along with a Nisa convenience store.

Three Rivers District Council leader Sarah Nelmes and chairman Keith Martin were invited down to Main Parade to take a look inside the new businesses and meet those running them.

Bros Barbecue business advisor and partner, Manjur Ahmed said: "Our restaurant is mainly for introducing new types of food in this area. Our key item is various different types of gourmet grill burgers and barbecues.

"Our chef Suman Afsar is highly experienced and has experience from different restaurants with over 12 years of experience. Our second chef is also highly qualified with over 18 years of experience."

The Nisa Local store is being run by Jagmit Kapoor, who previously worked for three years as an Uber driver until the pandemic struck.

Watford Observer:

Mr Kapoor said: "I took my savings to pay for the rental of the car every week, about £250. There were just no jobs out there, nobody was travelling and everybody was locked down. You could wait up to five or six hours just to get one trip. I did as much as I could to try and help people, such as NHS workers."

He had been living and working in Glasgow, where his family was running a successful Indian restaurant. But as times were getting more difficult, an opportunity came his way via a friend who knew of a vacant shop coming on the market in Chorleywood.

The family decided to make the move and, thanks to his parents and sister as well as local people he has had no problems staffing the shop.

Mr Kapoor added: "My family and I are always up for taking risks, and so far the local response has been amazing."

Watford Observer: left to right: Cllr Martin Trevett, Amarjit Kapur, Cllr Phil Williams, Cllr Keith Martin, Jagmit Kapoor, Cllr Sarah Nelmes, Warsha Kapoor, Tek Kapoor and Soonam Kapoor.left to right: Cllr Martin Trevett, Amarjit Kapur, Cllr Phil Williams, Cllr Keith Martin, Jagmit Kapoor, Cllr Sarah Nelmes, Warsha Kapoor, Tek Kapoor and Soonam Kapoor.

The two new businesses come after the district council published a report which found the village had a vacant shop rate of 18 per cent with ten empty premises.

Cllr Nelmes said: "It really is a heartening sight to see two new businesses opening in Chorleywood at the same time.

"There is no doubt that there have been very difficult times recently for retailers, so it is great to know that enterprising people are ready and willing to make new things happen and bring new job opportunities, more choice for customers and great variety to our high streets at this time.

"Congratulations and I wish them the very best of luck for the future."