THE next inhabitant of a charity-owned shop pace in Shepton Mallet has been revealed.

Plant shop The Black Thistle will be the next tenant at 10 Market Place after being selected as the 2025 Retail Incubator.

Interim Spaces, which runs the site, said entrepreneur Ami Hensman – and her Black Thistle concept – had been selected to take up the second retail incubator placement.

The Black Thistle will bring a dedicated plant shop offering a range of plant products alongside educational sessions and hands-on workshops, the charity said.

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It comes after 27 ideas applied to take on the space, with a panel selecting it from a shortlist of four finalists.

The incubator programme is part of an ongoing initiative by Interim Spaces to support the local high street by enabling entrepreneurs to test business ideas rent-free for nine months.

Participants also receive a £1,500 capital grant and mentorship, with the potential to transition into a permanent retail space at the end of the programme.

Dan Simon, director of Interim Spaces, said: “After a highly competitive selection process, which showcased an array of fantastic retail ideas from Shepton Mallet and beyond, we are thrilled to announce Ami Hensman’s The Black Thistle as the next Retail Incubator placement for 2025, and we can’t wait to see her shop bloom.

“We are very grateful to all the applicants who put forward their ideas, and we hope this process encourages even more aspiring retailers to take the leap into the high street.”

In September last year, 10 Market Place became home to The Little Farm Shed, founded by Shepton youngsters Laurel and Rose, whose business came out of a bid to raise spending money for the Glastonbury Festival.