The quirky little town that's full of stories...

BEESTON, a town away from “town”, a suburban haven for academics of the University of Nottingham, medics for the QMC and a whole heap of students - this small hub for bohemian residents is quirky, delightful and full of interesting pockets of odd-bod creations.

- By LOUIS CORBETT

From the controversial Beeston bananas saga to the resident-run magazine, The Beestonian, there are many peculiar aspects about the area.

Along the bustling high street, which appears to be bucking the national trend of declining shops, you can find various businesses that have been there for decades and have been celebrated by locals for services that simply cannot be replicated online.

Take Fred Hallam Ltd at 23 High Road for example, a fishmonger and greengrocer's where five generations of the Hallam family have been serving locals since 1908.

Inside the shop, photographs are on display that show glimpses of Beeston life in the shop over the decades. There's even a picture of a long queue of customers lined up outside the shop during the wartime rationing years.

Another business that has stood the test of time, and is almost as old, is Applebee's, a 105-year-old family-run toy and electrical shop at the bottom of Wollaton Road that has been supported by the local community since 1920.

Older residents will remember when Applebee's was on High Road. When it moved, so did the original wooden counters and cabinets.

Owner Stacey Graham had a few words to say about why she loves Beeston: "It's always been thriving, new shops are popping up all the time, I just think it's got a nice variety of shops, it's so accessible, you've got everything here.

"People always come in and say, 'You'd better not close, as if Applebee's doesn't have it, you won't find it anywhere else'. The community is great here.