A COFFEE business has said that it is not intending to move into a Winchester unit after rumours started when its posters went up in its windows.

Honey + Harvey, a coffee shop business that has two stores in Suffolk, placed its adverts into the windows of the former Pure Home Furnishing Shop in The Square earlier this week.

The business is part-owned by Winchester-based investment group Gentian Development Group, which was behind the mysterious posters.

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A spokeswoman for Honey + Harvey said: "Honey + Harvey have no plans for Winchester at the moment, although they could be looking at Winchester in the future."

The rumours started when Honey + Harvey logos were spotted, however the adverts have been confirmed as simple window dressing, and came about as Gentian recently invested into the coffee firm.

Gentian also part-owns Winchester Bakery, that is due to open later this year in the nearby corner unit, formerly occupied by the West Cornwall Pasty Company.

The former Pure Home Furnishing unit, number 18/19, is owned by St John’s Winchester, a charity that owns several buildings in Winchester city centre.

Gentian had been given permission from St John's to place tables and chairs on the pavement in the front of the property, subject to a pavement licence, and as part of this agreement it put the adverts for its new business venture in the window.

A spokeswoman for St John's confirmed that the unit is currently under offer, and that plans are in place for its future, although the premises is not being sold to Honey + Harvey or Gentian, despite the posters.

As well as a UK-wide property portfolio and hospital retail arm, Gentian has many interests in Winchester.

It recently bought the building occupied by Fatface in the High Street, and it owns shops leased to Mountain Warehouse, Seasalt, Closs & Hamblin and Rick Stein Seafood Restaurant.

SEE ALSO: Fat Face, Winchester, building bought by Gentian Developments

Honey + Harvey started in 2011 and currently has coffee shops in Woodbridge and Melton in Suffolk, with plans for an Ipswich shop to open next month.

The business has won numerous awards, including being named one of The Independent’s Top 50 Coffee Shops in the UK in 2013.

Across the street in The Square, the former Slug and Lettuce building is also preparing for change, making way for Thai restaurant, Giggling Squid, which intends to arrive late spring, early summer 2022.

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