June has seen plenty of excitement as new businesses opened across Hertfordshire, but lots of sadness as beloved stores closed.
Here's five businesses that opened or closed this month.
1. Miller & Carter - Stevenage
Stevenage's new Miller & Carter Steakhouse restaurant is now open.
The restaurant has taken over the former Harvester on the Roaring Meg Retail Park in London Road, and welcomed customers earlier this month.
Following extensive refurbishment, Miller & Carter boasts a warm, modern new look, with seating for 136 people in sophisticated dining areas and an additional external terraced seating area perfect for alfresco dining.
Diners can choose from 14 steak cuts, including a Cote de Boeuf 28oz sharing steak, T-bone 20oz and award-winning fillet 8oz.
There are plenty of other delicious dishes for guests to enjoy, from the grilled salmon fillet and spicy buffalo wings, to the Miller’s Steakhouse Dirty Burger and the signature pan-roasted lamb rump.
There are also vegetarian options available including the spinach and camembert pithivier or the plant-based burger.
2. Leavened Bakery - Weston
Leavened Bakery, run by Izabela Stuchlik, opened in Stevenage Indoor Market in 2020, before expanding to the Old Town in May last year.
The business has now opened a bakery in Weston.
Izabela said: "After years of baking in the indoor market, we have finally settled in our new home on Lannock Farm in Weston.
"We are now a 'proper' bakery, with unlimited access to our space, which will allow us to cover some events, organise our own events and potentially open to wholesale."
3. Nook - Welwyn Garden City
A new coffee and bagel bar is set to open in Welwyn Garden City later this month.
Nook is taking over 66 Howardsgate, which has stood empty since Bedtime Beers closed last September, and is expected to open in June 17.
The business is owned by Casey Knowlden and Rob Joseph, who are both nervous and excited to launch their new venture.
"We've never done anything like this before," Casey told the Welwyn Hatfield Times.
"My husband's background is as an app developer so he's always done that as his own business, but we've never run a business like this.
"Rob loves coffee and I love the vibe in a good coffee shop, that community feel. We've always spoken about wanting to create that space, a place where everyone is welcome that feels friendly, inviting and comfortable.
"We've thought, why not try it, this place came up and we went for it. We are nervous, but very excited to open."
4. Mulligans - Hemel Hempstead
Opening in July, Mulligans is taking over and merging the former Jarman Square sites of Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquitos and Bella Italia.
Spread across 15,000sqft, there will be a custom-built, 18-hole crazy golf course, designed with a gaming theme and holes based on the likes of Monopoly, Lego and Hot Wheels, as well as holes themed around superheroes, dreams and toy shops.
And that's not all, as there will also be electro-darts, ping pong, pool, virtual reality games, deck shuffle and Mulligans’ largest arcade zone to date, which includes over 50 machines.
5. Three businesses in one - Hatfield
Cllr Shah opened Heleen Aesthetics, Icon Barbers and The Studio by Ruby Victoria.
Heleen Aesthetics offers facials, dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle treatments, vitamin injections and more, aiming to "enhance natural beauty, ensuring the customer achieves radiant, youthful skin".
Meanwhile Icon Barbers offers men's haircutting services, specialising in precision haircuts, classic and modern styles, beard grooming and tailored shaves, combining traditional barbering techniques with contemporary trends.
The Studio by Ruby Victoria offers invisible and celebrity weave, micro and nano rings and tape hair extensions.
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