2023 has been a particularly tough year for many businesses, particularly those who are paying out of their own pocket to stay afloat.

The independent businesses of Reading have been fighting to stay alive this year, many taking a huge hit due to the ongoing cost of living crisis along with other uncontrollable factors.

However, many also remain hopeful for what 2024 will bring, whether that be new challenges that they will overcome, or planned new successes.

One such independent is Filter Coffee which opened earlier this year and is situated on Castle Street.

Owned by Mac DeSouza along with his mother and brother Alan Fernades, Filter Coffee Serves a unique blend of Arabica, Robusta, and chicory.

The café doesn’t only just serve excellent coffee, but fresh shakes, teas, and specialty snacks that all derive from a tiny town in Southern India called Mangalore.

Mr DeSouza said: ‘Not many people know about our town, but we have amazing food there.’

When asked about his plans for the coming year, Mr DeSouza explained that he is feeling hopeful that their success of 2023 will continue.

“We are pretty much looking to do the same thing and hope that it still works,” he said. “We’ve had so much positive feedback this year, it’s been great!”

Filter Coffee is hoping to increase its menu and has recently introduced some savoury treats after the booming success of its sweet pastries and buns.

He said: “The banana buns are still our best-seller, and they fly out the door every day. That’s why we are focussing more on savouries, like our ciabatta-style sandwiches.

“In terms of challenges for the new year, we need to spread the word out more. We already have done a few office lunches, but we plan to do more.”

Staff member and owner at Bellas Beauty Salon both Ramandeep Kaur and Jaswinder Kaur said that they are hoping to increase business in 2024.

Located on St Marys Butts, the brand-new salon opened its doors for the very first time on Friday November 24.

The salon offers a whole range of treatments from hair colouring and cuts, nail extensions and gels, eyebrow threading, waxing, lashes, and loads more.

Ms Kaur said: “We have plans to introduce even more treatments in 2024 and hope to include things like hot stone therapies and hydra-facials to our list of offers.”

Ms Kaur also said that business has been picking up since their opening due to them now being on Treatwell, an online system for customers to book beauty salon appointments.

“This makes it so much easier as people can book from home,” she said. “We are also hoping to introduce special vouchers, especially around New Year.”

However, unlike the rife optimism of many independents for 2024, some businesses in Reading have really felt the hit from 2023 and remain cautious about the year to come.

Staff member at FUNDA London in Broad Street Mall Krupa Patel said that she is unsure of what 2024 will bring for the store.

She said: “Business has not been very good since Wilko closed earlier this year as we have lost so much footfall.

“We are still waiting for more customers to come shopping here, but as you can see it is still very quiet.”

Mrs Patel said that she thinks business has been slow because of the cost-of-living crisis, and that people just don’t have the money at the moment to go shopping.

“I really hope 2024 is going to be a good year for us,” she said. “But who knows? Let’s just wait and see, shall we?”

The owner of But Is It Art on Queen Victoria Street Mr Steve Ball said that he is also unsure of what the new year will bring for his business.

“They are currently developing the courtyard behind our shop so there’s loads of scaffolding up at the moment,” he said.

“They have told us that once it is redeveloped, they do want us to stay, but the landlord may put the price up. So, at the moment it is really up in the air.

He continued: “We don’t know if we’ll be here for 2024.”