“I DESCRIBE my wares as all the things you never knew you needed or wanted until you come in for a look.”
Emma Holmes has always been drawn to interesting, quirky objects, and has filled her home with them. Now she is passing on her love of eye-catching items to others through her eclectic interiors shop Bridge 22, our Telegraph & Argus Trader of the Week.
She opened the shop, in Cleckheaton, in 2018 with her husband Dan
“It was a leap of faith and happened by accident when Dan passed the shop one day and saw it was to let. He came home and asked me ‘do you fancy running a shop?’
“As soon as I walked inside I fell in love with it. We took the gamble and decided to bring our quirky style of home interiors to Cleckheaton - we made an unloved building into something special. Everyone loved looking in the windows to check out what we had.”
She adds: “We have always loved unusual items and looked for things that were more unique for our home. We often travelled far and wide to find shops selling quirky things.”
Emma confesses to being nervous about the venture.
“It was daunting at first putting my taste on show for all to see, but I didn't need to worry - the people of Cleckheaton and beyond have loved us and supported us from day one. "Over the past five years my confidence has grown and we have stocked all sorts of weird and wonderful things so our customers can furnish their homes, allowing their individual personalities to shine through.”
The original shop was at 22 Westgate, under the bridge - hence the name.
Says Emma: “We loved the position on the main road, nestled under the bridge, but in 2023, needing more space, we moved not far away to Railway Street and took the name with us.
"The new shop also offers better facilities such as parking close by and is in the main town so is more accessible to our regular shoppers.”
In the new premises the couple opted for a more modern, striking look. “We went for a funky style, adding bright pops of colour as a backdrop for our products. Having a new space to style was so much fun and my crazy ideas came together well in the end. The bigger space has enabled us to experiment with new products - we now have a fabulous jewellery range and some beautiful chinaware, perfect for gifting.”
The couple, who live in Heckmondwike, use UK- based suppliers who source items from across the globe. “I have lots of suppliers and cherry-pick from all of them to ensure we have a unique mix of stock," says Emma. "Everything is my own taste - if I wouldn't have it in my own home, I won't buy it for the shop."
She adds: “Our home has definitely filled out since owning the shop - it is so hard to resist. We recently had a new kitchen project which was styled around the furniture and accessories I wanted in it.”
Emma works in the shop alongside her "right-hand woman" Claire Whitehead, who runs The Bridge in Emma's absence.
The pair love creating displays. “This is the best part, along with deliveries - myself and Claire are like kids in sweet shop unpacking new stock.”
Over the years Emma and Dan have worked with shops, bars, hairdressers and restaurants to help furnish their businesses with unusual items and compliment their unique style.
“We have lots of regulars - we are their first call when looking for something quirky, whether it’s for their home or a gift. If we don't have what our customers are looking for we try and source the right product for them.
“Customers travel to see us, or order via social media. Those who live further away send family members to collect if they live nearby. Due to the nature of our products we can't always post them but we will if we can.”
Accessories are the key to finishing off any space, says Emma. “My home is filled with anything and everything; if I love it, I find a space for it. Even the most minimally-styled homes need a few key accessories to finish off the space. We often have larger statement pieces as well as smaller items. I am positive we have something for everyone as our styles range from industrial to classic metallics.”
Emma loves meeting customers and hearing about their projects. “Many send me photos of our wares in their homes, which always delights me,” she says. “We usually stock small quantities of most items. Our products look different in each setting - that’s what the shop is all about, creating homes to reflect individual personalities.”
The couple are enjoying being in their new premises and never stop searching for new, exciting products.
“We have loved every minute of our journey in Cleckheaton and we have made lots of new friends through the shop. We are excited to see what the future holds for Bridge 22," says Emma.
“It really is a dream to be surrounded by all my beautiful homewares - I would take it all home if I could.”
*Bridge 22, 7 Railway Street, Cleckheaton BD19 3HR, is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30 until 4pm.
*Bridge 22 has a Facebook site.
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