February has seen plenty of excitement as new businesses opened across Hertfordshire, but lots of sadness as beloved stores closed.
Here's seven businesses that opened or closed this month.
1. OneStop - Stevenage
A new OneStop has opened at the Kenilworth Close development off Hertford Road.
The store welcomed customers for the first time on February 15, selling a range of food and other daily essentials.
Residents near the development have been left without a neighbourhood shop for a number of years, since Stevenage Borough Council decided to demolished the previous buildings on the site in 2019. These included units occupied by K Express convenience store and Bragbury End News.
The redevelopment, overseen by SBC, includes the construction of 236 homes, several shops, a café and a community space. However, the council have refused to guarantee that a new community centre will also be built.
2. Priory Hotel - Hitchin
Hitchin Priory Hotel has reopened as a hotel again, after spending the past three years as an events-only venue.
The hotel is also now open to customers for its restaurant and bar, which have been revamped and are open for coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
Guests can book overnight stays at the hotel too, with double rooms, twin rooms, and family rooms containing a double and a single bed all available. They cost between £135 and £145 per night for two people and include breakfast in the morning.
A spokesperson for the hotel said: "We did so much work in the last few years to develop our products and services to ensure our guests can have a memorable experience, and we are committed to growing our products and services better and better.
"As a company, we have a more exciting plan for the future to grow stronger and stronger."
3. Scooperb - Hatfield
A vibrant new dessert shop has opened in Hatfield, serving delicious ice creams, waffles and crepes.
Bringing a burst of sweetness to the local culinary scene, Scooperb's 11th UK store is located in Unit 2 of the Roe Green Centre in Bishops Rise, Hatfield.
The menu boasts an array of mouthwatering options, from classic ice creams to trendy, Instagram-worthy desserts that will surely leave patrons craving for more.
the shop is owned and run by Priyanka Dave, Keta Patel and Bina Gadiya, who have been living in Hatfield for the past six years, and often travelled to other Scooperb locations for ice cream and desserts.
A company spokesperson said: "Once they found out Scooperb was offering franchisee opportunities they 100 per cent knew they needed to bring this to Hatfield."
4. PureGym - Hatfield
PureGym opened its newest site at The Galleria in Hatfield, with fitness fanatics set to flock to the new site.
The 12,000sqft facility will provide members with everything they need to reach their fitness goals including state-of-the-art equipment, weight lifting areas, fitness studios and classes.
Nine new jobs have been created by the gym's opening, with a PureGym spokesperson saying: "We are delighted to be bringing the UK’s favourite gym to Hatfield at a convenient location on The Galleria."
5. Wholesome Market - Welwyn Garden City
Wholesome Market, a new health food supermarket has opened in Welwyn Garden City.
The store has taken over the vacant former Academy Hair & Beauty unit in Fretherne Road, and offers "amazing organic produce", including fresh fruit and veg, as well as environmentally friendly food and home items.
A spokesman for Welwyn Garden City BID said: "The store sells organic products and produce including fresh fruit, veg and herbs, as well as a variety of everyday household products all organic and eco friendly."
6. Mr Simms - St Albans
Popular sweet shop chain Mr Simms has opened a branch in St Albans' The Maltings shopping area.
The store now occupies 52 The Maltings, sitting alongside Clipso hairdressers and the former calendar pop-up shop.
The chain is the same franchise as Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe, which had a store in the city from 2004 until 2017.
Bailiffs were called into the French Row store in February 2017 after then-tenants, Our Sweet Shop (St Albans) Limited, had been dissolved and rent was overdue.
Since then, the franchise has undergone a rebrand with a new logo and a "modern striking look".
7. Card Factory - London Colney
Card Factory has opened its new store in London Colney's Colney Fields Shopping Park.
The store sits alongside a new Greggs bakery, which is yet to open, and due to fencing still present around Unit 1 of Colney Fields Shopping Park, the Card Factory staff have been seen putting up banners to make it clear that the store is now open.
Card Factory also operates stores in St Albans, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Watford, Welwyn Garden City and Potters Bar nearby.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here