Get to know your hosts – Jayesh and Nisha

This is the story of how Jay and Nisha, Undermill and Nisa, came to be…

(1 Undermill is their Holiday Home and Nisa is their local shop! )

Jayesh was born in Kenya, and spent his childhood there until at the age of 10, he was sent to India to receive his secondary education. Jay excelled in India and earned himself a place on a degree course in the United Kingdom to study Building Engineering Management. 

During his years at University in Brighton, in addition to property development, Jay developed two passions. The first – A deep love of the South Downs National Park. And the second – Retail!  When asked why he named his company Paradise Community Stores, Jay said:

“When I was at Uni I used to drive around the South Downs at the weekends with my friends, and I always felt it was like Paradise. We named our company after that experience.”

His journey in retail began with part time jobs in the Duty Free departments of Gatwick airport, which helped fund his way through college. Shortly after graduating while Jay worked for an import / export company, he and his friends bought their first property as a renovation project. When they had transformed it they let it out for a few years, then sold it and bought two more. The two new properties were completely demolished and rebuilt, these remain in Jay’s portfolio. 

While all that was occurring another significant thing happened – Jay was introduced to Nisha, a beautiful Indian girl – it was love at first sight! Though Nisha was raised in India as well, they met in the UK. In 1995 they married and bought their first business together, a small corner shop in London. For six years Jay and Nisha worked to grow, learn and make their business a success. They also grew their family, introducing two beautiful daughters to the world.  But, still hankering for life in the South Downs National Park, Jay searched and eventually came across a new venture that would be perfect for them all – A home in Upper Beeding in sight of The South Down Hills, and a shop a short walk away, now known as Nisa Local, a flagship store in Hyde Square. 

That was 24 years ago. Since then Jay and Nisha have doubled the size of their store, grown their team, and made their shop an integral part of the village that many depend on. Through their development of Nisa, and their commitment to the local community they have been able to generously contribute to many local causes, fetes and festivities, charities and churches – They have sponsored both the schools, the under 15s football team, the cricket club, the local hub cafe which provides events and social engagements for the elderly. They even added the defibrillator in the old phone box! 

But that isn’t all… In all this time there have been several other shops and several other building transformations. When, after many, many years their neighbour passed on, Jay and Nisha undertook a new project, they bought his house and transformed it into two. One became a home for a local family.  The other, with the help of creative consultant Nikki Loy, was turned from an empty shell to a lovely comfortable stylish place to stay, and has become the first South Downs Holiday Home. 

And that dear reader, is where you join the story… If you wish to visit the South Downs National Park and stay in Upper Beeding (and buy Nisha’s incredibly yummy Samosas from their store) – this Lovely South Downs Town House is waiting for you. 

And Jay and Nisha, well they are working as hard as ever to be great hosts, provide a great service to the local community, whilst also pursuing the other entrepreneurial adventures and opportunities that life is offering them. 

Jay and Nisha look forward to welcoming you to Upper Beeding so we hope you will visit.