New Chairman for City Centre Business Group (17/12/2015)

CrownGate Shopping Centre’s Manager Erica Burlace has been chosen as the new Chairman of the Worcester Business Improvement District (BID).

She replaces Nicki Williams, Vice Principal at Heart of Worcestershire College who had been at the helm since the BID began in April 2010 and who remains on the Board of Directors.

A member of the Steering Group which set up the BID since 2008, Ms Burlace has been an active Board Director and supporter of the projects that the BID has delivered. She added ‘I am delighted to be taking on the reins from Nicki who did a fantastic job. This is an important role for the city centre and I remain committed to ensuring that BID businesses are in a position to maximise the opportunities created for them within the business plan. I hope to drive forward and continue to improve communication between the BID and businesses; Ensuring that the outcome of the projects reflects the real business needs. Worcester BID has made a difference in ensuring that the city remains a vibrant and attractive location for residents, customers, existing businesses and new investors. There is a real sense of forward momentum amongst Worcester businesses at the moment which we need to harness and positively manage the challenges ahead.’

The BID have delivered a range of projects in the last 5 years including new fingerpost signage, paying for parking by phone, running events such as the Motor and Foodie Festivals, reducing insurance and utility bills, and were instrumental in ensuring that Worcester’s businesses didn’t suffer post floods with their national award winning #open4business campaign last year.

Other appointments to the BID Board of Directors are Richard Broomhead, owner of Chocolate Deli in New Street and Yasmin Fard who owns 23 Knots on the High Street. Both will represent the views of independent retailers in their new voluntary roles.

 

ENDS

For any enquiries, please contact Adrian Field on 01905 731612 or email adrian.field@worcesterbid.com

 

Enjoy free festive entertainment in Worcester (11/12/2015)

 

Discover your independents & enjoy free festive entertainment (01/12/2015)

Businesses & Customers Get the Whole Picture (25/11/2015)

 

Existing and new customers and clients of Worcester city centre firms are set to see what the inside of the entire business looks like without stepping into it thanks to an innovative new photography project.

 

50 businesses have taken advantage of an offer organised by Worcester BID who have fully funded the scheme to have shops, pubs, cafes and offices be photographed to allow users a 360 degree view in an attempt to help give people a flavour of what they sell and the type of premises they are before they physically venture in.

 

The response to the scheme has already been met with huge approval from participating businesses. Rick Johns, owner of Kingsway English Centre in Foregate Street added ‘we are delighted. This is a fantastic means of showcasing to our foreign customers what facilities we have before they book a course with us. It will give them confidence and comfort in knowing that they will be learning in a venue which they will have already had a really good view of. As well as improving search engine optimisation, it will be of great benefit to our business and I suspect many more besides.’

 

Head of Worcester BID, Adrian Field added ‘By bulk buying the time to have 50 businesses photographed rather than being undertaken individually, we have managed to save £6,500 in total and businesses themselves will have saved an average of around £250. Businesses have already come back to us saying that has helped to raise awareness of what they are all about and that it has generated sales and future bookings. Demand has been such that we will look at allocating more funding towards this in the next financial year.’

 

The scheme has launched during the BID’s Uniquely Worcester campaign which aims to showcase the variety and quality of the city’s independent businesses and a gallery of the 360 degree shots of the participating businesses can be found at www.worcesterbid.com/google-business-view

Polar Bear is a great hit with Christmas shoppers (23/11/2015)

Worcester welcomed a special visitor from the Arctic on Saturday as part of the city centre’s street entertainment programme. Hundreds of visitors flocked to CrownGate Shopping Centre to meet Bjorn, the animatronic polar bear and were impressed with the real life likeness of the bear, its authentic movements and wealth of information about the animal.

 
The experience was brought to the city centre by Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) on behalf of Worcester City Council, who are coordinating a whole series of festive entertainment on late night shopping Thursdays and Saturdays in the weeks running up to Christmas.

 
Nadja von Dahlen, Worcester BID Marketing and Events Manager said “Bjorn the polar bear has proven to be a great hit with Christmas shoppers. It was the first time we brought such an act to Worcester and visitors of all ages were fascinated by the polar bear experience. It’s all about making the Christmas shopping experience a truly memorable treat and we have plenty more exciting entertainment coming up to make visitors want to return to Worcester to shop, eat and play”.

 
Traditional chimney sweeps brought a smile to shoppers’ faces throughout the city centre and helped to ensure businesses looked their best for the festive season. Visitors also enjoyed having their fun photos taken with seasonal props at the free ‘Christmas in Worcester’ photo booth in The Shambles. The free photo booth will return to the city from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 5th December at The Hive, on Saturday 12th December at Reindeer Court and on Saturday 19th December at CrownGate.

 
The entertainment programme also features a variety live music, including traditional carol singing and acoustic sessions, on Thursdays and Saturdays at the CrownGate Performance Corner (Food Quarter), Reindeer Court, High Street and other city centre locations.

 
Sara Matthews, CrownGate Shopping Centre Marketing Manager said “We hope that the Performance Corner entertainment will encourage shoppers to stay for longer and create an enhanced atmosphere in an already bustling area of the centre. If it proves to be a popular feature, we would look to repeat the concept throughout the year. It’s a great platform for local performers to showcase their talents in a very busy area of Worcester”.

 
On Thursday last week, the first late night shopping Thursday, footfall counters showed a 7% increase compared to the same night last year and a 39% increase compared to the same night the week before, based on footfall between 5pm and 9pm.

 
Saturday also saw the second busiest ever usage of the RingGo scheme since launching over 5 years ago. 668 people chose to use the paying to park by mobile phone scheme, which also allows users to extend their stay conveniently without having to return to their cars whilst out and about enjoying their stay in Worcester.

 
Forthcoming entertainment highlights include real reindeer at Reindeer Court’s new Winter Festival on Saturday 5th December, a penguin family and magical LED dancers on Saturday 12th December and a giant snow globe with acrobats on Saturday 19th December.

 
Visitors can also take advantage of special parking offers on Thursdays and Sundays when planning their visit to Worcester this Christmas. For further parking offer and entertainment details explore www.christmasinworcester.com or visit #ChristmasInWorcester on social media.

Pop into Worcester this Christmas (10/11/2015)

Pop into Worcester this Christmas and put the magic, delight and romance back into those precious few weeks running up to Christmas.

Worcester’s historic timber-framed buildings and winding streets are home to independent shops and provide a setting from a bygone age that contrasts beautifully with the city’s high street and shopping centres which are home to some of the UK’s leading retailers. Combined with quality restaurants, pubs and cosy café bars you can enjoy a heart-warming Christmas welcome again and again because once upon a time is never enough.

Visit Worcester city centre prior to the big day and you’ll find some of the very best shopping in the country, and the perfect places to ‘eat, drink and be merry’.

Shop at unique independent stores, make the most of the big High Street names, take a luxurious midday break with coffee and cake and then, after exploring even further, why not extend your stay and treat yourself to a delicious meal in one of the city centre’s many tempting eateries?

And with late night shopping on Thursday evenings when many shops will be open until 8pm, convenient, affordable parking and everything within easy walking distance, it’s a unique experience that’s so much more pleasant than spending long hours searching fruitlessly online or battling your way through an anonymous and overcrowded retail park!

Don’t forget about the city’s amazing festive events, starting with the Christmas Lights Switch-on on Saturday 14th November, followed by the Arrival of Father Christmas on Sunday 15th November and the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th November.

On Thursdays from 4pm and on Saturdays, from 19^th November onwards, there will also be a whole host of magical and free street entertainment for all the family throughout the city centre. Watch community choirs singing festive carols, be amazed by acrobats performing enchanting acts in a giant snow globe, participate in a shadow puppetry workshop, see live reindeers and take a family picture in the pop-up Christmas photo booth. Don’t miss the sparkling performances by LED dancers, meet Bjorn the friendly polar bear and make friends with the lovely penguin family!

Take a look at the fully packed entertainment and event schedule and find out more about special parking offers at www.christmasinworcester.com.

You’re invited to come to Worcester for a fun-filled festive programme to shop, eat and play this November and December! It’s all about making your Christmas shopping experience as easy as possible and a truly memorable treat. We’re sure that you will want to come back again, as visiting Worcester only ‘once upon a time’ is never enough.

Retail relief for Friar Street traders (09/11/2015)

Businesses in one of Worcester’s most historic streets are breathing a sigh of relief after the completion of the roadworks at Cathedral Square.

Some of the 40 firms in Friar Street which includes pubs, boutiques, cafes and hairdressers as well as the Tudor House Museum have been hit hard by the temporary long diversion route which has been in place for over a month but they are now hopeful that the new road layout will reap rewards after it opened for the first time today (Tuesday).

 

The roadworks have made it hard for traffic coming in from City Walls Road, London Road and Bath Road to access the road and their on street parking. Footfall and spend has declined during the period.

 

‘It has been frustrating’ admitted owner of 25 Boutique, Becky Sutcliffe ‘but hopefully it will have been short term pain for a long term gain. We are all keen to ensure to our loyal as well as new customers that it is now business as usual in this beautiful street as we head towards Christmas. With the recent news that the city is looking to gain Heritage City status, what we must now seek is increased provision for coach dropping off areas for our visitors which has been lost because of the redevelopment of the Cathedral Square island whilst appreciating that it was only an unofficial dropping off point.’

 

Kate Oliver, Manager at menswear retailer Pockets in Friar Street added ‘there is no excuse not to access Friar Street now which is great news. The next 6 weeks are crucial for any business and so we are really pleased that getting to Friar Street and visiting all of our wonderful businesses is back to normal with free limited stay on street parking.’

 

Worcester BID have also brokered a deal that allows businesses to give out discounted NCP car park passes for the neighbouring Cathedral Square car park to their customers when they spend over a certain amount. Hazel Shepherd, the BID Business Liaison Manager added ‘we are very keen to support the traders in what is one of Worcester’s iconic streets and NCP were delighted to put together a package that works for them and the businesses next door.’

 

8 businesses in Friar Street have also signed up to provide exclusive offers for the Uniquely Worcester campaign also being led by the Worcester BID which aims to promote the quality and variety of the city’s 330 independent businesses. A further 9 offers are available in nearby Charles Street, New Street and Pump Street with the offer cards available at a host of businesses in the city centre. Full details are available at www.uniquelyworcester.com

 

Festive parking offers for Christmas shoppers (09/11/2015)

Festive shoppers have been given an early Christmas gift by Worcester City Council – free parking on Thursday evenings and a great deal on Sundays too!

Shoppers taking advantage of late night opening in city shops on Thursday evenings will be able to park free of charge after 6pm from Thursday 19 November up to and including 24 December.

And starting on Sunday 6 December shoppers will be able to pay for two hours on Sundays and get the rest of the day free.  This offer will run up to and including Sunday 20 December.

Both offers apply to all council car parks with the exception of The Cornmarket, from Thursday 26 – Sunday 29 November, as it will be closed on this day for the annual Victorian Christmas Fayre.

Cabinet member for Economic Prosperity Cllr Marc Bayliss said: “Worcester has a really vibrant Christmas retail offer so it’s great news for shoppers, visitors and businesses that we’re offering free parking for late night opening on Thursdays and greatly reduced fees for parking on Sundays. “These great offers will draw in people from far and wide to pop into Worcester this Christmas.”

The City Council owns the following car parks:

Copenhagen St
Cornmarket (offer excludes 26 November when access will be closed off)
Providence St
Cattle Market
King St
Newport St
St. Martins Gate
Clare St
Commandery Rd
Pitchcroft
The Moors (Sunday offer only as car park is not available to the public on Thursdays)
Tybridge St
Tallow Hill
Croft Road (offer does not apply for lorries and coaches)

 

ENDS

 

Press release by Worcester City Council

For further information please contact:

Rob Byrne

Communications & PR Manager

Worcester City Council

Tel: 01905 722409

rob.byrne@worcester.gov.uk

Time to judge Reindeer Court for yourself (07/11/2015)

One of Worcester’s most beautiful commercial centres is riding the crest of a wave and is set for a seasonal extravaganza to show it all off to new and existing customers.

 

Reindeer Court, which has 26 units, is 25 years old this year and has welcomed 7 new businesses in the past 12 months, and they are among those pulling together to showcase their offer in a seasonal spectacular:

 

• Iapetus
• Worcester Guitar Centre
• Hide ‘n Geek
• Casa Madali
• Amore
• Octubre 21^st
• Alexanders

Lynda Case who has run Rock Follies Vintage for 3 years was quick to praise the new additions. ‘You have a sense that the new businesses are here to stay as they are really well run, look great and have staff who are just so passionate and knowledgeable about their products. Reindeer Court is so vibrant and if people haven’t been for a while we urge them to explore this area – it is brilliant news for the city, locals and tourists.’

 

‘We are delighted to have had such a positive start to trading in this area’ added Anna Brook, Owner of Iapetus which also has a shop in Malvern. ‘A lot of the traders have realised that by collaborating on a number of projects, we will all benefit. The enthusiasm shown at our new regular tenants meetings is helping to raise awareness of just how good Reindeer Court as a destination is.’ Her comments come as the traders have collectively signed up to a range of entertainment as part of their new ‘Winter Festival’.

 

On Thursday 3^rd December between 5 and 8pm, there will be traditional carol singing from 5pm, and you can take part in a Count the Reindeer competition to win a hamper of goodies worth over £200. Saturday 5^th December between 11 and 4pm sees real reindeer in the centre with the opportunity to have photos taken with them!

 

On Saturday 12^th December anyone is invited to visit the special Christmas photo booth in Alexander’s Bar at the Reindeer Court entrance. Props, costumes and silliness await, and can be shared online afterwards! At approximately 3pm a family of roving penguins will also be present! Finally, a magician will be performing at 2.30pm on Saturday 19^th December.

 

Until 5^th December, 8 Reindeer Court businesses are providing exclusive offers as part of their commitment to supporting the Worcester BID’s campaign to promote independent businesses entitled Uniquely Yours. They are out of 56 being promoted to help highlight the range of smaller businesses throughout the city centre. The offers are available at outlets throughout the city centre (just look out for the posters) and can be viewed at www.uniquelyworcester.com

 

Nadja von Dahlen, Marketing and Events Manager at the campaign organiser’s Worcester BID added ‘this is an area of the city centre which is particularly on the up because there have been some wonderful businesses whose owners are really keen to get involved as a community and they have presented their shops quite beautifully. If you want to do your bit and support independent businesses, a visit to Reindeer Court is now definitely a must.

 

More information on Reindeer Court, which is accessed from The Shambles, Mealcheapen Street and New Street is available at www.reindeercourt.com or via www.facebook.com/reindeercourt or www.twitter.com/reindeer_court 

Georgie joins Mayor to launch Christmas in Worcester (04/11/2015)

Three-year-old Georgie Gibbs will join the Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Roger Knight, to switch on Worcester’s Christmas lights during a free festive family event in the city next week. The Worcester tot, who has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, is hoping to raise £60,000 so she can receive pioneering medical treatment in America. The Mayor invited Georgie and mum Clare, from St John’s, to help launch Christmas in Worcester on Saturday, November 14, after hearing about her campaign on Twitter.

 

Georgie will take centre stage with the Mayor to switch on the lights just before 6pm, rounding off an afternoon of free musical entertainment with bands on the Free Radio stage from 4pm. The Mayor said: “I’m delighted to have little Georgie by my side to switch on the Christmas lights. She undoubtedly deserves public support and I’m sure she will do a great job in helping launch Christmas in Worcester. It will give local people a chance to really get behind her campaign.” Georgia’s mum Clare said: “I’m thrilled that our little girl has been given this amazing opportunity to be involved in a fun and festive event in her home city.”

 

A city-wide partnership has come together to launch the city’s festive celebrations, with Worcester City Markets hosting a special two-day lights switch-on Christmas market in High Street. The festive market will take place on both Saturday and Sunday (November 14-15), creating a real buzz of activity and kick-starting the city centre’s Christmas shopping season. The event promises to be a fantastic festive curtain-raiser to the city’s Christmas celebrations, with Father Christmas arriving in the city centre and CrownGate shopping centre on Sunday, November 15. Join him from 12.45pm on Sunday for his parade along High Street to Friary Walk in CrownGate.

 

Over the festive period, Father Christmas and his Elf will be reading the wonderful story of The Nutcracker every Thursday to Sunday from November 15 until Christmas Eve. In between story times, children can visit Father Christmas to tell him their Christmas wishes. Children can also enjoy the free Nutcracker Trail along CrownGate’s Friary Walk and Chapel Walk, trying to spot giant nutcrackers.

 

Worcester’s famous Victorian Christmas Fayre will take place from Thursday, November 26 to Sunday, November 29. Around 200 stalls will fill the atmospheric streets of Worcester’s historic heart for the 23^rd annual event, promising shoppers all the colours, sounds and irresistible aromas of Christmas. Worcester Cathedral will hold its own Christmas Fayre in the Cloisters on Friday November 27 and Saturday November 28 from 10am to 4pm and on Sunday November 29 from 12.30 to 3.30pm. The Cathedral will also be hosting a Festival of Christmas Trees from Saturday December 4 to Sunday January 3 2016 from 9am to 6.30pm. Admission is free but visitors will be able to make donations.

 

So pop into Worcester this Christmas and don’t miss out on all the festive action. For details of all events and activities taking place across Worcester city centre visit www.christmasinworcester.com

 

 

 

 

ENDS

Press release by Worcester City Council

For further information please contact:

Rob Byrne, Communications & PR Manager, Worcester City Council

Tel: 01905 722 409

Email: rob.byrne@worcester.gov.uk