News from Altrincham BID

Record-breaking year for the annual Goose Green Festival with over 4,650 visitors in one day

The fourth annual Goose Green Festival was yet again a massive hit with a record-breaking attendance on Saturday with over 4,650 visitors enjoying the music festival in the heart of Altrincham and despite rainfall on the Sunday, just short of 2,000 festival-goers came along.

Peter Luby from Costello’s bar said: “Overall the weekend was buzzing, Saturday was the busiest trading day ever for Costello’s and we have loved being part of the Festival.”

The event, organised by Altrincham’s Business Improvement District (Altrincham Unlimited), and Goose Green traders, also helped raise money for the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust (CAFT) who provide holidays and activities for terminally ill, chronically sick, disabled and disadvantaged children. Nearly £1000 was raised for the charity at the festival.

The music acts for the weekend included Dancing on Tables, whose latest EP has just passed a million streams on Spotify; Corella who next month plays alongside Franz Ferdinand at the British Sound Project; Apollo Junction who played the Isle of Wight Festival this year; an Altrincham favourite Jess Kemp who was also playing Manchester Pride at the weekend, and also Izzie Walsh who was fresh from the Bluedot Festival.

Great British High Street Awards

Altrincham Unlimited with Trafford Council have entered the town into the Great British High Street Awards 2018.

These Awards recognise and celebrate local achievements on our high streets which support the communities in which we live and work.

Shortlisting is currently underway, and voting will open once the shortlisted high streets have been announced later on this month.

We'll keep you posted via social media!

Dog Friendly Altrincham Awards

Altrincham Unlimited have also entered the town in the Dog Friendly Awards. These Awards provide an opportunity to recognise and reward dog friendly places and pet businesses that go the extra mile for the benefit of the UK’s 9.4 million dogs and their owners. Winners of the Dog Friendly Awards in each of the categories are chosen by public vote.

There’s still time to nominate your business. Voting closes on 30th September!

Vote for Altrincham or nominate your business here

The Future of the High Street #Altrincham2030

Altrincham Unlimited, Altrincham's Business Improvement District, recently hosted a workshop on the future of the high street on behalf of the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University. The town was one of just four places in the country invited to hold a workshop looking at the high street of tomorrow in a government-supported study. The session was run on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, who have responsibility for policy on town and city centres.

Representatives from High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP's department and Sir John Timpson attended.

Altrincham was chosen for the workshop as it is an exemple of a town that has developed a long-term strategy to address the challenges facing the high street, and has adopted a way of working that involves many different groups and interests.

The workshop provided a great opportunity for participants to share their experiences, concerns and ideas on making high streets and Altrincham better; not only to show what we are doing but also to highlight challenges directly to government.

Retailer's & Café's BID Forum

A reminder that the Retailer’s and Café’s BID Forum will take place on Wednesday 26th September.

The purpose of the forum is for the BID to update you on all the events coming up over the Autumn and Winter so that you can maximise the opportunities for your business.

Wednesday 26th September
5.30-6.30pm
Orangetheory Fitness (Pop-up), 22 George St, WA14 1SF

HS2 - what does it mean for your business?

Each major contract to build HS2 will result in 10,000s of opportunities in the supply chain, with 60% of contracts expected to be awarded to SMEs.

If you have any questions about HS2 from its construction to how the contracts will be awarded, come along and find out more.

Tuesday 18th September
5.30-6.30pm
Cresta Court Hotel, WA14 4DP

Amazing Altrincham!

To coincide with the switch-on of the Stamford New Road tree fairy lights later this month, a project funded by Altrincham Unlimited, The BID is launching a social media campaign called ‘Amazing Altrincham’!

As the nights draw in, we’ll be shining a light on some of the amazing but unsung people who quietly make an incredible contribution to the town whether through volunteering, through their day job or through some incredible act of kindness or bravery.

Most you’ll never have heard of because they rarely talk about what they do but behind the scenes these people make Altrincham a better place to work, visit and live.

Not surprisingly, the list is already long, but we’d love to hear from you if you’d like to nominate someone as we will be running this campaign again in the Spring, email: info@altrinchamunlimited.co.uk

Halloween half-term fun!

A reminder that this Halloween Altrincham will play host to a spooky family town trail. We still have a few spaces for businesses and shops to host clues for the trail. Previously this has proved to be a great way of encouraging footfall throughout the town and enabling business and shops to reach out to new customers. The trail will include 15 businesses and inclusion will be on an order of request basis.

The trail will be themed around Altrina, Altrincham’s Good Witch and promises to bring lots of families into the town over the October half-term break, there will also be spooky silent discos for children (280 families expected), family ghost tours and ghost tours aimed at adults. The ghost tours have been designed by Jonathan Schofield who is also responsible for the successful ‘Explore Altrincham’ walking and pub tours.

If your business or shop would like to host a clue in the trail, please do let us know by emailing info@altrinchamunlimited.co.uk.

'Shoptober'
Digital Campaign

Shoptober is a social media campaign which will run for the month of October. This year we'll showcase great examples of 'in shop' experiences to support the trend that shopping is increasingly becoming a leisure activity. A few of the great examples in Altrincham include:

Real Buzz advice on running technique.
Waterstones host fabulous events.
Vintage Angel offer 'shabby chic' furniture advice.
Dawsons offer guitar re-stringing guidance.

The BID will highlight a business offering great experience each day in October.

Gran T's at Revo Manchester 2018

As a result of a shout out via the BIDs newsletter earlier in the year one of Altrincham's independent retailers has been selected to take part in the Revo Conference.

The conference, held in central Manchester, gives businesses the opportunity to connect with over 2,500 senior decision makers from across
the retail, property and placemaking industry.

Gran T's will be operating a 50 covers café in the center of the conference area - more great exposure for Altrincham!

‘Explore Altrincham’

Group Discounts for Businesses

The ‘Explore Altrincham’ Walking and Pub tours have been a complete sell-out in the first quarter with just under 70% of participants reporting that they also dined in Altrincham before or after the tour.

A reminder that there are many ways you can use the ‘Explore Altrincham’ walking, pub and ghost tours:

To entertain clients and show them the fabulous town you do business in
As a team building event
As a staff incentive or office party
As a networking event
As a social event for your club, alumni or group
As a gift

Discounts are available for group bookings. For more information email, info@altrinchamunlimited.co.uk

Key dates for Christmas 2018

Saturday 17th November – Christmas Lights Switch-on

Saturday 1st December – Lantern Parade

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