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Valentine's Day

Love Is In The Air This Valentine’s Day

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Love is in the air in Kidderminster town centre in the run up to Valentine’s Day. At Kidderminster BID we have been out looking for perfect presents and ideas for what to wear on the most romantic night of the year.

Vegan Friendly Boots – Available at New Look

We’re urging everyone to shop local. You will find everything you need in the town centre to spoil your loved one with the perfect Valentine’s Gift. Or why not treat yourself instead, there’s no reason why your gift can’t be from me to me.

If you’re going out on a hot date, there are plenty of great restaurants and pubs to choose from in Kidderminster.

We’ve seen some great outfits for you to wear too. If you can’t get glammed up on Valentine’s Day, then when can you?

Make Valentine’s Day 2022 the most romantic yet with help from B&M. You can shop their huge range of affordable Valentine’s gifts from perfumes for her, chocolate boxes and sweet treats- there’s something to keep everyone happy. Their heart lantern is a real bargain.

Heart Lantern – Available at B&M

If it’s beauty and fragrance you are looking for Boots in Weaver’s Wharf can help you show a bit of extra love.

Treating yourself to a dreamy Valentine’s outfit is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day so why not go along to New Look in Weaver’s Wharf. Love is in the air at M&S too, whether you are looking for something to wear, or want to celebrate by dining in with chocolates and thoughtful gifts.

Valentine’s Food & Drink – Available at M&S

Jewellery is a sure way to show a special someone how much they’re loved. At Warren James in Kidderminster, you’ll find jewellery to cherish forever at amazing prices you’ll love.

We found a fantastic Ted Baker bag at TK Maxx in Weaver’s Wharf, and we have been looking at gift sets there too.

Pixi Skincare – Available at Tkmaxx

It’s the perfect time of the year to show your love for the planet too. Kemp Hospice shop on Coventry Street and St Richard’s Hospice shop on the High Street are the ideal choice to re-use, re-purpose and recycle if you’re browsing for something to wear.

Make this a Valentine’s Day to remember by shopping in Kidderminster and you’ll be supporting our local businesses at the same time.   

Supporting Local Businesses

Kidderminster BID Urges Support For Local Businesses In 2022

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Kidderminster Business Improvement District is starting the year with optimism, and a call to people to support their local businesses.

There’s plenty to look forward to in Kidderminster in the year ahead.

The chancellor announced last year that Kidderminster would receive a further £17.9 million via the Levelling Up Fund, in addition to the £20.5 million Future High Streets funding awarded in December 2020.

The Levelling up funding is set to be invested in three key projects in Kidderminster Town Centre. And we are already starting to see the difference that it makes. It will enable significant changes to the Town Hall, ensuring its future as a major heritage asset, cultural space and events venue.

‘It’s great to see the Exchange Café already open at the Town Hall where people can meet, chat and eat,’ said BID Manager Alex Powell. ‘There’s also an arts activity space for workshops.’

The funding also means that the Piano Building, an empty listed building in the heart of Weavers Wharf will be brought back into use. The Levelling up funding will also finance a new walking and cycle pathway along the canal towpath in partnership with Worcestershire County Council.

Kidderminster is fortunate to have the connecting waterways and the investment is going to make a difference to both local people and visitors to the town centre.

‘Kidderminster BID is working hard to improve the town, both for local people and visitors.’ said Alex.

‘Our town centres have changed dramatically over the years. Even before COVID-19 our high streets nationally have been competing with large retail parks, out of town shopping centres and the ever-present online shopping and we’ve seen some much-loved household names disappear.

‘However, we feel confident that our local community really value our town centre businesses and want to support them.

‘Despite the increase in online shopping there are many people who like to shop in person. They want to have an experience too, maybe combining their shopping with a coffee or lunch. It is now more important than ever that we think twice about where we spend our money. By choosing Kidderminster town centre we’re actually making a difference to where we live and supporting our business community.’

The town has welcomed a new family burger restaurant 89th Street which opened in December at the Bull Ring. It is licensed and serves a range of cocktails and food, including vegetarian and vegan options in a stylish modern interior.

Creating a safe and secure town centre is also at the top of the agenda for Kidderminster BID this year. More than 60 businesses in Kidderminster have come together to focus on security and the town’s loss prevention officers have been having a real impact both dealing with offenders and providing a visible deterrent.

The BID is working in partnership with West Mercia Police to take the first steps towards Purple Flag accreditation and we continue to support a new Pubwatch in the town. The BID also co-ordinates the Cleaner, Safer Kidderminster multi-agency group, bringing together a range of local organisations who are all invested in improving our town centre.

‘We have a strong local business community in Kidderminster,’ said Alex. ‘All of us have a role to play in supporting them in 2022.’

business booster news

Business Booster: Save our high streets, towns and city centres!

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Here at Kidderminster BID we’re working alongside 100’s of other business improvement districts to ask for support to ensure the survival of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses across the UK. Since the rise in omicron cases, the impact has led to companies needing crucial financial assistance to survive the ongoing disruptions.

Among the #BusinessBooster campaign, we are calling for action from the Government to provide additional support in

What we re asking for:

100% business rate relief for the first three months of 2022 up to 31st March 2022. [no cap]

The VAT reduction should be extended through to the 31st March 2023 at 12.5% to allow the hospitality, retail and leisure sector to respond and support the re-emergence of the UK economy.

The Government to introduce grants up to £15,000 by rateable value to businesses within the hospitality, retail and leisure sector to enable them to survive in light of a festive trading period in tatters, a bleak outlook for the new year and the impending rent quarter date of 25th December 2021.

These are significant requirements that are needed to be put in place in order to give local businesses far and wide, the fighting opportunity to survive another gruelling period of uncertainty.

If we don’t act now our high streets, towns and city centres could be no more and the impact could be catastrophic so now we need everyone to come together and make sure this booster is implemented for the future recovery of our economy.

Read the full letter of proposal to the Prime Minister by clicking on the button below.

Download the letter here

FacesOfKidderminster Mark News

Faces of Kidderminster – Mark’s Jacket Potato Stand

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Mark Garamszegi is a well-known face in Kidderminster. His jacket potato stand has been in the town since the 1980s and some of his customers have been coming to him for over 30 years.

‘I look after them,’ said Mark, who is now 56. ‘If you look after your customers they always come back.’

Mark’s day starts around 6.30am. That’s when he begins setting up his mobile catering unit. The first customers arrive around 9am. Mark knows most of them and he knows what they want too. Cheese and beans and cheese and curry are amongst the most popular fillings.

Mark’s customers include staff in offices and shops in the town. ‘I do some passing trade but most of it is regular business,’ he said. ‘A lot of my customers have become friends. I have seen some customers grow up from being in the pushchair to becoming adults.’

Mark said the time has gone quickly. ‘You meet different people every day. It’s my living and I enjoy it,’ he said.

‘Kidderminster is a good town. The people are nice and friendly.’

Mark’s jacket potato stand is usually open Monday to Friday. When he is not at work, he enjoys gardening.

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