IMPORTANT MEETING THIS WEEK WITH ACTION GREATER BEDMINSTER
BEDMINSTER'S SHOPS IN 2030: WILL THEY STILL BE HERE?
Or will it just be Amazon and faceless corporations?
22nd November 2018 6.30pm (for 7pm sharp) until 9pm
Hen & Chicken, North Street, BS3 1JF
We need you! Bedminster's businesses, residents and community groups are invited to help us shape the next five years of the BID. What do you want from your high streets? Does it matter? Do you care?
We do. If you do too, join us for a couple of hours to hear and offer opinions about how businesses, residents, community groups and public authorities can work together to ensure the future of Bedminster's retail and leisure streets at the heart of this great community.
Clearly this is an opportunity for the BID and all businesses to engage with their local customer base and we hope come up with some great new ideas around what will help us continue improving the offer for residents and visitors alike.
https://www.facebook.com/events/707244189633121/
No need to book – please just come along.
£M FUND ANNOUNCED FOR EAST STREET - CHRISTMAS MUST BE COMING!
You may have noted some rare good news in terms of government funding with the announcement by the new combined authority of a £10m fund to help high streets and the decision by Bristol to make East Street a pilot - please click here for more.
FESTIVE UPDATES:
With lots of festive preparation underway we thought it would be good for a little update and shout out for input or help were appropriate.
Christmas Tree Illuminations: To celebrate the BIDs return we have taken the opportunity to give our large pavement trees, which reside on North St and West, a bit of much needed love and attention. Taking inspiration from none other than Paris’s Champs-Elysées we will be be creating a little something extra for this years tree illuminations.
Winter Lantern Parade: Bedminster’s hugely iconic and much-loved Winter Lantern Parade
returns for its seventh year. Expect the biggest and best lantern parade yet as the entertainment starts on the traffic free route from 4pm, followed by the spectacular display of lanterns of all shapes and sizes. Saturday 8th December, 4:00pm – 8:00pm, North St.
East Street Festive Illuminations: The the first time in many years we will be creating festive illuminations running down East St. Due to the nature of the road these have been designed to complement the changing architecture and utilise the nooks and crannies the buildings create. East St property owner have been very supportive of this project and we are excited to see the lights turned on for the East St Fair 1st Dec.
West St Carols: Head on down to West Street and spread some Christmas cheer. The Bedminster Citadel Salvation Army Band will be on hand, providing a glorious festive backdrop and with mince pies and mulled wine, what’s not to love! Tuesday 18th December 6pm – 7pm, Mezzaluna, West St.
North Street Nights: In its second year NSN has already got over 40 businesses proudly taking part and hopefully a few more joining in. Running Thursday 6th, 13th and 20th Dec we will see North St Green being used for community festive fun, while the shops keep their doors open till 8pm for all Christmas shopping needs. The North St Nursery has kindly got involved to host a Santa’s Grotto (6th and 13th) and Elf Post office (20th) - Jocelyn is still searching for a Santa so please get in touch if you know of anyone with previous experience of being the big man himself.
Gift Guide: Thank you to everyone who sent in gifts for this years guide. The A5 pamphlet is jam packed with a wide range of Christmas goodies that will be distributed with the next edition of the South Bristol Voice. With 20K copies going out this year we hope to promote the variety of products available from our local stores. Have a sneaky peak HERE.
Santas Letters: Building on the success of last years Santa letters we have enlisted a community of older Elves to hand write responses to local children. Letters posted between 1st - 15th Dec in any of the post boxes, which can be found on East St, West St and North St Green, will be ready for collection from The Elf Post Office (20th Dec). If you or anyone you know would like to join our Elf army to help with responses please contact Jocelyn - this years head Elf - for more details.
OTHER NEWS
EAST STREET ROAD CLOSURE - NEXT TUESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER (2-3 HOURS ONLY)
Please note the council have contacted us to inform us that East Street will be closed for a short period next week for the installation of Metrobus ticket machines. If you have any questions please contact Ian Maggs, Bristol City Council on 0117 922 2911, Ian.maggs@bristol.gov.uk
WORKSPACE FOR EVENTS - COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNITY
North Gallery Workspace, a new contemporary arts space offering artist and hot-desking opportunities, has recently opened on North St. Shaped by the local community its newly renovated facilities offer a space for a variety of creative and educational pursuits. The space lends itself to community and consumer facing activities alike. If as local businesses you are looking to host events big or small please get in contact with them to find out more details on how they might support you.
GET INVOLVED IN THE BID
If you are interested in becoming more closely involved with the BID, we are an informal, friendly group, whose basic duties are to direct spending for the BID and Town Team. The BID Board meets 6pm on the first Tuesday of each month. Please do get in touch if you'd like to get involved. Alternatively a marketing (and arts, culture) group meets on the last Monday of every month also at 6pm and a Built Environment Group on the first Tuesday monthly at 4pm (please see our calendar here). Alternatively if you prefer drop us a line or telephone us for a chat to discuss any ideas you have that you think the BID should be pursuing.
About the Business Improvement District
Bedminster BID funding is generated via a small levy on all eligible businesses in the area and paid into a central 'kitty' in November each year, to be spent on projects that benefitBedminster businesses.
Our stated priorities are to:
Create vibrant streets that excite and delight
Market and promote Bedminster
Reduce crime and improve the shopping environment
Advocate and lobby for Bedminster business interests
Drive down costs
Further Information
Business to business news: www.bedminster.org.uk/business
Customer facing website and social media:
https://www.bedminster.org.uk/
www.facebook.com/bedminsterbristol.bs3
Contacts
George Grace - business@bedminster.org.uk
Jocelyn Wellby - northst@bedminster.org.uk
Simon Dicken (Wilko) - man242@wilko.co.uk
Stef Brammar (AGB) - stef.brammar@way-out-west.org
Ben Barker - benbarker@blueyonder.co.uk
We are most grateful to local accountants Tyrrell Procter and communications experts Plaster for their generous pro bono contributions to our activities.