We have been working hard over the past few weeks to deliver a series of projects and initiatives to support the town centre businesses. You will have been sent a copy of the April and May newsletter which details all the opportunities we have available. With over 600 businesses in the town centre, it’s always challenging to get information out to everyone and encourage businesses to engage and get involved with the projects, events and promotions we offer. If you have ideas, suggestions or would like to get know more about how you can benefit from the work Hitchin BID undertakes please get in touch.
H-Town Unlocked – 26th June from 10am
To celebrate the lifting of restrictions we are arranging a town wide event on Saturday 26th June from 10am. There will be various activities taking place throughout the town centre including live music, jugglers, stilt walkers and town trails. Please let us know if your business would like to do something special. Independent businesses can take stalls on the Market Place to either sell products or promote themselves with interactive activities. Shops are encouraged to run in-house events, have a stall outside the front or run an activity.
Pubs/Restaurants-We would love your venue to get involved so if you are holding an event during the day or in the evening, please let us know so that we can add you to our online & printed map. If you need a hand sourcing entertainers, live music or ideas to get involved please get in touch with: marketing@hitchinherts.com
Bucklersbury and Sun Street Day 24th July 12noon to 6pm
The first of many street days this year starts with Bucklersbury and Sun Street Day on Saturday 24th July from 12-6pm as part of Hitchin Festival. Both roads will be closed for this event which offers a great opportunity for all the businesses in this historic quarter of the town to showcase all that they have to offer and remind customers why it’s so important to support their local town. We’re keen to chat to all businesses in these areas to get plans underway about how you’d like to be involved and any ideas you have that will make the day a success. If you would like to get involved, please get in touch with: marketing@hitchinherts.com
Hitchin Beach – 3rd to 26th August 10am to 4pm
This year’s popular event will see a giant 10mx15m beach in Market Place for visitors to enjoy free of charge. There will be funfair rides and stalls at the top of the Market Place as well as deckchairs and a decking area. If you would like to run a children’s activity at anytime over this period, please get in touch with: marketing@hitchinherts.com
Hitchin FoodFest – 4th and 5th September 10am to 4pm
The Hitchin FoodFest is one of our most popular events and will be returning on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September. As well as our local eateries taking part, there will be the best in street food and drink, children’s activities and the ever-popular Taster Tent. If you would like to get involved or have a stall at this year festival, please get in touch with: marketing@hitchinherts.com
Hertfordshire High Street Recovery - Engagement
Earlier this week HCC issued a press release outlining the next steps for each of the high street and town centre sites where social distancing measures have now been in place for around 10 months. Across all sites they will shortly begin a period of public engagement seeking views on whether some schemes should be retained for a 12 - 18 month trial. For Hitchin, this survey is focusing on the parking restriction on High Street and Market Place as well as the closure of the High Street from 10am to 4pm 7 days a week. Please CLICK HERE to complete the form which will run between Monday 24 May and Sunday 20 June. If you would like more information or if you have questions please email: highstreetrecovery@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
New Rangers
We have recently taken on 2 new town centre Rangers. Leon Norton will be working Saturdays only and helping out around the town during events days this year. Geoff Pick will be working Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays with Bonnie and is on hand to support businesses. Please CLICK HERE to view the Hitchin BID team. To get in touch with the Rangers please contact: rangers@hitchinherts.com
Welcome Back Fund
We are working with NHDC on projects in the town centre that the Government’s Welcome Back Fund can be best used for. A meeting was held with a selection of businesses from an even spread of industries and geographical areas to better understand which projects are a priority. The first project which will be undertaken in the coming weeks is the removal of 137 pieces of graffiti from the town centre! For more information on this fund please get in touch with: tom.hardy@hitchinherts.com
New Town Centre and business website
Over the past year it has become apparent that the town needs to have a separate visitors’ website and business hub. The visitor site will be customer facing and offer information such as what’s on, eating, shopping, travel, and experiences. The business hub website will be dedicated to all the opportunities and support being offer by Hitchin BID. The hub will offer free training and information on how to get involved with events, meetings and the projects and initiatives being delivered in the town. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on this, please do get in touch.
Talking Tables
The Talking Tables initiative is designed to create environments which tackle mental health issues and social isolation. Particularly for people who feel isolated, they can be a great way to meet people and make connections. Participating venues display a poster in their window and people can ask for a card to display on their table to let people know they’re in a space where chatting is welcome. Mental health problems affect one in four of us, yet people are still afraid to talk about it. For people with mental health problems, not being able to talk about it can be one of the worst parts of the illness. Getting people talking about mental health can break down stereotypes, improve relationships, aid recovery and take the stigma out of something that affects us all. For people who are socially isolated, and lockdowns have increased the problem enormously, a friendly chat in a pub or café can be hugely beneficial. For more information and if you would like to support the Talking Tables scheme, please contact: info@hitchinherts.com
H-Town Unlocked – 26th June from 10am
To celebrate the lifting of restrictions we are arranging a town wide event on Saturday 26th June from 10am. There will be various activities taking place throughout the town centre including live music, jugglers, stilt walkers and town trails. Please let us know if your business would like to do something special. Independent businesses can take stalls on the Market Place to either sell products or promote themselves with interactive activities. Shops are encouraged to run in-house events, have a stall outside the front or run an activity.
Pubs/Restaurants-We would love your venue to get involved so if you are holding an event during the day or in the evening, please let us know so that we can add you to our online & printed map. If you need a hand sourcing entertainers, live music or ideas to get involved please get in touch with: marketing@hitchinherts.com
Bucklersbury and Sun Street Day 24th July 12noon to 6pm
The first of many street days this year starts with Bucklersbury and Sun Street Day on Saturday 24th July from 12-6pm as part of Hitchin Festival. Both roads will be closed for this event which offers a great opportunity for all the businesses in this historic quarter of the town to showcase all that they have to offer and remind customers why it’s so important to support their local town. We’re keen to chat to all businesses in these areas to get plans underway about how you’d like to be involved and any ideas you have that will make the day a success. If you would like to get involved, please get in touch with: marketing@hitchinherts.com
Hitchin Beach – 3rd to 26th August 10am to 4pm
This year’s popular event will see a giant 10mx15m beach in Market Place for visitors to enjoy free of charge. There will be funfair rides and stalls at the top of the Market Place as well as deckchairs and a decking area. If you would like to run a children’s activity at anytime over this period, please get in touch with: marketing@hitchinherts.com
Hitchin FoodFest – 4th and 5th September 10am to 4pm
The Hitchin FoodFest is one of our most popular events and will be returning on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September. As well as our local eateries taking part, there will be the best in street food and drink, children’s activities and the ever-popular Taster Tent. If you would like to get involved or have a stall at this year festival, please get in touch with: marketing@hitchinherts.com
Hertfordshire High Street Recovery - Engagement
Earlier this week HCC issued a press release outlining the next steps for each of the high street and town centre sites where social distancing measures have now been in place for around 10 months. Across all sites they will shortly begin a period of public engagement seeking views on whether some schemes should be retained for a 12 - 18 month trial. For Hitchin, this survey is focusing on the parking restriction on High Street and Market Place as well as the closure of the High Street from 10am to 4pm 7 days a week. Please CLICK HERE to complete the form which will run between Monday 24 May and Sunday 20 June. If you would like more information or if you have questions please email: highstreetrecovery@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
New Rangers
We have recently taken on 2 new town centre Rangers. Leon Norton will be working Saturdays only and helping out around the town during events days this year. Geoff Pick will be working Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays with Bonnie and is on hand to support businesses. Please CLICK HERE to view the Hitchin BID team. To get in touch with the Rangers please contact: rangers@hitchinherts.com
Welcome Back Fund
We are working with NHDC on projects in the town centre that the Government’s Welcome Back Fund can be best used for. A meeting was held with a selection of businesses from an even spread of industries and geographical areas to better understand which projects are a priority. The first project which will be undertaken in the coming weeks is the removal of 137 pieces of graffiti from the town centre! For more information on this fund please get in touch with: tom.hardy@hitchinherts.com
New Town Centre and business website
Over the past year it has become apparent that the town needs to have a separate visitors’ website and business hub. The visitor site will be customer facing and offer information such as what’s on, eating, shopping, travel, and experiences. The business hub website will be dedicated to all the opportunities and support being offer by Hitchin BID. The hub will offer free training and information on how to get involved with events, meetings and the projects and initiatives being delivered in the town. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on this, please do get in touch.
Talking Tables
The Talking Tables initiative is designed to create environments which tackle mental health issues and social isolation. Particularly for people who feel isolated, they can be a great way to meet people and make connections. Participating venues display a poster in their window and people can ask for a card to display on their table to let people know they’re in a space where chatting is welcome. Mental health problems affect one in four of us, yet people are still afraid to talk about it. For people with mental health problems, not being able to talk about it can be one of the worst parts of the illness. Getting people talking about mental health can break down stereotypes, improve relationships, aid recovery and take the stigma out of something that affects us all. For people who are socially isolated, and lockdowns have increased the problem enormously, a friendly chat in a pub or café can be hugely beneficial. For more information and if you would like to support the Talking Tables scheme, please contact: info@hitchinherts.com