Well done St Leonards!
St Leonards Businesses have won a clutch of awards over the last few days.
The Taj Mahal on Western Avenue won the Best South Asian Restaurant in the UK from the prestigous House of Commons Tiffin Club, (you might have sennthem on the telly the other day.)
And in the 1066 Business Awards St Clements in Mercatoria won best restaurant, with Plenty Provisions on Grand Parade winning the Highly Commended award for Best Deli.
Well done to all.
Summer Events in St Leonards
Time to fill in those diaries, there is a lot going on in St Leonards this summer:
Saturday 16 July – St Leonards Festival
Sunday 17 July – Olympic torch arrives in Hastings (in 2012!!)
Friday 29th July 2011 Launch of the James Burton 250th Anniversary – St Leonards Gardens
Saturday 27th August 2011 Heritage Open Days – procession by performing artists etc starts in St Leonards Sea Road at 6pm and ends at the Stade
Friday 9th/Saturday 10th/Sunday 11th – Marine Court and Burton Gallery History and tours
Saturday 10 Sept – Heritage Open Days - vintage bikes and car procession – starts at the Stade and end up in St Leonards – Sea Road – pm
Saturday 10 Sept – Harold the trolley bus will drive along seafront from Hastings to St Leonards
? – Burton St Leonards , Victorian game day/exhibition 2 towns
Saturday 27 August – Friday 30 September – Coastal Currents – lots of events in St Leonards and Hastings
How was it for you? Independents’ Day
Last Monday was Independents’ Day when we all encouraged local people to come into the shops and buy local stuff. How was it for you? Various Business forums across the UK seem to think it might not have been our finest retailing hour, and that Tsarina Mary Portas thought this one up after lunch…
But did you know it is actually a whole month, not just a day? No, me neither, but, well, how exciting. You can get details from the UK site all about it here, and from the International website, (for there is such a thing), the link is here.
Hastings Fly Tipping ‘worst in Sussex’.
In an article today Hastings emerges with a rather grubby crown it shouldn’t have: worst flytipping in Sussex.
Hastings has topped a survey of local authorities in the county hit by people illegally dumping rubbish.
The latest available figures reveal that the town had 3,448 incidents of fly-tipping, equivalent to one for every 25 residents.
Overall, Hastings came 29th in the national survey of 325 councils carried out by a recycling firm.
Brighton and Hove was the second worst hit in Sussex with 1,809 incidents, equivalent to one for every 142 residents.”
If you see anyone flytipping call the council immediately to Hastings Council. (The council doesn’t seem to have an easily accessible phone number on their website to call, but at least if they don’t catch people redhanded they will clear up…)
Working Group, Central St Leonard’s
The SBA meets regularly with representatives from the council on The Working Group Central St Leonard’s.
At the last meeting the priorities to be addressed by the group were established as:
Create information on footfall business data, car parking usage mosaic of average shopper
Encourage loyalty and shop local schemes
Encourage traders to support the Shop Watch and Barwatch scheme
Improve signage in he area, create an area branding to market to the wider area
Develop events such as festivals, markets etc
Encourage the take up of business up-skilling
Work with TCM and Old Town on sharing good practises and resources
DevelopSt Leonards as a destination on the HBC and CSL website, direct link
Engage business representatives in area based structures
Continue to develop the SBA website
Seek to engage Black Minority Ethnic businesses
Promote and develop the CSL evening economy
Market and promote CSL as a destination
Independents’ Day
This seems a good idea to get customers buying …
On 4 July 2011 across the country, the public will be encouraged to buy at least one item from their local, independent shop to keep their high street alive.
Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail have teamed up with independent retailers and trade associations around the UK including the Association of Town Centre Management, British Independent Retailers Association, Independent Booksellers Forum, National Federation of Retail Newsagents, Photo Marketing Association and Independent Footwear Retailers Association to celebrate diversity on the high street.
The vast majority (92%) of retail businesses, 169,835 businesses, employ fewer than 10 people. These businesses help to create a strong community around town centres and high streets but many are struggling to compete in today’s tough retail landscape. Independents’ Day is a chance for the public to show their appreciation and support for local retailers.
America Ground, and Hastings pier.
Our neighbours over by the pier are having a thing on 3rd July. Please help support the fundraising for the Pier Trust
Independent traders Day Celebrations at the America Ground around Trinity Triangle and along the White Rock Promenade to the pier 3rd July 10.30 – 4pm . Variety of market stalls, live music throughout the day. Busker’s, street entertainers welcome just come along on the day. Eastbourne model boat club will be displaying their model boats on the old fountain . Harold the trolley bus will be doing trips along the prom from the pier. Trinity Church will be having events through out the day after the morning service. All the cafe and bars will be open. Its a fun day out for all the family. In aid of the Pier trust. We still have some free space available for local groups/clubs/charities information stalls, if you would like to promote your cause please contact Lesley 07913664163 – lesley@hpwrt.co.uk http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=230463136964073
St Leonards Festival
The wonderful St Leonards Festival, the south coast’s answer to Nottin’ Hill is on the 16th of July.
Grab a stall before they all go.
Tell the world about yourself and your services.
Have fun.
And lend a hand; stewards needed.
Newsletter
Yes we have a newsletter being prepared. As a membership drive we are printing it rather than just having it here, and it will be distributed in the next week or so.
The basic points are that the SBA has a shiny new constitution, a new committee and the newsletter, more importantly, tells you what The SBA does for the area.
We think more can be done and are working on a campaign, Cross Street, and trying to begin a large scale marketing plan to help bring footfall to the area.
All this is time consuming and costly, so we are trying to raise a kitty by charging a very modest membership fee.
If you have any suggestions as to how you might help the committee, other members with special offers or anything at al, please let a committee member know.
One thing members will now get is a good business and web listing: see samples here: http://csba.co.uk/businesses/business-services/
Have a look at the newsletter, ( and if you could help deliver it that would be hot), and let us know.
At the moment you can download it here, (word.doc), and here, (pdf)
The Festival
Bookings are being taken for stalls at the St Leonards Festival. This year the stalls will be right by all the activity in Warrior Square with the larger and more concentrated footfall that means. Stalls will be along the bottom of the square on Oudenaard Walk, which continues on from Norman Road. It’s a great spot, and you can expect better trade than before with the festival audience being right there.
Stall space will be £25 for a 3mx3m pitch, which includes your trading licence, but not a table or a stall. Bring your own tables, gazebos, stall and festive arrangements please. There will be water but no power.
The festival closes at 8:00pm this year so people will want to eat, and the only food in the square itself will be ice creams, so plenty of opportunity for food people there. Food stalls are being allocated on a first come first serve basis, so no duplication occurs: the festival doesn’t want 7 burger sellers, (when we know there is a wonderful array of food in the area.)
So, come on SBA people. This won’t only be of benefit on the day, it’ll be a promotion of your business to a large audience…some hotels and guest houses are already booked up. A fun trading opportunity not to be missed.
Upcoming Events
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Feb6Mon
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Feb21Tue
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