Cheryl Parker, General Manager of Welcome Gym, was thrilled to be given the news that they had been selected as BID Business of the Month.  She said: “We really appreciate the work the BID does and support their activities where we can, so we are very excited to get this recognition.”

Welcome Gym is very much a part of the local community, creating partnerships with other BID businesses, the council, charities and the local colleges and universities.

They work with YMCA Apprenticeships to train young people and bring them into the industry.

They have worked with Cheltenham Borough Council to come up with a scheme so that members can have free parking during their gym session. Their members get a discount at Tanique and, most recently, they are offering one month’s free membership if you collect a voucher when you ride on the Observation Wheel.

Each winter, the staff and members of Welcome Gym collect clothes, food and toiletries for the homeless and vulnerable. They have done this for St Vincent & St George’s Centre, Trinity Church and the Cornerstone Community Centre in Whaddon. 

They hope to link up with a local mental health service as fitness and well-being play such an important part in helping overcome these issues.

The gym is getting involved with Cheltenham Wellbeing Festival this year and has recently had a Public Access Defibrillator installed.

The area is frequently targeted with graffiti and there’s often a lot of litter left near their entrance. Cheryl and her team just get on and clean it up.

Beside all the work they do with the town, the gym’s message is a simple one “friendly fitness”. Cheryl says: “It’s not just a tag line, every single one of my team works hard to ensure members feel comfortable walking through our doors.”

As a representative of BID Business of the Month, Cheryl will attend Cheltenham Business Forum’s Big Breakfast in March. Cheryl is very good at sharing information and images for us to post on social media, so we look forward to more this month.

Hundreds of people saw the launch of Light Up Cheltenham with spectacular street theatre drumming group Spark! See photos.

And a new video has been released celebrating the start of the three-week event, which features a Giant Observation Wheel and more than 40 illuminated buildings.

The LED drummers made their way from The Brewery Quarter up The Promenade to Imperial Gardens, home to the 35-metre wheel.

There will be a range of colours displayed on the buildings throughout the event and all will turn red for Valentine’s Day.

The wheel was a great success with non-stop queues for the most of Saturday evening. Kevan Blackadder, BID Director, said: “We’re delighted it’s already proving so popular and will certainly think about bringing it back for future events.”

The neighbouring Garden Bar in Imperial Gardens was open from 6pm-8pm to the public during the Light Up launch.

Sophie Wrench, from Glorious Events at the Town Hall, said: “What a fantastic event. It was great to support Cheltenham BID and to see Cheltenham’ s community come together.”Further entertainment will be provided by the Photon Juggling Glow Show, who will perform on High Street on Saturday February 16 at the start of the half-term holiday.

Visitors to Cheltenham will be treated to a magical illuminated juggling act on Saturday February 16 as part of Light Up Cheltenham.

The Photon Glow Show, a duo of acrobatic jugglers, will brighten up the town even more as they perform outside the new John Lewis and Partners store on Cheltenham High Street from 5pm.

The pair will be joined by live singer, Bethany Goodman, as she treats the crowds to some favourite songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, as well as some well-loved theatre music.

Light Up Cheltenham has seen hundreds of people come to town to snap some amazing pictures of the town’s historic Regency buildings lit up in splendid colour.

If you love the sales and enjoy hunting for a bargain, then look no further than the third annual Cheltenham Boutique Sale on Sunday 27^th January at The Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies College.

Ten of the town’s favourite businesses will be giving shoppers exclusive discounts of up to 75 per cent off retail prices for one day only.

This popular annual event welcomed more than 600 people through the door last year and it is anticipated that even more will attend this year.

Women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, jewellery and beauty products will all be available at the event, which will be open from 11am to 3.30pm.

The iconic Princess Hall makes a wonderful setting for the event and gives many people the chance to visit the building for the first time.

The full line-up of businesses taking part is: Beards, Bodega, Frank & Doll, Harris Rae, Horace Barton, James of Montpellier, Keith Scarrott Shoes, Molton Brown, Roxtons and Tia-Tia,

Cheltenham’s Ladies College’s café will be open throughout and there will be male and female changing facilities.

Kevan Blackadder, BID Director, said: “The BID aims to support the town’s businesses in many ways and that includes our fashion retailers. We wanted to give them the opportunity to hold one-off sale events and have been delighted with the response and the number of boutiques that are taking part.”

Sophie Scarrott, owner of Keith Scarrott Shoes, said: “It’s a great opportunity for us to get together in one place and offer some fantastic savings. We’re looking forward to welcoming both regular and new customers.”

For more information contact 01242 571123

Terms and Conditions for Our Chelt Facebook competition –

*You will receive a voucher allowing two adults and two children or four pairs of Skechers to be purchased from the Cheltenham store for free. Valid 4 weeks after the winner is announced. Date will be confirmed to the winner and the winner will be notified via Facebook messenger.

Whether you are coming to Cheltenham to shop on a busy Saturday or at a quieter time, the BID has some top tips on the best ways to get here.

The first step is to decide whether you really need to bring your car into the town. If not, use the park-and-ride sites at Cheltenham Racecourse or Arle Court or catch one of the regular bus services. More information here

But if you do need to bring your car, here are our tips on the car parks that are likely to be the easiest to access. Follow our directions and then look out for the car park signs.

With all these directions, on leaving the car park you can head back out of town without crossing Cheltenham town centre.

COMING FROM THE NORTH (Evesham, Bishop’s Cleeve): Head down the A435 Evesham Road. Turn right into Clarence Road to access Portland Street, North Place or The Brewery Quarter car parks. Turn left (also Clarence Road) to access Town Centre East, John Lewis, Sherborne Place and St James Street car parks. Top tip: Sherborne Place is usually the last car park to fill up

COMING FROM THE SOUTH: (Gloucester, M5 junction 11): Head along the A40 and bear left onto Lansdown Road, then onto Montpellier Walk (A4015). On The Promenade, turn right into Imperial Square (A46) to access Regent Arcade and Rodney Road car parks. Or turn left into St George’s Road at Neptune’s Fountain to access Chelt Walk, St George’s Road and Royal Well car parks. Top tip: Chelt Walk is often quiet at weekends

COMING FROM THE WEST: (Tewkesbury, M5 junction 10): Head along A4019 Tewkesbury Road to access West End, High Street, Portland Street, North Place or The Brewery Quarter car parks. Top tip: Many drivers miss West End car park but it’s a short walk into the town centre

COMING FROM THE EAST (Cirencester, Oxford): From the A40, head along the A435 London Road. Turn right into St James Street to access St James Street, Town Centre East, John Lewis and Sherborne Place car parks. Turn left into Bath Road for Bath Parade car park. Top tip: Sherborne Place is usually the last car park to fill up

Cheltenham is proud to have retained its Purple Flag status and the town has also been nominated for a special award.

Purple Flag is a national town and city centre award – similar to the Blue Flag for beaches – which aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm and 5am. Areas awarded the Purple Flag are recognised for providing a vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture while promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and local residents.

In their written feedback on the assessment (which took place in December 2018), the adjudication panel reported a very positive perception of the town and noted:

·         The regency architecture, parks, gardens and pedestrianised areas make the town attractive to visitors, with floodlighting of public and privately owned buildings at night

·         A fantastic mix of venues for a town of this size, suitable for all ages and  tastes

·         A wide range of eating venues and a commitment to good food existing  throughout the town

·         Streets were well-lit and very appealing to walkers and people on their own

·         General level of street cleaning  was very good

·         A strong sense of community and business partnership anchored throughout  the night-time economy

In addition  the panel noted the excellent, strong partnership working between all agencies (statutory and voluntary), including  the police and the borough council, and the street pastors with their safe space (known as the stable) which provides a drop-in location for vulnerable people in a safe and mutual environment.  The town was assessed as excellent/outstanding for its broad appeal – an evening and late night offer that is broader than youth oriented and alcohol-based activity.

Cheltenham has also been nominated for a new Purple Flag award to find the UK and Ireland’s best night-time economy. The Purple Flag accreditation uses five main core agenda themes; wellbeing, movement, appeal, place and policy. Cheltenham has been nominated under the ‘appeal’ category and will find out if it has been successful at an awards ceremony later this year in June.

Councillor Andrew McKinlay, cabinet member for safety said: ‘’We are delighted that once again Cheltenham has been recognised for its safe and vibrant night time economy and my thanks goes to all partners involved.  This is a great demonstration of partnership working in action. The panel assessed the town as excellent for its broad appeal and further excellent news is that Cheltenham has also been nominated for a new Purple Flag award. We look forward to finding out later in the year if we’ve been successful.’’

Colin Pilsworth, night-time economy coordinator for the council and coordinator for Purple Flag in Cheltenham said: ‘‘I am thrilled that our town has again received recognition for the excellence of its evening and night-time economy. This has only been achieved  because of the commitment and ongoing support of statutory bodies such as the police and borough council, voluntary groups including the Street Pastors, Cheltenham Guardians and  the student community patrols, and the wider business community including the licensed trade and Cheltenham Business Improvement District.’’

Media Release by Cheltenham Borough Council.

About Purple Flag

The Purple Flag programme was developed following the Civic Trust’s “Night Vision” report in 2006, and is now managed by the Association of Town & City Management.

Purple Flag is:

·         An accreditation process similar to Green Flag Award for parks and Blue Flag for beaches. It leads to Purple Flag status for town centres that meet or surpass the standards of excellence in managing the evening and night-time economy.

·         A comprehensive set of standards, management processes and good practice examples designed to help transform town and city centres at night.

·         A research, training and development programme, to help towns and cities improve their evening and night-time economy.

·         A positive initiative that indicates an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night out.

 Following an all-night assessment of the town by visiting independent assessors on a weekend in December 2018, Cheltenham successfully retained its Purple Flag – awarded in recognition of an evening and night-time economy which is appealing, welcoming and safe.

Purple Flag accreditation is an annual award and having successfully applied for accreditation for the first time in 2016, Cheltenham had to demonstrate a continuing commitment to developing and maintaining a safe evening and night-time economy (ENTE) which appeals to all. p class=M

Cheltenham’s Christmas Lights switch-on was hailed a huge success as thousands of people gathered in the town centre.

A giant White Witch puppet standing more than 16 feet high enthralled the crowds as she travelled through the town centre on a chariot on Saturday.

The event saw the lights turned on in a grand finale at Imperial Gardens.

The dramatic storyline had seen the White Witch’s threat to prevent the lights being turned on fail as Father Christmas performed the switch-on to huge cheers from the crowd.

To see all photos visit our gallery page.

Cheltenham resident Sue Lightstone, of Winchcombe Street, said: “It was fantastic how the White Witch interacted with the crowds. It was wonderful for the children but for the adults as well. The excitement of Christmas is well and truly with us now.”

There were separate switch-ons at Regent Arcade, with Love Island star Frankie Foster, and at The Brewery Quarter.

Cheltenham-based company, Evenlode Productions, created the White Witch and the production around the parade.

The BID and Cheltenham Borough Council have invested in more lights this year, which sees illuminations in The Strand, Cambray Place, Regent Street and Pittville Street for the first time.

New illuminations have also been strung across Boots Corner and Clarence Parade.

Photo credit to Mikal Lludlow.

Cheltenham BID launched the Cheltenham Gift Card to encourage people to spend money in the town.

The campaign has been supported by independent and national businesses alike, with more than 90 signed up to accept the card.

Now the new John Lewis & Partners store has become the 90^th store to accept the gift card in Cheltenham.

Martin Bundy, Manager of the Cheltenham store, said: “We are really excited to be offering our customers the chance to spend their Cheltenham BID gift card here in John Lewis & Partners. It is another great example of the strong relationship the Cheltenham BID creates to get the town centre working together for shared benefit.”

The Cheltenham Gift Card was first launched in August 2017 in Cheltenham and has gone from strength to strength with more than 90 businesses signed up to accept the card. Shops, restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs all involved.

Colin Munro, Managing Director of Miconex, The Gift Card Programme, said: “There are now 30 town and city gift card programmes across the United Kingdom, helping to lock in more spend for town centre businesses and providing a fantastic new gift option for local consumers.

“It’s great news that the new John Lewis store will be accepting the Cheltenham Gift Card. People love choice they can now choose to spend their gift card in businesses of all kinds across Cheltenham or take the opportunity to browse this fantastic new addition to Cheltenham’s already strong retail offer.”

Cheltenham BID Administrator Maria Marriott, who manages the campaign, said: “What better gift could you give to someone this Christmas? You can be sure it’s a perfect present because the recipient can spend it wherever they want on whatever they want.

“We’re delighted to welcome John Lewis & Partners to the Cheltenham Gift Card and look forward to its continued success across the town.”

The Cheltenham Gift Card can be bought online at a dedicated website – www.cheltenhamgiftcard.co.uk – or from the Ultimate Party Shop in Regent Street, Wild Beer at Jessop House in Cambray Place, Ellis and Killpartrick Opticians and Chapman Opticians in Regent Arcade and Monrose Vintage on Bennington Street.

Shoppers can enjoy free parking when they visit Cheltenham for late night shopping in the run up to Christmas.

The council is offering free parking each Thursday from 29 November to 20 December inclusive in two of its town centre car parks. For customers arriving after 5.30pm, parking will be free of charge at the Regent Arcade (closing at midnight) and Town Centre East (closing at 9pm) car parks.

In addition, John Lewis & Partners and CitiPark are also offering free parking at the John Lewis car park on the same dates from 5.30pm – 9pm.

With the festive market making its popular come back, the high street’s recent new additions including John Lewis and Urban Outfitters, plus the wonderful Christmas light display, there are of plenty of reasons to visit the town.

Councillor Andrew McKinlay, cabinet member said: ‘’I am pleased that once again we can support retailers and offer late night shoppers free parking over the festive season. This year is particularly exciting for Cheltenham, with all the new additions to the high street and an excellent line-up of entertainment for the Christmas light switch on.’’

Kevan Blackadder, director of Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) added: “There will be a magical feel to late night shopping in Cheltenham this year with the array of new lights the BID has brought to the town with the borough council.

“It’s great that the council is supporting the Thursday evening shopping offer with free parking in Regent Arcade and Town Centre East. The BID approached John Lewis & Partners and CitiPark to ask if they would join the scheme in what is their first Christmas in Cheltenham and they were delighted to be involved.

“I would urge everyone to come and enjoy the convenience of shopping in the evening in Cheltenham at stores like House of Fraser and John Lewis without having to pay any parking charges.”

Christmas in the town is set to be extra special this year with plans recently announced by Cheltenham BID for this year’s lights switch on. On 24 November, prepared to be dazzled, excited and delighted as a battle of good versus bad unfolds in Cheltenham. The Wicked White Witch and Santa will battle it out to turn on the lights with plenty of entertainment taking place across the Brewery Quarter, Regent Arcade and town centre. Visit www.visitcheltenham.com for details and timings of the festive family fun.

Cheltenham Borough Council Press Release.

Canada Life Investments has announced an agreement with House of Fraser to facilitate the ongoing trading of Cavendish House, the iconic 195-year old department store in Cheltenham’s Promenade reinforcing the compelling offer on Cheltenham’s high street.

Mike Roberts, Head of UK Property at Canada Life Investments, stated: “We are pleased to continue our relationship with House of Fraser in Cheltenham and wish them every success through the important Christmas trading period.’’

Cllr Steve Jordan, Leader of Cheltenham Borough Council says: “This is good news and a vote of confidence from another retailer in Cheltenham’s town centre. The town continues to grow as a destination for shoppers which can be clearly seen with so many big name brands opening here over the last few months and bucks the national trend on the high street.”

Latest arrivals to Cheltenham includes: The Botanist, John Lewis, Urban Outfitters, Luke 1977, Creams Café, The Everyman lifestyle barbers and the newly refitted Next store, with beauty brand SLG to open offices in the Brewery Quarter in the new year.

Kevan Blackadder, director at Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID), says: “I’m really pleased for the House of Fraser staff but also for the town as a whole that any uncertainty has now gone. Cavendish House is a much-loved part of Cheltenham town centre and it’s important that it has a guaranteed future.”

To help support retailers, shoppers can enjoy free parking for late night Christmas shopping on Thursday evenings until 20 December after 5.30pm at Regent Arcade, Town Centre East and John Lewis & Partners CitiPark car parks.

Find out more on the council’s website (www.cheltenham.gov.uk).

Cheltenham Borough Council media release

Cheltenham has today been ranked as the fifth healthiest UK high street by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).

Known as a stylish Regency spa town enjoying a cultural renaissance, Cheltenham now features in the RSPH report Health on the High Street: Running on empty 2018, which ranks 70 of Britain’s major towns and cities by the impact of their high streets on the public’s health and wellbeing.

The research looked at the health impact of a range of high street outlets – extending the RSPH 2015 analysis to include vape shops, convenience stores, off-licences, cafes, and empty shops. Each business was scored on the basis of whether it encouraged healthy lifestyle choices, promoted social interaction, mental wellbeing and greater access to health services.

Those deemed unhealthy included payday lenders, bookmakers, tanning salons and fast food outlets. Those considered healthy included pubs and bars, libraries and museums, pharmacies, dentists, opticians and leisure centres.

Its ranking of 70 high streets found those living in the top 10 healthy areas lived an average of two-and-a-half years longer than those with the 10 unhealthiest high streets.

Cllr Steve Jordan, leader at Cheltenham Borough Council said: “I’m delighted that Cheltenham has been recognised as the fifth healthiest UK high street. The report reflects the ever-changing face of Britain’s retail environment and how the high street plays an important role in the wellbeing of our community. Cheltenham clearly has a healthy and compelling offer and we are collectively working hard to make sure it continues.”

Kevan Blackadder, director of Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID), said: “It’s another positive message about the positive position of Cheltenham town centre generally. Not only have we had some landmark stores open recently, but this index highlights that it’s a great place to both live and do business”.

Cheltenham Borough Council Media release.

Cheltenham BID has worked with the Cheltenham Borough Council and Evenlode Films and Productions to produce a large Digital Arts Film and Animation that will be spectacularly projected onto the Cheltenham Municipal Offices on Sunday 11 November from 5pm to commemorate 100 years since WW1.

Evenlode Films says –

“We have produced a sensitive and impressionistic artistic vision of WW1 which will play in a 15 minute loop giving the opportunity for all to see. Without giving too much away, we have had the pleasure of filming local child star actor Mark Lester, the Royal British Legion and our local Artillery Re-enactment players. We have used local people for most of this huge project including the beautiful award-winning horse ‘Cord en Bleu’ from the Cotswold Trail Riding Center, who symbolically represents the demise of 8000 horse

This is a huge and exciting production and there is much behind the scenes work in producing a project of this scale. We have a team of animators working on various parts of the storyboard alongside five of the very best students from the University of Gloucestershire. This Trailer is just 30 seconds of something that will blow your mind for 15 whole minutes and brought to you in immersive, surround sound giving you that 3D experience.

The music has been composed and produced by Tim Mountain who has really thought about it being accessible to people of all ages. After all,100 years ago, WW1 was about young men going to war, and so as an appreciation of that, he has composed a rap sequence to the spoken word of local voice artist JDPL, a big cinematic Hollywood score and an emotive classical piece for string quartet and piano and includes our very own Cheltenham Ladies College Choir. Also, in consideration of our Cheltenham born composer Gustav Holst, and it being WW1, we have included a short section of Mars, the bringer of war to represent his musical contribution which was written before, but released just after the war.

For more information about Evenlode Films please visit Evenlode Film and Productions

A dramatic illuminated parade will be the centrepiece of the Christmas Lights switch-on in Cheltenham this year.

A giant White Witch puppet standing more than 16 feet high on a chariot will travel through the town centre in a high-impact street theatre event on Saturday November 24.

Cheltenham BID and Cheltenham Borough Council have also invested in more lights this year, which will see illuminations in four extra streets in the town.

The show is based around the story of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in which the White Witch tries to stop Santa from having Christmas. The Cheltenham event will see her trying to stop Father Christmas from turning on the lights.

There will be lots of pantomime-style interaction for children with the White Witch and six trolls confronting Santa and his six elves. Who will win when the battle concludes on a stage at Imperial Gardens?

Cheltenham-based company, Evenlode Productions, have worked with the BID to create the event, which starts at 4.30pm and runs until 6.30pm.

The show will start in Imperial Gardens and then proceed to Montpellier, back down the Promenade, along High Street to The Brewery Quarter and Cambray Place and then back through Boots Corner to Imperial Gardens for the thrilling showdown.

Tim Mountain, production manager at Evenlode Productions, who have staged events all over the UK, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the BID to give Cheltenham something completely different for the lights switch-on this year. I think we can promise a night to remember for young and old alike.”

The Christmas Lights were significantly improved last year, with new present motifs along High Street, new lights in the trees along The Promenade and extra features at Montpellier Roundabout and in Montpellier Street.

This year, there will be lights in The Strand, Cambray Place, Regent Street and Pittville Street, along with new illuminations crossing Clarence Parade, High Street and Boots Corner.

BID Director Kevan Blackadder said: “We’re very excited about the switch-on, which we think will provide a very different experience for people in Cheltenham.

“I’m also pleased that we have been able to extend the areas covered by lights this year. We’re keen to expand still further in future years.”

The switch-on will happen two days after the popular Christmas Market opens on The Promenade on Thursday November 22. The market will run until Saturday December 15, with Cotswold Markets then staging its Arts & Crafts Market from Tuesday December 18 until Monday December 24.

Marketing Cheltenham is supporting the town’s festive activity with an “Experience the magic of Christmas in Cheltenham” campaign.

For more information and latest updates about the lights switch-on and town-centre Christmas activities see www.visitcheltenham.com

Located in Montpellier since 1999, Neal’s Yard Remedies Cheltenham has been selected as the October BID Business of the Month.

Margaret Cavenagh and Sarah Proud are joint directors. Margaret is also joint chair of the Montpellier Association. She said about having a business in Montpellier: “We’re a close-knit community of independent businesses. It’s like being in a friendly village, we socialise as well as work well together.”
A supporter of the BID from the outset, Margaret has been enthusiastic

about getting involved in BID initiatives. They were one of the first businesses to sign up to accept the Cheltenham Gift Card and welcomed the savings they made through the Group Purchasing scheme we run in association with Meercat.

As well as the huge range of ethical, natural and organic skincare and well-being products they are so well known for, customers also visit Neal’s Yard for their therapy rooms. Margaret said: “Most of our customers have been coming to us for years. They have become the best of friends”

The shop front in Montpellier is always attractive but it took on a special appeal during the Tour of Britain, when one the ‘Green Bikes’ was on display and again when they took part in the BID’s ‘Festive Façade’ competition. The BID in Bloom flowers have been brightening up the outside of the shop all summer long.

An obvious choice for Cheltenham Beauty Week, Neal’s Yard offered customers, old and new, free treatments. Being active on social media, they did a great job of sharing all the events. In fact, we really like the way they share posts for other businesses and frequently tag their neighbours and the BID.

As BID business of the month, Neal’s Yard Remedies will have the opportunity to speak at Cheltenham Business Forum’s Big Breakfast in November. We’ll be highlighting their products and therapies on our social media channels.

The Cheltenham Paint Festival brought together a collective of international artists to create large-scale, public art pieces throughout Cheltenham.

With a mixture of permanent and temporary pieces, the two-day event aimed to provide engaging, thought-provoking paintings and pieces.

Take a walk around Cheltenham to experience these wonderful works of art.

Cheltenham BID sponsored their very own mural by artist Samer located in Lower High Street Car Park.

Other locations include The Frog and Fiddle, Williams Cycles, The Brewery Quarter and Honeybourne Lane.

Funding also came from the Arts Council England, Cheltenham Borough Council, and The Brewery Quarter.

For more information see www.cheltenhampaintfestival.co.uk

New information to visitors and locals alike on how to get to and around Cheltenham is now available at the click of button, thanks to the BID.

We have supported the creation of new website pages packed full of facts on the wide variety of transport available. The series of travel pages are available here.

The BID worked with the Sustrans charity to develop the pages on Visit Cheltenham to help support employees of BID businesses as well as residents and visitors to the town.

The pages are full of useful information and suggestions for more sustainable and enjoyable ways to travel to and around the town, including bicycle, on foot, public transport and the park-and-ride schemes.

Kevan Blackadder, BID Director at Cheltenham BID, said: “It is important that detailed information is readily available about how to get to and around Cheltenham. This applies as much to locals as it does to visitors to the town.

“In the past, the information has been both confusing and lacking in detail. I’m delighted that by working with Sustrans, we now have easy-to-understand travel information available online which will help you plan your journey to and around Cheltenham.”

A Sustrans Active Travel officer ran a number of travel information sessions for employees working at House of Fraser, Marks and Spencer’s and the Regent Arcade in the centre of town.

The sessions helped to identify individual barriers to active travel and provided bespoke advice and solutions to help overcome these. The sessions were very well received by staff and the businesses.

Sustrans have also worked with Cheltenham BID to make recommendations around car sharing schemes that can be used by employees in the town.

James Cleeton, Sustrans England South Director, said: ‘‘At Sustrans we recognise that the daily commute can have a significant influence on staff’s mental and physical wellbeing, as well as their finances and time.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with the Cheltenham BID and commend their efforts in actively supporting their members to have a healthier and happier workforce.

We are delighted to be working with Glos Jobs to help businesses recruit in Cheltenham.

GlosJobs is the largest on-line job advertiser in Gloucestershire with thousands of jobs offered everyday, with around 130,000 unique user sessions logged per month.

Belinda from Glos Jobs says,”Advertisers tell us that they receive applications from a higher calibre of applicants by advertising through GlosJobs than through other media.”

See: GlosJobs Testimonials.

Glos Jobs are genourously offering a free Premium Package (normally £10+vat) and a free Highlight (normally £15+vat). The businesses will be:

• Given one week’s extra exposure on a banner, which will show in a relevant category and on all the adverts in that category
• Featured at/near the top of the weekly email that is sent to 11,000+ subscribed jobseekers
• Sent out on social media to around 2,200 Facebook and 7,900 Twitter contacts
• Highlighted in the list page of adverts for one month

All for the standard cost of £33+vat until the position is filled. A saving of £25+vat!

For more infomration on how to recieve this offer click here

Hand-picked places to eat, stay, shop & cook in the South West.

Food magazine says, “Cheltenham has been a playground for racegoers and affluent pleasure-seekers – hence the name Cheltenham Spa – since the early 19th century, but Kathryn Lewis ditched the racecourse in favour of a dining course (or three), and found the going extremely good”

Food magazine has written a great article about eating and shopping your way around Cheltenham in 48 hours and nine of the businesses are BID!

They recommend Gloucester Services, Cheltenham Kitchener Cookshop, Koj Cheltenham, KIBOUsushi, The CheeseWorks, The Ox Cheltenham, Lumière Restaurant Cheltenham, Prithvi, Le Champignon Sauvage, The Clarence Social, 131 The Promenade, Home of the Crazy Eights Boston Tea Party Cheltenham, The Natural Grocery Store, Roots & Fruits Cheltenham Market, Brew & Bake, East India Cafe and The White Spoon.

Are you an Independent Retailer?

The competition is open to any small shop* operating in the UK. The competition is free to enter and all shops who enter will also be promoted to consumers through an online Indie Retail Directory.

For the purposes of the competition, a small shop is defined as a non-corporate business selling goods or services to the public for use or consumption rather than for resale, from a business rated premises in the UK.

Shopkeepers can nominate their businesses until Sunday 9th September via www.bestsmallshops.co.uk. A shortlist of 25 of the most impressive applications will be assessed by a panel made up of established representatives from the independent retail industry.

The judges will be looking for evidence of a small shops’ entrepreneurial spirit, ways that they have been innovative in their business and what they have done to have a lasting positive impact on their community.

The shortlisted small shops will be invited to a Parliamentary Reception on the 13th November 2018 to meet their Member of Parliament and find out who will be crowned the Best Small Shop for 2018.

The 2015 Best Small Shops Competition was won by Hunters of Helmsley, and was featured in the Daily Mail

here: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/smallbusiness/article-2968372/And-winner-Britain-s-best-small-shop-family-run-farm-deli-Yorkshire-helped-village-beat-recession.html”   

Congratulations to Martin & Co Jewellers for winning this months BID Business of the Month.

One of the oldest businesses in Cheltenham, Martin & Co is this month’s BID Business of the Month.  Established in 1806 by Samuel Martin, the jeweller was given the Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1838. Read more…

Cheltenham BID are supporting the march which is being organised as part of the Cheltenham Remembers programme of WW1 centenary commemorative events. It will take place on afternoon of Saturday 10 November 2018 from 1-3.30pm

BID members and local residents of all ages are invited to join the community march in memory of the 1,290 Cheltonians who died during the First World War.