Town Centre | Knutsford Town Council

29Jun2022

Join the Knutsford Market Hall Family

Calling all small businesses owners, entrepreneurs, and aspiring traders! There are currently two exciting opportunities for you and your small business to become a part of the Knutsford Market Hall family.

In Knutsford, we are proud to offer an array of local and independent retail opportunities. We believe in shopping small, shopping local and supporting the vitality of our town centre.

Knutsford Market Hall has been an active part of our community since 1964 and with a refurbishment looking to be undertaken, now is a great time to get your foot in the door, support the ongoing project and join what is already a fantastic group of traders.

We are currently searching for a trader to re-establish the options of occasional cards, balloons and more. The large space of stalls 10 & 11 is ideally laid out and readily equipped for a new owner to make it their own. The current monthly fees are £415.74 inc VAT.

Alanah Mudie, Town Centre and Marketing Officer explains: “This particular stall has been dearly missed by our regular customers. We always have people coming in to the Market Hall to ask who they can buy cards from. It would be fantastic to reinstate this stall, especially at such an exciting time for the market as we look to transform it with a new refurbishment.”

We are looking for traders who are available 4 days a week on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 8am-4pm, with the options to open on additional days with agreement.

Applicants are invited to discuss their idea with the Town Centre and Marketing Officer on 01565 653 929 or alanah.mudie@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk.

Applications can be made online at: https://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/market-hall/trade where potential applications can find the current Market Hall Regulations which govern market licenses.

Photo Stall 10/11, Opposite the Market Butcher

Press contact: Alanah Mudie, 01565653929

alanah.mudie@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

28Apr2022

Sabrina’s Baby Boutique

An exciting, stylish, and affordable baby boutique can now be found at the heart of Knutsford Market Hall, thanks to Sabrina Cowley and her array of baby, toddler and childrenswear.

Sabrina’s Baby Boutique became the newest addition to Knutsford Market Hall at the beginning of April 2022. Sabrina prides herself on her exclusive selection of Spanish Baby Outfits, New-born Baby Wear, and other unique children’s clothes – including some bespoke pieces altered by Sabrina herself.

On the opening of her stall, Sabrina said: “Twenty-two years ago when I had my first child, there was nowhere in Knutsford that sold baby clothes. I didn’t drive and, in those days, it was either a train journey to Northwich or Altrincham. Being a single mother, I really struggled for money and my only way back then to buy clothes without having to travel was using a catalogue.

“Fast forward to the birth of my 3rd child in 2018, I had a brain wave of opening an affordable baby store, but motherhood was very busy. This year, there was the opportunity of a taking on a market stall at Knutsford Market Hall.

“I want to offer parents of Knutsford what I struggled to find – high quality baby and childrenswear at very affordable prices… especially with what’s happened in the last couple of years with covid; it has hit us all hard.

“Moving to the market has been a joyful experience. I know a lot of people in Knutsford and my family were born here. Every time I’m open there is always someone I know popping by. My grandad was a very good customer to Knutsford market they loved him. And I love meeting new people – everyone at the market is absolutely amazing and like family already!”

Alanah Mudie, the new Town Centre and Marketing Officer at Knutsford Town Council said: “It’s great to welcome new an exciting trader into the Market Hall and we recognise the importance of promoting high quality yet affordable options in a market full of independent, hard-working traders. Sabrina is the perfect addition to the growing family within the market.”

Be sure to head to Knutsford Market Hall, located on Silk Mill Street, to pay a visit to Sabrina’s Baby Boutique and all of the fantastic stalls, including:

The Market Café
Morgan Edwards Fine Wine & Spirits
Slipped Discs
Plastic Free Weigh
Deliveroot
The Market Butcher
Jonty’s Fruit & Veg
Style Loft Boutique

To find out more about what’s on offer at Knutsford Market Hall, head to www.knutsfordmarket.co.uk

Photo Sabrina Cowley of Sabrina’s Baby Boutique

Press contact: Alanah Mudie, 01565653929

alanah.mudie@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

25Feb2022

Businesses in Knutsford Nominated as Most Loved

Local businesses from across Knutsford have been nominated as most loved as part of national ‘Love Local Day’. The annual event which began in 2019, takes place on February 14th and recognises the UK’s most loved local businesses.

Businesses from Knutsford which were nominated include Blossom Boutique, Dexter and Jones, Hal Whittaker Toy Shop, Kanoa Living, Neki Café, Real Fruit Creamery, Tatton Perk, Woods Butchers and Morgan Edwards.

Adam Keppel-Green, Town Clerk at Knutsford Town Council, said “Our local businesses all add so much to the town, so it is great to see people have taken the time to nominate them as part of this national campaign.“

Thousands of nominations have poured in from across the UK over the last few weeks from over 200 towns and cities. Nominations for Love Local Day have highlighted the friendliness, helpfulness and exceptional service that local businesses have provided during the most challenging times for local communities, high streets, markets, towns and city centres.

Princess Street’s Kanoa Living was recognised as one of the top 20 most loved businesses across the UK.

Dr Jackie Mulligan, Founder of ShopAppy – the organisation behind the UKs Love Local Day campaign explains “Love Local Day has provided a great outpouring of love for these Great British businesses at a time when it is good to give them a boost of morale and spend. The last months have provided a perfect storm for our high streets, but we know there is tremendous love for local businesses in our communities. Many of these businesses provide conversation, a safe space, expertise and great products and services on our doorstep and have adapted so much to keep us safe over the last two tumultuous years. The day celebrates all that these businesses do for our communities”

24Dec2021

It’s a wrap on town centre Christmas countdown

Counting down to Christmas this year was a special virtual advent calendar featuring an assortment of local independent businesses.

The shop local advent calendar was published daily on the Town Council’s social media with each video promoting what you can find in Knutsford Town Centre, from the latest children’s toys at Hal Whittaker to Georg Jensen champagne coolers from Serenity Designs. Each video aimed to put on display what shoppers can find in the shops on their doorstep and encourage people to think local first.

Speaking in the final video, released on Christmas Eve, Mayor of Knutsford Cllr Stewart Gardiner thanked the town for supporting local businesses He said “We have a fantastic group of independent traders here in Knutsford who give the town its character; thank you for supporting them through the pandemic, throughout 2021 and we all hope you continue to shop here in knutsford in 2022”

The campaign was one of a number of initiatives developed by outgoing Town Centre and Marketing Officer, Sandra Curties, as part of the Town Council’s commitment to supporting the town centre and local business. The council is currently recruiting for a new Town Centre and Marketing Officer, so if you have ideas you think could help drive footfall to Knutsford why not apply for the role.

Here’s the final video, view the rest on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

It's #ChristmasEve & @knutsfordmayor has joined us for our final collective #Christmas #Advent Thank you for shopping locally in 2021 & we look forward to seeing you in 2022! #ChristmasinKnutsford #lovewhereyoulive #adoptaknutsfordshop pic.twitter.com/xX2el147D2
— Knutsford Town Council (@KnutsfordTown) December 24, 2021

16Dec2021

Christmas Window Competition Winners

Town Mayor, Cllr Stewart Gardiner and Managing Director of Knutsford based Forum of Private Business, Ian Cass, toured the town centre to judge the efforts of local businesses in the annual Knutsford Christmas Window Competition.

Each year the standard of the Christmas Window displays continues to get higher and higher. All the town centre window displays were viewed as part of the competition and we had formal entries from a large range of retailers and businesses including; Detaljer, Diamond Nails, Savills, Cheshire Quality, Arthur Lee, The White Orchid, Dafferns, Mr Simms and Clare and Illingworth.

The overall winner was presented with a trophy and certificate with highly commended certificates going to the runners up.

This year the winner was Terence Paul with Holly Johnson in second place and Nicholas Austen’s display at 60 King Street taking 3^rd place. There was also a prize for the best dressed Charity Shop window, and this was won by Barnardo’s on Tatton Street. A new category for 2021 was ‘best small window’ and with the inaugural winner Kanoa Living on Princess Street

Cllr Stewart Gardiner said, “I was impressed at both the innovation and sense of style even more this year. Everybody should be really proud of the displays they created in making the town look even more festive. Picking the winner was really difficult and there were several shop fronts being in running for the top slot. Unfortunately, there could be only one winner – Terence Paul who used a local street artist to create an impressive piece of ‘snow graffiti’ display this year.

1Dec2021

Hunt is on for Santa

Children are being urged to look out for Santa this Christmas, as he has been seen hiding in shop windows. Santa in the Shop is a new festive trail running throughout advent – from 1^st to 24^th December.

The Santa in the Shop trail is brand new for 2021, with families encouraged to find a Santa (along with a festive message or Christmas Cracker joke) hidden in twelve of Knutsford shop’s Christmas windows. Entry forms can be picked up from Knutsford Library, Market Hall, Council Offices, and selected shops. When completed, the form can be dropped off at Santa’s special post box in Little Waitrose. All correctly completed forms will be entered into a prize draw with the winners announced in early January.

Sandra Curties, Town Centre and Marketing Officer at Knutsford Town Council said: “This is a sweet and easy trail for Christmas, a great way of exploring our beautiful town and enjoying the Christmas lights and festive windows. We hope families enjoy spotting our little Santas!”

If visiting the town centre by car do not forget there is free parking on Saturday 4^th December 11^th December and 18^th December from 10 am in Silk Mill, King and Princess Street car parks.

12Nov2021

Knutsford Shopping Bags on Sale

Following the warm reception of Knutsford’s Welcome Back Pack in the summer, Knutsford Town Council has launched the Knutsford Shopping Bag just in time for the Christmas shopping season

The bag is designed by local agency Boxed Red Marketing and retails at £3.50. It is available to purchase from The Tea Room, Cheshire Quality, Hal Whittaker, Mr Simms and at the Knutsford Town Council Offices. The bag design is colourful and includes many of the things people associate with Knutsford such as May Day and Penny Farthings.

Sandra Curties, Knutsford Town Council’s Town Centre and Marketing Officer said, “We are delighted to offer these bags for sale and are looking forward to spotting them around the town in the coming months. You could buy the bag alongside a Knutsford Voucher and give a complete gift of Knutsford this year!”

Harriet Henry, owner of The Tea Room said, “We love these bags and are looking forward to selling them alongside a cup of tea and a slice of cake!”

Profits made by the Town Council in selling the bags are being reinvested in town centre footfall initiatives.

27Sep2021

Knutsford at Home hailed a hit

Knutsford’s interior and design shops hosted their first interior shopping experience on Saturday 18^th September.

The event was a collaboration of the growing number of home and interior shops and businesses in Knutsford town centre and offered shoppers inspiration, advice, and ideas as we move into the autumn and winter seasons.

The day’s programme was full of interesting talks, presentations, one-off offers and in some cases fizz and goody bags.

The businesses who took part were Arthur Lee, Deliveroot, Design Equals, Detaljer, Holly Johnson Antiques, Not a Box, Oka, Serenity Designs, Sofas and Stuff, Suzy Watson Designs, and Terzetto.

Sandra Curties, Knutsford Town Council’s Town Centre and Marketing Manager, said “We and the shops involved were really pleased how the first event went. The sun shone on the day, Knutsford Town Mayor Stewart Gardiner kindly visited every shop and there was a lovely buzz around the town. We are evaluating feedback from the day and are possibly looking at a spring event incorporating gardens too so watch this space!”

Matthew Cook of Terzetto Stone said, “Even though this was the first Knutsford at Home Event, it was very beneficial for everyone involved. The individuals who attended Terzetto’s ‘Tile Trends and You’ presentation seemed to get a lot from the talk and were very interactive throughout. Being a retailer in the world of interior design, it’s a pleasure to discuss material that helps homeowners get the most out of their homes and make help to make their ideas and dreams a reality. I look forward to taking part in the next Knutsford at Home Event.”

Helen Dufton of Arthur Lee, said, “We gave away about 60 goody bags from Farrow and Ball and Little Greene to customers making purchases on the day and spoke to lots of people that had not visited us before which was great”.

9Jul2021

Head out Not Home Alfresco Dining Nights

Two weekends of alfresco dining will take place in Knutsford on the weekends of 6 and 7^th August and 10^th and 11^th of September.

A section of King Street and a small section of Princess Street (outside the Lost and Found) will be closed to traffic from 5.30pm to 11pm on those dates to allow restaurants, bars, and cafes to place tables and chairs on the roads for alfresco dining.

Sandra Curties, Town Centre and Marketing Officer said, “The past 15 months have been incredibly hard for everyone, especially our hospitality sector. These two evening closures will go someway to provide additional space for venues for their customers and the community to enjoy the amazing food and drink Knutsford offers”.

The road closure is from 5.30pm to 11pm and covers the following areas:

King Street from the entrance to King Street car park (by Chic Interiors) to Egerton Square.
Princess Street small section opposite the Lost and Found.

Amberon will be providing traffic management services and the roads will re-open at 11pm ready for the next day of trading.

The following venues will be providing alfresco dining or drinking tables from 6pm to 10.30pm:

Evuna
D13
Rose and Crown
Gusto
Real Fruit Creamery
The Tea Room
Wine and Wallop
Piccolinos
Cheshire House Bar & Grill
King Street Kitchen
Copper 29.

Ben Antoniak from King Street Kitchen said, “Although we opened in December 2019 because of the pandemic we still feel like one of the ‘newbies’ on King Street. We are delighted to take part in the alfresco event – the extra seating will really help promote our venue and we look forward to greeting customers new and old. Fingers crossed the weather is kind too!”

Sandra Curties, added, “It must be stressed that these two weekends are trials, and we will be evaluating feedback from those taking part, residents affected and those venues outside the road closures. We would like to see all our hospitality venues busy during these weekends and any shops wishing to stay open a little later will add to the continental atmosphere”.

Patrons are urged to contact their chosen venue direct to see whether they need to book a space in advance.

9Nov2020

Knutsford Voucher Launches

A gift voucher unique to Knutsford is launching just in time for Christmas.

The Knutsford Voucher is now available to purchase from the Town Council website and (after lockdown) in person in the Council Offices on Toft Road. Initially the vouchers will be in £5 and £10 dominations and will be able to be redeemed in over 50 local shops.

The aim of the scheme is to keep spend local and support the local economy.

Sandra Curties, Knutsford Town Council Town Centre and Marketing Officer, said, “We have kept the initial launch simple – low denominations for spread of spend and we’ve had a great response from local shops. There are too many to mention here but the vouchers can be redeemed for everyday goods such as meat and vegetables to flowers, soft furnishings, bikes, and gifts – there really is something for everyone. Once the voucher is redeemed, we pay the shop back in full. It is a great way of ring fencing local spend.”

The vouchers will be available for one year from date of purchase, have been designed by local marketing agency 438 Marketing and have security features to disable fraud. Full terms and conditions will be on Knutsford Town Council’s website along with a full list of participating retailers. They make great gifts all year round and an excellent incentive for existing staff or a welcome to new starters. Chris Eversfield from Serenity Designs said, “We are really excited about this new voucher scheme. It is a great initiative from Knutsford Town Council – enabling local people to spend money in local shops”

If any Knutsford based business is interested in the scheme, they should get in touch with Sandra Curties on 01565 653929. Please note only Knutsford based shops (not surrounding villages) can take the vouchers. If successful, higher denominations will be introduced and longer term a digital option may be developed.

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