Broad Street is Open4Business
The last year has been a challenging year for us all personally and professionally. It is great to see our city back open for business. The simple pleasures of being able to pop back into your favourite store, look and touch the products that you want or desire instead of scrolling through a device hoping it will be as good as it looks when it finally arrives.
The team at Worcester BID have been out and about speaking with the owners and managers of some of Broad Streets thriving businesses. During lockdown parents around Worcestershire relied on the team at Toys & Games of Worcester to ensure their children were kept entertained and put smiles on families faces during the hardest of time.
The team at Toys and Games of Worcester said ‘We are very much part of the Worcester community having lived, schooled and worked in the city for decades. We love the city. We have had a shop in Worcester for 25 years and enjoy it now as much as we did when we started. We have masses of stock. Lego, Pokemon, Tamiya, Airfix, Brio, Playmobil, Silvanian Families, toy cars, fidget toys, board games, card games, summer toys, plush toys.’
‘We are situated on Broad Street and open every day, it’s a great location a main entry point to the city and close enough to the centre that people can come wherever they are. Come and see us and meet the team. Vicky, Sue, Sophie, Annie & Tim’
Throughout the lockdowns and the restrictions, the one thing we all had was reconnecting with nature going on walks enjoying the small luxuries of fresh air. This is a habit that remains making time for you, enjoying exploring new areas of the city and county through going on bike ride and long walks by the river. Where better to visit and to make sure you a kitted out then Rohan.
We spoke with the team a Rohan to find out more about the history of the store and their time in Broad Street ‘In 1972 Rohan was founded in Skipton, North Yorkshire, UK and have been making world class technical clothing for over forty-five years. The first shop was opened in Long Preston, North Yorkshire, UK in 1983. An interesting fact is that Rohan jackets were used on the first ever ascent of Everest without oxygen’
‘Skip a few decades and Rohan Worcester opened in May 2010, now just over 11 years ago with 6 members of staff who all pride themselves on their knowledge of the technical aspects of the garments and all wear the brand both for and outside of work.’
‘Visiting us in-store allows you to see, touch and feel Rohan garments with knowledgeable staff available to discuss what you need from a garment or outfit prior to trying on for fit and comfort.’
‘Rohan Worcester, is a Grade 2 listed building, situated in Broad Street, likely a house and shop 200 years ago. According to English heritage records, the facade of the building is constructed from stucco over brick and dates back to around 1820. This location was selected due to its proximity to the high street with good footfall through both Crowngate centres and local streets. Broad Street has a great atmosphere and a wide selection neighbouring shops attract many visitors.’
Broad Street has so much to offer make sure you visit these amazing businesses and reconnect with Worcester.
Helping Hands Home Care have been providing bespoke visiting and live-in care services for over 30 years, specialising in live-in, domiciliary and dementia care at home. As a values-driven business with family values, Helping Hands have worked tirelessly over the past 30 years to develop a flexible care service that places its customers at its heart. This is achieved through directly employing all of its care staff and training and developing its carers to deliver person-centred care in a dignified and respectful way. Helping Hands is fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).
Helping Hands Worcester and Malvern is in a prime location in the centre of Worcester. It is convenient spot for members of the public to come in and enquire about home care and what we can do for our local community. We take great pride in being a part of the main centre of Worcester and we are always available to provide sufficient care.
Photo’s feature: New England Country Store, Connect 2 Vapes, His & Hers Hair, Helping Hands, Knowles Travelgoods, Rohan, Toys & Games of Worcester
Graduation offers in the city!
Congratulations Class of 2020!
Graduation is finally happening from the week beginning 21st June and we couldn't be happier for you to experience this important moment in your life as you put your education behind you! As it's such a big day, you, or someone you know, may have a lot of questions about the day, so click here to see some FAQs the University of Worcester are asked that should help you out.
Whether your ceremony is in the morning or the afternoon, you're going to want to have a grand day out and celebrate in style, ensuring you, your classmates and guests have a good time in the city! You might choose to explore Worcester by taking some walks along the riverside, down by Diglis and Sidbury and through some of the city's historic streets! You might even choose to visit some of the exclusive exhibitions in the city's museums that won't be around for long, like the Titanic exhibition in the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum or the Botanical Treasures in the Museum of Royal Worcester (who have a discounted student tickets!).
Celebrate in Style
One thing we know you'll definitely want to do while you're in town is eat! By now, you'll be aware of some of the city's best spots to dine out, however what you might not know of yet is some of the set menus being offered to help you save a bit more! Click through to book a table for:
If you instead want to help support local restaurants, there's a huge array of restaurants you can book into for lunch and dinner! Why not eat at:
- Anatolian Palace: Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine on Chapel Walk.
- Benedictos: an authentic Italian restaurant under the shadow of the Cathedral on Sidbury.
- Bolero Bar and Kitchen: offering high quality casual dining and an unrivalled choice of drinks on Foregate Street.
- Burger Shop/Maneki Ramen: a choice of burgers or ramen under The Arches.
- Centenary Lounge: The Cross' nostalgic Art Deco-inspired setting that recaptures all the glamour and style of the 1930s railways.
- Chesters: Mexican cuisine in an atmospheric cellar space, plus a bright upstairs bar on New Street.
- Friar Street Kitchen: traditional British food made from local ingredients on the stunning Friar Street.
- Fuego: a rustic-modern dining room & bar serving upscale British cuisine sourced from local producers on Foregate Street.
- Globe Modern Bistro: another Friar Street gem, this independent is a family owned bar and dining room.
- The Old Rectifying House: a stylish venue with a modern fine-dining menu and an easy-going bar, plus a terrace garden on North Parade.
- The Olive Branch: homemade, market-fresh Mediterranean food on Church Street.
- Ounce Bar and Kitchen: a contemporary pub renovation on Foregate Street with a British menu and small terraced beer garden.
Go On Treat Yourself!
You really have earned a treat for yourself! While you're in town, you might as well make the most of student discounts as we at the Worcester BID have collected a huge array of offers for you!
Simply provide a valid student card (check if there are any extra requirements and T&C's) and you can take advantage of all these offers!
City Discounts: House of Haby
Enjoy a 10% discount at House of Haby!
Available to City Employees (please provide a payslip from the past 3 months).
Meet Your City Neighbours - David Edmunds
Worcester BID want to introduce our High Street Heroes, the people from our local city centre - community. David Edmunds who is the Festivals Director at Severn Arts and the dynamic driving force behind the festivals programme for The Arches Worcester Project
Favourite day out in the city?
My favourite day out in the city would have to include some of the varied independent businesses. There are so many great places to eat and drink. You could start with breakfast at Waylands Yard, lunch at Be the Change, don’t skip an afternoon pick me up with a coffee at Method and if you are staying in the city in the evening drinks at Tonic.
Best thing about working in Worcester?
The best thing about working in Worcester is the civic pride. People are keen for things to happen, which is great when you are bringing a new cultural festivals programme to a city. The partners and organisations we are working with show such strong support for what we are doing as well.
What is your proudest achievement?
My proudest achievement would have to be Light Night in January 2020 and the way the people of the city embraced it. It really set the tone for the festivals programme. We had a bit of a break from our normal programming over the pandemic but we are very much looking forward to bringing our events back into the city centre.
Favourite city landmark?
I can’t really highlight just one city landmark that is my favourite. I’m a big fan of the architecture of Worcester in general. There are just so many different canvases to play with and on. I remember being at the top of Crowngate car park and looking at the 360 panoramic view of the city. From there you can see the river, The Hive, older parts of city and the Cathedral.
What do you do to relax within the city?
My favourite way to relax is running and Worcester has some great running routes: along the river, around Pitchcroft out towards Diglis and more.
What is Worcester’s best kept secret?
Worcester’s best kept secret has to be the unusual hidden spaces you find in the city. We have happened upon some really distinctive unique surprising spaces, from alleyways and courtyards through to the vaults under Asda carpark and the crypt under the cathedral.
What’s the best part of your role?
The best part of my role is definitely bringing amazing world-class creativity from around the world to our audiences in Worcester and being able to provide opportunities for new graduates to receive their first commissions alongside this. There is a new cultural landscape being built for the city alongside the development of The Arches and its an exciting time to be part of that right now.
A recommendation now the City is reopening?
I think there is an exciting summer ahead, Worcester’s Big Parade is happening, and of course our own summer plans. I’m looking forward to bringing that colour back to the city.