More than Just Window Dressing!

On Tuesday evening I was delighted to welcome local businesses which had taken part in July's Best-Dressed Window competition for stores in and around the High Street area of Bedford Town Centre to the Mayor's Parlour in the Old Town Hall. I presented the prizes to the winners, who were chosen by a public vote. More than 1,200 voted, which was tremendous, and gives just a small illustration of how much people care about their local stores and their town centre. The winners in each category (including a runner-up in the Independent Retailer category due to the impressively large number of entries) were as follows:

Independent Retailer category: Arcadia (in the Arcade), the popular, long-established sweet shop which had a fine display.

Independent Retailer category runner-up: Hanworth Interiors (also in the Arcade), the large store with a fine array of products for the home, with its high-quality range of products always used to great effect in its window display

Charity Store category: Cancer Research UK (located on High Street) with their professional 'from stock to science' display showing what the number of items sold can then pay for in terms of cancer research.

Chain Store/Franchise category: Wilkinson (located on the High Street) with their high quality children's' air ambulance display.Three High Street businesses competed in this category.

This contest saw remarkable creativity and vision from many of our retailers, in particular the wide range of independents who took part. I want to congratulate all the stores who took part, not just for contributing to this competition but for their year-round efforts in helping to display Bedford at its best and making the town centre an attractive place to come and shop and spend time in.

The contest was held as part of the ongoing Townscape Heritage Initiative, and there will be more workshops, competitions and events on a similar theme as we work with partners to regenerate the High Street area.