General
Published: June 24, 2024 | Updated: 24th June 2024
Winchester’s unique selection of independent businesses are to be highlighted and celebrated next month.
The city’s Business Improvement District (BID) is to launch the latest #IndieWinch Pocket Map from Monday July 1.
It will support Independent Retailer Month, a global ‘Shop Local’ campaign which runs during July and celebrates local, independent retailers in the communities they serve.
The free pocket map aims to raise awareness about ‘shopping local’ and ‘supporting local’ in Winchester.
It will be available from local hotels, independent businesses, the Visitor Information Centre, The Arc, Winchester City Museum and local park and rides.
Visitors, residents and businesses are invited to use the map which shows over 190 independent shops, services, restaurants and cafes across the city centre.
It conveniently lists all the #IndieWinch businesses and can be used to help navigate around the city.
#IndieWinch window stickers will help identify independent businesses from their window frontage and encourage residents and visitors to shop local.
To celebrate the month, Winchester BID has created a series of short films, a montage of reels for social media and radio interviews with Winchester Radio to showcase what it means to be an independent business and why so many businesses choose to call Winchester home.
Winchester Food Festival 2023. Picture: The Electric Eye Photography
Winchester BID is also supporting the return of Hampshire Fare’s Winchester Food Festival on Sunday 14 July, in Outer Close of Winchester Cathedral, celebrating local Winchester producers and chefs.
The festival takes place from 10am to 4pm outside Winchester Cathedral and includes a live cookery demonstration kitchen from 12 noon.
It will be proceeded by a week-long programme of events from Monday 8 to Saturday 13 July under the umbrella ‘A Taste Of Winchester‘ which sees Hampshire Fare and Winchester City Council encouraging businesses to get involved.
Suzy Dierckx, Winchester BID Marketing Manager, said: “We always look forward to July and celebrating the independent businesses across the city for Independent Business Month.
“Winchester is lucky to have such a supportive network of more than 190 independent businesses making it a unique, vibrant, interesting and special place for residents, visitors, workers and students to enjoy.
“Each business needs your support to thrive so thank you for continuing to champion ‘local’ across the city.”
Paul Spencer, Winchester BID Executive Director, said: “We are very excited for Independent Business Month this July and also Winchester BID is thrilled once again to support the Winchester Food Festival, working with our friends at Hampshire Fare and Winchester Cathedral.
“Winchester is a haven for food enthusiasts, and 14 July will be a feast for them.
“We look forward to seeing our members working together in A Taste of Winchester too which is supported by Winchester City Council in the lead up to the day of the festival from 8 to 13 July.”
The BID is asking independent businesses in Winchester to keep it informed of any special promotions or events planned by tagging @WinchesterBID and use the #IndieWinch hashtag on social media posts.
Independent Business Month activity can be viewed by following Winchester BID’s social media channels @WinchesterBID on Facebook, Instagram and X (formally Twitter) and by following the #IndieWinch hashtag for further updates.
