Great British High Street Awards judges welcomed to Rochdale

Date published: 04 September 2019

Judges from the Great British High Street Awards were welcomed to Rochdale town centre on Monday (2 September).

After a rigorous selection process led by a panel of independent judges, the area has been shortlisted for the Rising Star category, which celebrates high streets which are taking the lead to adapt and diversify, putting it in the running for up to £15,000.

It is one of only 28 high streets across the country in the category, and the only one in Greater Manchester, which celebrates up and coming local communities who are transforming their future.

The shortlisted bid highlighted all the work taking place in the town centre, which is the middle of a £400m transformation programme.

These include high profile developments, like retail and leisure scheme, Rochdale Riverside, which has already signed Next, M&S, JD Sports, Boots and River Island and the six screen Reel Cinema. The development, which has just added H&M and Hollywood Bowl’s new mini golf concept, Puttstars, is due to open to the public in spring next year.

The submission by Rochdale’s new Business Improvement District (BID) also highlighted the packed events calendar in Rochdale. Major town centre events, like the Feel Good festival, regularly bring people into the town centre, alongside favourites like Street Eat and the Rochdale Literature and Ideas festival.

Paul Ambrose, BID Manager said: “The award recognises the nation’s most ambitious high streets which are taking the lead and working together to revive, adapt and diversify and above all look forward. 

“We are so proud that the contribution of local businesses and town centre partners has been recognised, as we all work together to ensure that Rochdale is a great place to visit and work.

“We now need the local community to get behind us as 20 percent of the final score is decided by public voting, so I encourage everyone to boost our chances of winning by voting for Rochdale Town Centre.”

Councillor Allen Brett, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, added: “We were proud to host the national judges for the Great British High Street Rising Star award this week, along with the Rochdale BID.

“We were certainly not short of things to show them, and highlighted a number of exciting projects happening in Rochdale, including our packed events calendar, Dippy’s visit next year, the £400m regeneration programme, our new murals and the exciting new food growing project taking place at the Pioneers Museum.

“We showed them the best of our fantastic town centre and it’s now down to the judges and the public vote. I would urge residents to get behind the town centre by voting online.”

A number of new independent businesses have also popped up in recent years, supported by the council’s business rates sale and small business start-up grant, including bar and restaurant, the Medicine Tap, coffee bar and lunch venue, Roasted and Toasted, café and coffee shop, Petit Café, and high quality men’s outfitter, Buckley Menswear, which has been shortlisted for a Drapers award for best new retailer 2019.

Other projects highlighted in the bid include the £16m restoration of Rochdale Town Hall and Town Hall Square and the Heritage Action Zone project to restore the historic buildings around the Drake Street area.

The public vote accounts for 20 percent of the final scoring. The shortlisted high streets will then have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they seek to be crowned the UK’s Champion and Rising Star.

For more information about the Great British High Street Awards 2019 terms and conditions and details on how to vote, visit:

• thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/high-street-of-the-year-awards/rising-star-award-finalists

Voting ends at midnight on 7 October. The winner will be announced in a ceremony in London in November.