Blooming marvellous idea

Apr 25 2008 by Barry Ellams, Chester Chronicle

Blooming marvellous idea

A CHESTER in Bloom competition is to brighten up the city.

More than 60 city centre businesses are expected to enter the floral competition with 40 retailers already signed up to a campaign to dress up their shop windows.

Chester in Bloom is the second phase of The Chronicle-backed Smile Campaign instigated by city centre management to counter the effects of closing Hoole Bridge.

City centre coordinator Stephen Wundke explained: “We have had a really good response to Chester in Bloom. It will make a dramatic improvement to the city centre and make it look more vibrant.

“This is Cheshire’s Year of Gardens and this competition gets behind that. Chester in Bloom is all about making a better experience for the people who visit the city.

“We know the most effective marketing tool is word of mouth so we want to get our visitors spreading the message that Chester is a vibrant and exciting city to come and see.

The finale of Chester in Bloom is to coincide with the Chester Home and Garden Show on May 30 at Chester Racecourse with 10,000 visitors expected to visit the city that weekend.

Shops that take part are to receive two family tickets to the show and the winners with the best designs or who have made the biggest effort will receive prizes from celebrity hosts Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen and Diarmuid Gavin.

Mr Wundke added: “I am approaching the professional sector of the city – accountants, solicitors and chartered surveyors – to contribute £100 each to our City in Bloom campaign or they can sponsor one of our large floral displays from May until September for just £460.”

He added:“82% of all people who visit this city do so for the retail experience. In 2007 foot flow figures were down 12% year on year.

“That is what we are trying to stop and we need help to do it.”