As part of our Heart of Swindon campaign, Swindon Link has joined forces with inSwindon BID to share all the upcoming events taking place in the town centre with our readers. This month it's all about Christmas festivities!
A welcome from Di Powell, the Chief Executive Officer of inSwindon BID Company Ltd
Firstly, I’d like to introduce myself and welcome you to our new publication. I’m Di Powell, the Chief Executive Officer of inSwindon BID Company Ltd, the company that works on behalf of town centre businesses to promote Swindon as a destination for shopping, business and leisure.
InSwindon BID Company Ltd is a private, not-for-profit Ltd company funded by the businesses in Swindon town centre, who pay a small levy from their business towards the company. You can find out more about the BID at www.swindontowncentre.co.uk
Using the NEW inSwindon Link we want to ensure you have everything you need to know about what’s happening in Swindon town centre. We’ll be keeping you informed of exciting events coming up and fantastic shopping deals to help you grab a bargain and ensure, as a community, we continue to #ShopLocalSwindon.
It's certainly been a busy couple of months and we're excited to welcome new businesses into the town. The Works and Polish Deli Shop have opened up in The Brunel. Snappy Snaps has opened in Havelock Square and swaSURVIVOR in The Parade. And coming this month we have the Ibis Budget Swindon opening - plenty going on.
We recognise that we have also seen store closures, however this is only what other towns and cities are facing as high street retailers continue to adapt to the changing retail landscape.
Despite the closure of these national chains, Swindon as a town is still performing well when compared against other towns in the UK. In the latest UK Vacancy report, Swindon once again came below national average for vacant units. We may be losing chains that other towns are losing, but what we thrive on is our 80+ independent retailers, a fantastic selection of business services and our culture, music and entertainment hub.
Swindon is also one of the 100 towns across the UK that is set to receive £25 million of Government funding to be invested in the town. This demonstrates that Swindon is considered a town worth investing in.
For the town centre itself, we can’t believe the summer we had and I personally want to say a huge thank you to those who joined us for our summer festival - especially our Urban Beach, where thankfully the weather was on our side! Thousands of you enjoyed many of the summer activities that took place across the town. You showed us how much you enjoyed it as we had more than 1 million Facebook impressions over August, and we absolutely loved seeing your own pictures from the beach!
In September we held our third annual Student Lock Down event – an exclusive shopping event for students with plenty of offers and entertainment.
We’re delighted by the success of this event as we’re able to offer something exclusively for students. By welcoming them into our town centre they can see some of the amazing stores we have and to demonstrate that not everything has to be purchased online – it’s all about the experience! This event was its biggest yet with more than 330 students joining us.
But with the summer now firmly behind us, we’re looking ahead to Christmas which will be here before you know it. You’ll find out everything you need to know about Christmas on the next page, where I hope you’ll be as excited as we are about our line-up of events.
On that note, I’ll leave you to continue reading about our exciting plans for the next few months, including Christmas, the fantastic offers available in our Loyalty Club and what our partners at The Brunel, The Parade and Regent Circus are up to.
Enjoy and look out for our next edition in March!
What's on
WIN a family pantomime trip!
The Wyvern Theatre is offering a fantastic opportunity for a family of four to see Sleeping Beauty this December.
To win, simply answer the following question and send your answer to [email protected] by Friday 22 November and the winner will be notified by email or telephone.
Q: Which British soap did Panto Star Michelle Collins first appear in?
- Emmerdale
- Hollyoaks
- Eastenders
- Coronation Street
Terms and conditions apply - please visit www.swindontowncentre.co.uk
Enjoy fantastic festivities at The Brunel
When you are planning your Christmas shopping don’t forget to #shoplocalSwindon.
The Brunel has a fantastic range of high street brands and independent stores with prices to match any budget.
Christmas is a magical time of year, especially for the little ones.
Bring them along to The Brunel to see Santa and his Elves? Santa will be in his grotto from 9th November until Christmas Eve.
You can visit him for free! Find him and his helpful Elves on the upper level of The Plaza between Boots and M&S. Each meet and greet with Santa includes a present and an opportunity for your little one to have their photograph taken with the star of Christmas, Santa himself.
Check out the opening times of the Grotto at www.thebrunel.co.uk where you can also book your visit during busy times.
The Brunel and its retailers are also offering the opportunity for your little ones to have breakfast with Santa. Visit www.thebrunel.co.uk to find out who is participating this year.
Tickets £4 per child at participating stores.
Every Saturday at 9am starting 30th November.
The Brunel will once again be hosting the Prospect Hospice Gift Wrap. Commencing Saturday 30th November, gift wrap helpers can be found on the lower level of The Plaza, near Sainsbury’s.
Each gift will be beautifully and expertly wrapped for a donation to an amazing cause. The Brunel, the heart of shopping in Swindon this Christmas. #shoplocalSwindon
Celebrate Christmas at Regent Circus
Whether you’re thinking Christmas parties with colleagues or a family night out with dinner and a film, Regent Circus has something for everyone to help you celebrate the festive season in style.
With the holidays just weeks away, why not book a table now? It’s never been easier - just visit regentcircus.com to book today.
Plus, keep an eye on our website for all things “festive”. This year we will be hosting a 12 day Digital Advent Calendar with daily prizes! We’re looking forward to celebrating the festive season with you!
Our website is regularly updated with the latest news and offers so that we can keep you informed. Why not sign-up for our newsletter, via the website, to be the first to hear about everything we have going on!
You can also like us on Facebook @RegentCircusSwindon and follow us on Twitter @Regent_Circus
Feeling festive with The Parade!
The time for Christmas parties is fast approaching! Do you have your festive outfit ready? From dresses & handbags, to tuxes & shoes, The Parade has something for everyone. Find everything you need for the party season in one place!
The Parade is also great for picking up those all-important gifts for family and friends. From Debenhams and Superdrug to Schuh and River Island, there are plenty of options! If you’re feeling lucky, you’ll want to keep an eye on our our Digital Advent Calendar; offering daily prizes from 1st to 12th December!
Visit www.theparadeswindon.co.uk, sign up to our newsletter or check out Facebook @ParadeSwindon and Twitter @The_Parade to keep up to date with news, events and those all-important offers.
Great deals in the heart of Swindon
Swindon is home to a fantastic selection of national high street stores and independent retailers. Christmas will soon be upon us so now is the time to make sure you’re signed up to the FREE Swindon Town Centre Loyalty Club. With more than 80 offers available, it’s the perfect opportunity to save some pennies as your carry out your Christmas shopping.
Please note, this is just a selection of offers currently available and that these offers were available at time of print. Please check the Swindon town centre website for all the latest offers - www.swindontowncentre.co.uk/loyaltyclub. Sign-up today, redeem those offers and hit the town. It’s free and only takes a minute to join.
Here are just some of the offers currently available that will help you plan your visit to the town centre:
Pamper yourself – perfect if you need to get yourself set for your Christmas party
- Acucare – 10% off treatments.
- Bon Marche – 10% off all full priced items when you spend £20.
- Eskape Hair Salon – 20% off all services (new visitors) 10% off all services thereafter.
- Knock em dead – 50% off colouring services.
- House of Fraser – Skopes Suit Shirt and Tie only £99
- OMG Hair and Beauty – facials £38.
- Supercuts – 10% discount
Gift ideas – plenty of options for all your friends and family
- AM Gifts and Collectables – 5% discount
- Audio T – 10% off Hi-Fi & home cinema products. 5% off Sonos, Micro systems, iPod docks, TV’s/Plasma and clearance products.
- Don Rogers Sports – 10% discount on gifts and collectables.
- Illes Jewellery – 10% off all jewellery (full price).
- Shaw Trust – Buy 1 get 1 free on books.
- T4 Cameras – 10% accessories.
- The Entertainer – Funko POP! From £5.
- The Fragrance Shop – 10% discount.
Leisure – make a night of it and enjoy Swindon after dark
- Abys Indian Experience – 2 for 1 on main meals.
- City Mazes – 50% discount
- EDGE Bar and Club Room Swindon – Buy 1 get 1 free cocktail before 11pm.
- MECA – 50% off all hire fees. BOGOF over 18’s Roller Disco admission. BOGOF Chuckles Comedy Club Show Tickets.
- Rudi’s – Save £4 on bottles of wine.
- Thistle Express – Mates rates 10% off your booking and free breakfast.
- Wyvern Theatre – The Kitchen, 10% off food.
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