With its history, heritage attractions, magnificent cathedral, traditions, customs, rivers, canal and garden racecourse, Ripon has many reasons to blow its own horn.
It will be doing just that later this month when Allison Clark, a member of the city’s hornblower team, attends a major show with the aim of attracting more visitors.
Ripon Business Improvement District — under Visit Ripon branding — has partnered with Newby Hall and Harewood House to attend the British Travel & Tourism Show on March 20 and 21 at the NEC in Birmingham.
BID manager Lilla Bathurst (pictured below) told the Stray Ferret,:
“The British Travel & Tourism Show is the largest UK show for the group travel trade. Ripon BID is committed to encouraging more visitors to Ripon and as the group travel market is an important part of that, we feel it is vital to have a presence at the show.”
She added:
“The Visit Ripon stand will showcase Ripon for groups with a newly-commissioned video of all the attractions by local Ripon videographer Save the Dog Productions and a specially produced brochure which includes all relevant details for group tours.
“We will also have Allison joining us to give talks on the history of the hornblowers at three set times each day, which we are sure will mean our stand will be a major draw.”
Coach party parking
Ms Bathurst also said that with the help of Cllr Andrew Williams, the BID had successfully lobbied North Yorkshire Council to have the coach parking four-hour restriction lifted. She said:
“This should be actioned before the summer which will aid in our drive to encourage tour parties to stay for longer in Ripon and increase spend in our businesses.”
With Ripon being at the forefront of a resurgence in bricks and mortar retail and trading due to the innovative approach taken by many of its independent businesses, Ripon BID has entered the Visa/British Retail Consortium ‘Let’s Celebrate Towns’ competition.
The city is one of 30 entrants shortlisted and the winners are due be announced on March 13 at the House of Lords in London. There are eight prizes of a £15,000 grant to go towards a community project plus skills and education training for SMEs to be awarded.
At Monday’s full Ripon City Council meeting, councillors voted in favour of ordering new frock coats and hats for the hornblowers.
It is understood that the coats made by a military tailor will cost approximately £900 apiece and be designed for use in all weather conditions.
