Love hearts, red roses and random acts of kindness to be found in Lancaster city centre this week

A campaign to welcome people safely back to Lancaster city centre as shops re-open on April 12 will see business leaders randomly buying coffee, haircuts and small purchases for shoppers.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Lancaster BID has been busy preparing to welcome shoppers safely back to the city centre as businesses reopen from Monday April 12.

Bunting has already returned above the key entrance points into the city centre, and the bespoke design contains subtle references to the city centre and aims to bring some colour to the streets and a smile to peoples’ faces.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lancaster BID's ‘Love Local, Love Lancaster’ campaign aims to remind customers of the importance of safely returning to support businesses as Covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased further on Monday April 12.

The Love Lancaster Lottery goes live on April 12.The Love Lancaster Lottery goes live on April 12.
The Love Lancaster Lottery goes live on April 12.

Signs have been hung in the windows of empty properties – and Marketgate Shopping Centre will be hosting a £2.4m illuminated heart courtesy of Blachere Illuminations.

Visitors will be encouraged to post photos on social media saying why they #LoveLancaster with a £50 shopping voucher for the favourite reason.

A Heart trail in shop windows will also run through the LoyalFree App until May 3, encouraging people to discover new businesses and explore the city centre.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

You can scan the QR codes in windows at all 14 locations to win a shopping voucher to spend in the city centre.

The love heart will be on display at Marketgate Shopping Centre.The love heart will be on display at Marketgate Shopping Centre.
The love heart will be on display at Marketgate Shopping Centre.

From April 12 the Lancaster BID team will be out and about in the city centre to welcome people back and to say thank you for supporting local businesses.

The team will be performing random acts of kindness.

Anyone venturing into town could be treated to a coffee, haircut or small purchase in a local business.

They will also be handing out red roses as the symbol of Lancaster to remind people of the importance of shopping local.

Empty shops will host displays in the city centre.Empty shops will host displays in the city centre.
Empty shops will host displays in the city centre.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The week commencing April 12 will also see the launch of the Lancaster Lottery.

A Lancaster BID spokesman said: "We will be popping up in a different business each week to surprise one lucky customer.

"The customer will be offered two boxes, each containing an amount of money to spend within the business – all they have to do is decide which one to open to walk away with the prize.

"A prize of between £20 and £500 is guaranteed every time, so it is definitely worth winning.

The Love Lancaster displays.The Love Lancaster displays.
The Love Lancaster displays.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The prize boxes will be in different businesses at different times each week so shop local more often for the best chance to win!"

The aim of the promotions is to directly support businesses through direct sales as well as rewarding customers who make the effort to safely return to the city centre.

Lancaster BID added: "The BID team are keen to safely encourage people back and look forward to seeing you in the city centre very soon!"

Many pubs will also be re-opening their outside spaces on Monday.

You can find out where will be opening, HERE.

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.