|
Hoylake Village Life
Make Hoylake Better! Get involved by emailing us
|
|
|
Welcome to our fourth e-Newsletter!
Here we go again.... Hoylake Village Life (HVL) love Hoylake, but we think it could be even better! We continue to be busy working on projects that we think will make a real difference, and this bumper edition of our e-news has lots to tell! With your help, we can achieve more, so why not jump on board and get involved? If you could spare a bit of time and have some fun, or just want to share your thoughts, please email us and check out our website. To read previous e-newsletters click here.
|
|
|
First film night at The Parade!
We will screen Nowhere Boy, a story about the early life of John Lennon, at The Parade, Hoylake Community Centre at 6.30 pm on 30 September (film starts at 7.30 pm prompt). There will be a licensed bar before and after the film, and previews of future planned events, including Saturday Matinees for the kids, with registered childcare provided. Book online on our website using our new events bookings system! Only £5.
Come along and be part of this great new happening in Hoylake, which will hopefully become a regular event with quirky independent and classic films as the overarching theme.
Love film? Can you help us put these events on? Email us
|
|
|
 Spotlight on Hoylake Village Life
We are often asked, particularly by local businesses, 'Who are you, what do you do and how do you do it?'. Well, the short answer is: a lot of hard work, done entirely on a voluntary and unpaid basis by Hoylake Village Life Directors and volunteers; people with a real passion for Hoylake and a strong commitment to make Hoylake better now and for the future.
Our rewards are in the satisfaction we get from the work and we enjoy making lots of new friends. Our website is full of helpful information about what we do and how we do it, but there is a particular page in response to these specific questions in a new article on our website. A leaflet will also be distributed soon throughout Hoylake.
Are you interested in joining us? Could you become a Director of this exciting, innovative local regeneration organisation? Or can you volunteer some time or expertise just a couple of times a year? Email us
|
|
 GOADING us on
HVL formed in 2009 in response to concerns about the number of empty shops in Hoylake. At the time we formed, Hoylake had the fifth highest vacancy rate in Wirral and was the lowest performing town centre in Wirral in the UK retail rankings (Experian). We have been in discussions with Experian to try to find out more about their data and what it means.
Our analysis of an Experian GOAD (comparison retail) report from 2009 has delivered some startling figures that we believe are cause for great optimism for businesses in Hoylake, contrary to another report by Wirral Council's consultants Roger Tym and Partners in their Core Strategy Report of 2010 that proposes 'downgrading' Hoylake, a critical measure that would form the basis of future planning decisions.
The evidence tells us that Hoylake has a potential comparison shopping turnover of £45-£60 million per annum, but actual turnover in 2009 was just £15 million, which leaves us with an underspend of at least £30 million.
This is a huge opportunity that needs to be realised. An opportunity we need to shout about. An opportunity we need to grasp. How are we so sure we're right? Read on to find out... Want to get involved? Email us
|
|
Food Fair returns in October
Foodie alert! Give the supermarkets a miss on 30 October.... The finest local produce and ingredients will be on offer in one awesome display in Hoylake!
The last two Food Fairs have seen over 4,000 people in total visit The Parade, Hoylake Community Centre to sample the best of local produce. Meet the producers, distributors and growers at this unmissable event. Enjoy live cookery demonstrations, sample taster dishes, meet friends. You won't go away empty handed and you'll enjoy a revival of your taste buds. Organised by Transition Towns West Kirby and The Parade, Hoylake Community Centre.
Do you have any ideas about supporting local food producers? Are you involved in food production? Email us
|
|
|
 Liverpool John Moores University Hoylake study
Hoylake Village Life met with LJMU Post-graduate students for their final module presentations that identified six possible development opportunities in Hoylake, some more achievable than others, but all interesting. All offered unique perspectives and some blue-sky thinking. It was an interesting project to be involved in, and we hope the students and LJMU benefitted from the experience. We certainly did! To find out more, email us.
Do you work for a school, college or university and have ideas for Hoylake projects? Are you keen to study Hoylake? Email us
|
|
|
 Marketing Hoylake
We continually seek out opportunities to market Hoylake more widely, but, as ever, word of mouth is the most valuable tool. Recent IPSOS MORI polling of visitors to Hoylake should deliver some results soon about the reasons why people visit, how long they stay, and whether they will return. We are also meeting again in the next few weeks with the newly established Hoylake Accommodation Providers group and hope to develop some exciting new ideas with them soon.
Do you 'spread the word' about Hoylake? Can we increase visitor numbers, making business better, but keeping Hoylake's unique character intact whilst building on our main assets: a beautiful coastline, great views, great architectural and cultural heritage and a growing high- quality restaurant offer?
What do you think? What could we do better? We need your feedback, please help us. Email us
|
|
|
 Banner sponsorship
2012 sees a new opportunity for Hoylake businesses to sponsor banners in Market Street. We are approaching existing sponsors first, and will then put the offer out to all businesses for whom we have an email contact address. All work to produce the banners and administrate the entire project is provided free of charge by Hoylake Village Life members and volunteers. Printing and installation costs amount to circa £4,000. If you want to sponsor a banner, or would like to see any more information on costs, and how we produce the banners, just email us.
Can you help us with projects like this? Do you want to have some fun along the way? Do you have other ideas for Hoylake? Email us
|
|
|
Wirral Festival of Firsts
A great success that will be back next year - even bigger and better. Did you get to see anything?
Hoylake appears to be a growing hotbed of creativity... home to artists, musicians, poets and more... could this creative core be what makes Hoylake tick? Can we work on this as we try to find an identity for a future Hoylake? A 'Home Town', not a 'Clone Town'? Full of independent shops, quirky, creative businesses that reflect the real nature of Hoylake? Events like this really help to raise the profile of Hoylake as 'somewhere different'. Somewhere to come and mix with people who love beautiful places and want the town to get better, but in a really special way. Thanks to John Gorman and his team of volunteers for bringing this great event to Hoylake and helping put the town on the road to a better future. Fantastic!
Visit the Festival of Firsts website at www.festivaloffirsts.co.uk/
Can you help with the planning of the next Wirral Festival of Firsts in Hoylake? Email them
|
|
|
 New businesses...
Antep, CK Barbers, Wirral Fairy Godmother, Rampworx…
All these businesses see potential in Hoylake. Welcome to them all, and we wish them every success. There's room for everything, especialy niche businesses and the odd national or regional chain, which attract footfall and help surrounding businesses. HVL have been contacting some national and regional 'anchor' brands to see if we can help shape the future offer, and are getting some interesting feedback. We think Hoylake is on the move... shop local, support these new businesses and see the change happen in front of your eyes, a phoenix from the flames. Most importantly, let's make sure it stays like this, we don't want a repeat of the post-2006 drop in confidence. That's what HVL are about... helping Hoylake to have a more sustainable economy.
Do you normally shop out of town for gifts, shoes, organic veg? Think before you drive! If you hear of a business considering locating to Hoylake we can help them settle in. So please Email us
|
|
Facebook and Twitter 350+ 'Likes' (or 'Friends' in old Facebook lingo) at the time of writing. Search 'Hoylake Village Life' on Facebook, or click 'Like' on our website home page, or Tweet us @HoylakeVillage. We are using social networking to the full and see this as one way to keep you in touch but also to spread the word about Hoylake. Help us to do this and see more visitors come to the town. It's not an immediate change, it will take time, but it will happen!
Do you want to help us get more Facebook 'Likes'? Can you tell your friends to 'Like' us? Do you work with computers? Email us
|
|
|
 Claire Lara
Professional Masterchef 2010 Claire Lara is set to open a new 50-seater restaurant in Hoylake, 'La Mouette', although the restaurant management tell us that a delay in building works has put back the launch date until Autumn 2011. This will be a significant addition to Hoylake's restaurant offer, and the Royal Hilbre Boutique Hotel and Spa in which the restaurant will operate will add further pazazz to the accommodation offer also. Welcome Claire... we know that loads of people in Hoylake will use the restaurant. It will also attract in much- needed visitors, and we can't wait!
What do you think about Hoylake's restaurant offer? Is it improving? Email us or comment on our Facebook page
|
|
|
 Party in the park!
It seems an eternity ago, but Friends of Grove Park put on a great show on the Royal Wedding day. Lots of activities for the kids, live music, entertainment by Anamal Dance, Fitness demonstrations by the Underground Training Station, pony walks, a commemorative tree planting and lots more...
Thanks to the Friends of Grove Park for putting on such a great event, we wish them well in their endeavours to improve the park and congratulate them on winning a significant amount of funding from the Seaside Fund to support their aims.
If you want to support Friends of Grove Park with practical help or donations Email us and leave your details.
|
|
|
 Wirral Art
Wirral Art (previously known as Artists in Our Midst) is a community group that originated in 2009. It is run by professional artists and aims to promote the arts on Wirral. Its main event, the Wirral Open Studios Tour, is an arts trail that takes place annually and welcomes visitors to the various artist venues and studios across the peninsula with a focus on Hoylake. This year's tour will take place on the weekend of the 24-25 September. Founder Micheline Robinson, who lives in Hoylake, tells us that the group has recently been awarded a significant grant that will help them market and promote the event.
Make sure you come along... visit the studios of practising artists and go along to events at Melrose Hall and St. Luke's Methodist Church. To find out more, visit the website
|
|
 Beatles in Hoylake subgroup
Time runs out when you are having fun. We've not been able to pursue this ambition but it is still very much alive. We need more volunteers to step forward to help this subgroup with some great ideas. It will be hard work, but fun and rewarding and we have lots of great contacts just waiting to be followed up.
Even if you're not a Beatles fan, there's a lot in here to get excited about.
Come on board with the HVL Beatles subgroup, email us with your ideas and come to our next meeting.
|
|
|
HVX
Young and bored in Hoylake? Sick of being sidelined? HVX is a new youth group initiated by Hoylake Village Life, but will be run entirely by young people for young people aged 13-19. They will be responsible for managing their own facilities, events and activities, and HVL and others will provide support, networking and advice when it is needed. If you know someone aged 13-19 who would like to be involved in setting up and being a key part of this new group, please email hvx@hoylakevillage.org.uk and we will get back to you straight away.
|
|
|
 Upcoming events
Last weekend many enjoyed the Victorian family fun day at the Lifeboat Museum on North Parade. There's much more to come... as well as our first film night at The Parade, Hoylake Community Centre on 30 September, there are lots more events of interest coming up in Hoylake: Lifeboat Day on 29 August, the European Sandyachting Championships on 17 September, the Hoylake 10k run on 18 September, and Wirral Arts Open Studios Tour on 24-25 September. Hoylake is hot, hot, hot! Are you organising events that we can help publicise? Email us and we will see if we can add them to our events listings. We also offer a secure online registration, bookings and payment system that you may use (administrative fees will apply).
|
© Hoylake Village Life 2011
You have been sent this email as you have had previous contact with the Hoylake Village Life group or website, operate a business in Hoylake, or are a resident involved in community activities If you do not wish to receive this or other emails from Hoylake Village Life in future please click here:
|
|
| Home |