Tag Archive for: Wimbledon business news

September CEO Update from Helen

Love Wimbledon Team at Ride London

After Ride London, August is always a quiet month on the streets of Wimbledon, however we are very pleased to note that our overall footfall is not declining. In fact year on year we have stronger figures than August 2018 and we are showing a growth in footfall for the year to date. Investment in Wimbledon continues to be good and with strong interest in Wellington House and 22 Worple Road, the office sector continues to grow.

Unfortunately you will see that a couple of retailers have recently closed their doors. Since the change to the fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in April, two of our bookmakers have chosen to close in Wimbledon and Burger King was repossessed by the landlord from the franchise owners.

On a positive note, we are pleased to be working with LEON to welcome them to Wimbledon this autumn and are actively working with agents to attract new businesses to town. If there is a business you would like to see in Wimbledon then please let us know!

We have an exciting autumn ahead as we go into awards season, then cultural festival season and then I won’t mention the next season, but I can promise you plans are already afoot!

July CEO Update from Helen

Wimbledon town centre really does come alive at this time of year and we work hard to ensure the town is presented well. You will have seen our pavements being jetwashed (see more) and this year we have taken it upon ourselves to clean, repaint and dress the taxi shelter at Wimbledon station (see more). This along with the rainbow pedestrian crossing makes Wimbledon a town we can all be proud of, particularly at this time of year.

Our Big Screen is set up and ready to welcome you once again to The Piazza to catch all the live coverage from The Championships. This year we’re serving up a double with our Big Screen sponsors Elmlea, whose head office (and BID business) Upfield is based in Wimbledon Town Centre. Thank you to Abbottswood Flooring, another of our BID businesses, for their terrific service and expert fitting of the astroturf (see more) on The Piazza. We’re proud of these local partnerships as we work hard to connect BID businesses to our busy events calendar.

Bid Screen 2019

I attended the Merton Council scrutiny meeting for the report of the parking consultation last week and it looks like the proposals will be approved and accepted for implementation in September. This is particularly disappointing for Wimbledon as many parking costs will increase by 100%. I will update you more on this as soon as we have further confirmation. (Read our response to the Parking Consultation).

To finish on a positive note, I attended a reception at the Houses of Parliament hosted by Jake Berry MP who confirmed that BIDs are very important to the economic development of town centres and that those area that have Business Improvement Districts are responding well to the changes in retail.

We look forward to seeing you on a deckchair or a picnic bench very soon!

Find out more about our Big Screen Tennis and Summer Sit Out and other Summer Events.

Spring Update from CEO Helen

As the clocks go forward and the trees are in full blossom, the ‘feel good factor’ of spring is alive and well in Wimbledon. We welcomed three new businesses in the last month, Lebanese cuisine, Kababji and a LGBTQ bar, CMYK – both Wimbledon firsts, along with Card Factory that has opened in Centre Court. Independent pet shop and dog groomers Creature Company re-opened its doors after a major refurbishment.

 

Merton Council has just released a consultation about a significant increase in parking charges across Merton, but particularly Wimbledon. Please be sure to have your say here. An update on Play Wimbledon, Merton Council have shared plans for the redesign of the Russell Road junction outside New Wimbledon Theatre and St Mark’s Place. We would be very interested to hear your views to inform the next design.  See the Revised proposal PLAY WIMBLEDON.

 

It seems to be award season and we are so proud that many of our businesses are being recognised for being top in their industry. Congratulations to:

Sticks’n’Sushi who have been named the UK’s fastest-growing restaurant group by AlixPartners Growth Company Index.

Envoy Digital who have won the UK eCommerce Agency of the Year 2019 Award.

Darwin & Wallace, owners of 601 Queen’s Rd, won Best Sustainable Pub Company 2019 at The Publican Awards.

Pushfor were named FinTECHTalent of the week.

 

The Time & Leisure Food & Culture Awards and Merton Best Business Awards have been launched and we would encourage every business to consider applying for these local business awards. Love Wimbledon is the proud sponsor of a new category in the MBBAs – Positive Workplace – your chance to shout about how wonderful your business is to work for.