In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking to Belinda Hunt, Operations Manager at Cheltenham BID (Business Improvement District).
The regency spa town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire was made popular in the 18th and 19th centuries as a place the wealthy travelled to – for entertainment and to drink the spa water, said to provide ‘healing properties’. Today, Cheltenham is a cosmopolitan town with a population of 117,000, known for its horse racing, educational establishments and an enviable position next to the Cotswolds.
The town’s stunning regency architecture provides a beautiful backdrop for a packed programme of some of the UK’s best festivals and events, such as the Cheltenham Literature Festival and Cheltenham Jazz Festival. It has an assortment of fabulous restaurants, cafes and bars, plus a shopping offer to die-for (ok, maybe that’s just for someone like me!).
Cheltenham BID supports businesses in the heart of the town centre. And Belinda, who is originally from Zimbabwe, tells us about her job at Cheltenham BID and about the BID’s role in supporting local businesses. She talks about the need for collaboration and the type of events that drive footfall and sales for the retail and hospitality businesses of the town.
We chat about the different businesses that grew and changed during the pandemic and how the likes of high street retailer John Lewis is doing a great job of supporting local businesses with its initiatives.
It was lovely to find out more about Belinda, how she got to where she is today and what she likes to do outside of work. It was also wonderful to hear one of her amusing memories of Kevan Blackadder, friend and former director of Cheltenham BID, who sadly died in 2021.
Apologies for the slightly dodgy sound quality and I hope you enjoy the episode.
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