I WAS INTERVIEWD BY STEVE MACKENZIE FOR THE BIG ISSUE on HIGH STREET SPIRIT -Why you should feel hopeful about the high street Here is an excerpt: Independent businesses offer a glimpse of green shoots. In 2019, large retailers with 10 or more outlets closed 5,901 shops – an increase of 79 per cent on […]
03
May
May
I was interviewed by The Yorkshire Post about the ‘Independent Spirit’ of my hometown of Halifax. Halifax has been undergoing a renaissance over the last few years, and, alongside investment from the council, big projects like The Piece Hall and a beautiful new library, a big element of the town’s success is how businesses & […]
12
Aug
Aug
An article which appeared in The Yorkshire Post June 2019 The Totally Locally campaign launched in Yorkshire in 2010 and now has supported dozens of high streets across the globe. Laura Drysdale speaks to its founder Chris Sands. When Chris Sands holidayed in the Portuguese district of Viana do Castelo, he was immediately struck by […]
07
Apr
Apr
Totally Locally got a lot of media interest when Crickhowell won Great British High Street of the Year Award, and Emma (who runs Totally locally there) won High Street Hero of they year. Many other towns who have used the Totally Locally Town Kit have been winners or runners up in the past too. This […]
06
Apr
Apr
Branding a landscape to take the area towards Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status. Work carried out includes: branding, design, photography, interviews, artwork, film, copywriting, workshops. The Sandstone Ridge is a stunning piece of Cheshire landscape that runs from Frodsham to Malpas, taking in Tarporley & Delamere Forest. Sitting on the vast, flat Cheshire Plains, […]
06
Apr
Apr
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED… Hebden Bridge is Special. It constantly sits in many ‘Top Ten Places to…” lists and has been called “Britain’s Funkiest Town’, ‘One of The Best Places to Live in Europe’, and has had many, many more accolades bestowed upon it. Hebden marches to its own alternative tune, ever since the hippies moved […]
28
Dec
Dec
Halifax Borough Market has been the heart of Halifax for over 150 years. But it needed some new thinking to take it into the next stage of its life. Click below to view video we did with Sarah Mason Photography. I recommended clearing a derelict space, The Albany Arcade – one which had empty units […]
26
Dec
Dec
A brand for Photographer Sarah Mason
30
Mar
Mar
The Piece Hall in Halifax is one of the most breathtaking buildings you could ever wish to walk in to. It’s Europe’s last remaining open-air cloth hall, and it resides in my home town! In 2014 The Piece Hall closed its doors to the public for a £20 million renovation. It was only meant to […]
30
Jan
Jan
My book on cycling life in The South Pennines is all but sold out (I kept a few back for posterity), so here it is in digital format to have a look through. Hope you enjoy it!