Great British High Street Awards judges visit Rotherham town centre

The new look street is in the running for the top prize in the Town Centre category of the Great British High Street Awards, with Altrincham and Tamworth also vying for the title.

Judges Alana Renner, Ana Pasante and Thomas Lovesy dropped in last Thursday and spent over an hour walking around town seeing how the town centre is developing.

They visited several shops, including Baby Blossom, and the new HQ of creative writing initiative Grimm and Co.

Ms Renner told the Advertiser that the trio had been impressed by what they had seen on their visit.

She said: “I think there is an amazing regeneration story here.

“I was here a couple of years ago and I have seen more regeneration today.

“The different aspects of the retail support to the help with residential projects and the history – all of that came through.

“I think there is a lot more to Rotherham than you might expect and that stems from the history and the independent shops.

“All of the talent that is here is being supported.”

Ms Renner said that local people needed to support the town by voting for it at thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk, with half of the final decision depending on a public vote and voting closing this Friday.

Winners in each of the seven categories get a share of a prize pot worth £80,000 which includes expert training and tailor-made tips from Google’s training taskforce for 100 of their shops, bars and restaurants.

Ms Renner said she was impressed by the “positivity” she had seen in the town during the judges’ visit.

She admitted that it would be difficult to choose between the three very different towns in the Town Centre category.

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