Hereford Businesses Endorse Proposed Medieval Festival

A medieval festival is one of several proposals put forward to attract additional visitors to Hereford. This biennial event, as stated by the Hereford Business Improvement District (BID), aims to “allow the public to immerse themselves in a world long gone”. The BID anticipates that the festival has the potential to develop into a significant regional draw for the county. City businesses, which contribute a levy to finance the BID, have conceptually endorsed the festival. The Hereford BID is putting forward this event as part of its strategy to enhance Hereford’s appeal over the coming five years. Mike Truelove, the chief executive, commented: “We do not have many details yet on the Medieval Festival other than our intention to do this in 2026, but overall the idea is to create a really fun festival that is heavily experiential.” Concurrently, the organization will maintain its support for other urban events, such as the Hereford City Life Presents summer music programme and Applefest in autumn, which highlights the region’s cider legacy. Furthermore, the BID intends to implement a new digital strategy to draw in regional visitors and collaborate with partner organizations to market Hereford as a destination for both visits and overnight stays. The BID’s proposals state: “A day tourist visit brings in roughly £28, whereas a two-day stay is £120 – money that will find its way into the local economy,”. Eign Gate, described as a “pedestrian gateway,” is slated for improvements with enhanced lighting and signage to make it more inviting. The BID spearheaded a campaign last year aimed at tackling anti-social crime in that street. The BID is also planning an annual security conference, commencing in 2026, for individuals and groups invested in the city’s safety. Given that over 90% of levy payers support the BID’s ongoing operations, the organization anticipates collecting £340,000 in the upcoming financial year, with this figure projected to increase to £368,000 by the close of the decade. Including other revenue streams, its overall budget for the five-year term will exceed £1.9m. Herefordshire Council is among the levy payers endorsing the BID’s initiatives, committing an initial payment of £32,085 for the 31 business properties it possesses within the city. A document detailing the council’s decision stated: “There are benefits to Herefordshire Council and businesses from the continuation of the BID,”. The Local Democracy Reporting Service, which reports on councils and other public service bodies, compiled this information. For updates, follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.