North Shropshire Tourism Members' Area

Become a member

If you are seeking more information about joining membership of North Shropshire Tourism or getting independent business or marketing advice and website and IT services, please contact Claire.

By phone on 01743 261919 or email cowen@shropshiretourism.co.uk

Shropshire Tourism (UK) Ltd
Grove House
8 St Julian's Friars
Shrewsbury
Shropshire, SY1 1XL

Members might be interested to know that through their joint membership of Shropshire Tourism and North Shropshire Tourism their business gets additional promotion on the Visit Britain websites.

North Shropshire Tourism AGM 2012

North Shropshire Tourism Ltd held their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 23rd February 2012 at The Old Rectory, Wem.

Please click the links below to view the papers for this meeting:

Thank you to those who attended.

North Shropshire Tourism Members News - April 2012

1. North Shropshire Tourism Membership Continues to Grow

Thank you to members who were able to attend the North Shropshire Tourism AGM which took place in February at The Old Rectory Hotel in Wem.

Richard Powell, Vice Chair of North Shropshire Tourism, welcomed everyone along and gave an update on activities for the past year. Claire also gave a marketing update for 2011/12; membership continues to grow and website visits are up! Read on for the highlights.

North Shropshire Tourism now has 90 business members, including:

  • 27 Attractions (inc. retail & catering)
  • 22 Self Catering members
  • 34 Serviced (e.g. B&B's and hotels)
  • And 7 Caravan & Camping sites

The main benefit of your membership with North Shropshire Tourism and Shropshire Tourism is your full web entry on www.northshropshire.co.uk and www.shropshiretourism.co.uk - so it's great news that www.northshropshire.co.uk received a 24% rise in unique visitors last year, bringing the number of people looking for places to stay and things to do in North Shropshire and Oswestry up to 19,200.

This rise was largely due to the Board of North Shropshire Tourism's decision to redesign the website in June last year, to bring its appearance up to date and ensure more effective search engine performance.

North Shropshire Tourism and Shropshire Tourism continues to deliver marketing advice and support day in, day out to our members and prospective members in North Shropshire and Oswestry. As well as the business and marketing advice given to all new members, we also gave general advice, membership information and responses to specific questions ranging from grants to planning applications, to 48 businesses last year: 16 in Oswestry and 32 in North Shropshire.

Click here to read the full marketing update in the minutes of the 2012 AGM.

2. Reduced Funding from Shropshire Council

The Chair of North Shropshire Tourism, Clive Shingler, has reiterated the Board's commitment to grow the tourism economy in North Shropshire and continue to support members. This comes in light of the recent announcement on 4th April by Shropshire Council that they will be halving the amount of financial support they give to North Shropshire Tourism in this financial year.

The Service Level Agreement for 2012/13 will now be £1,500 as opposed to £3,000.

This situation is being replicated across the county for all of the tourist associations. Shropshire Tourism is yet to hear what financial support, if any, they will receive from Shropshire Council.

Clive Shingler said, "We are all aware that local authority funding is under pressure so this cut to the SLA is not a surprise, although of course it is unfortunate. Members should be assured that we are as committed as ever to working closely with Shropshire Tourism and Oswestry Borderland Tourism to ensure that limited resources are used effectively to continue to attract visitors."

North Shropshire Tourism and Shropshire Tourism will continue to keep our members updated. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call 01743 261919 or email cowen@shropshiretourism.co.uk

3. North Shropshire & Oswestry DDP

Established by Shropshire Council, North Shropshire & Oswestry Destination Development Partnership has continued to develop as an organisation over the past 12 months, chaired by John Waine from the Best of Oswestry.

Shropshire Council commissioned Shropshire Tourism to undertake a marketing strategy and plan for the DDP which has recently been completed and circulated to the DDP Board.

Shropshire Tourism analysed data from 6 different visitor surveys for the area to identify the primary visitor markets. Here's a brief summary for you:

Day Visitors

  • Main Geographic location
    1. 30min drive time
    2. within Shropshire
    3. 1 hour drive time
  • Main Age Group: 45 plus
  • Main Type of Group: Couples travelling without children
  • Main Socio- Economic Group: C1C2
  • Main Activity
    1. General sightseeing
    2. Shopping

UK Domestic Staying Visitors

  • Main Geographic location
    1. North West
    2. West Midlands
    3. London & South East
  • Main Age Group: 45 plus
  • Main Type of Group: Couples travelling without children
  • Main Socio- Economic Group: ABC1
  • Main Activity
    1. General sightseeing
    2. Other (predominantly visiting friends and relations)
    3. Canal trips

The main drivers, products and visitor offer were also analysed and presented with suggested marketing priorities and ways forward for the DDP over the forthcoming months.

Additional perception and motivation research is now also available which tells us what visitors think of Shropshire and what they like doing whilst they're here.

The Marches LEP Arkenford Research shows that:

  • 84% would consider Shropshire for a holiday/short break/day trip
  • 16% said Shropshire was 'my kind of place' for a holiday/short break/day trip
  • Shropshire is considered to be a destination suitable all year round
  • The strongest Shropshire association is the market towns/ villages/ scenic countryside and landscapes (79%)
  • Visiting local towns / villages / countryside, scenic areas and landscapes is the most appealing activity when on holiday
  • More gentle activities are enjoyed by a wider range of people
  • River walks, forest trails and gentle strolls are the most appealing outdoor activities
  • 86% of people said canals were their type of place to visit whilst exploring. Marketing communications for North Shropshire should therefore make the most of gentle walks alongside the canals.
  • Extreme sports appeal to only a small minority of consumers
  • Traditional pubs 85% and tea rooms 76% are amongst the most popular food and drink offer
  • Tasting/ buying locally sourced produce is also increasingly popular (77%) as well as interest in farmers markets (73%) and farm shops (70%)
  • World Heritage Sites appeal to 82% of people surveyed - so associations with Pontcysyllte Aqueduct are important for North Shropshire and Oswestry.
  • 75% rate gardens as 'my type of thing' - there is a particularly strong product offer in North Shropshire, so again, marketing communications should get this message across
  • Towns with quirky / unique / independent retailers are enjoyed most (89%)

The objectives of the DDP Marketing Strategy for North Shropshire & Oswestry are to:

i) Raise Awareness of North Shropshire and Oswestry as a visitor destination worthy of consideration by the target markets.

ii) Present the drivers, products and themes as a compelling visitor 'offer' (experience) to the target markets, using a distinctive style and tone in all communications.

iii) Provide potential visitors with easy and clear routes to find further information about North Shropshire and Oswestry and ultimately 'purchase' the product.

We will continue to bring you updates from North Shropshire & Oswestry DDP. If you have any questions in the meantime please contact Alison Patrick at Shropshire Council:

Tel: 01743 252546
Email: alison.patrick@shropshire.gov.uk

4. Leaflet Swap at Park Hall Farm

A successful leaflet swap was held at Park Hall Farm on 27th March for businesses in North Shropshire & Oswestry. It was great to see so many members there.

This informal get together was organised by Richard Powell at Park Hall Farm (Vice Chair of North Shropshire Tourism) and Dilys Gaskill from Glen Helen Cottages (member of North Shropshire Tourism and Chair of Oswestry Borderland Tourism Forum).

Attendees were treated to complimentary tea, coffee and homemade biscuits before a tour around the farm, culminating in a pig race! George Candler, Shropshire Council Area Director for the North, also gave a talk about the importance of tourism to the area.

Commenting Dilys Gaskill said, "It was the first time for many years that we have arranged a leaflet swap and Park Hall Farm was a wonderful venue. We hope to build on the success of this networking event and to arrange a similar event next year."

If you have any comments, feedback or suggestions for this leaflet swap or future events please email Claire at cowen@shropshiretourism.co.uk

5. Jubilee Events

North Shropshire has its fair share of Jubilee events taking place this June. To find out where and when please read on for a brief run-down.

Shropshire Jubilee Proms and Fireworks Spectacular, Oswestry Showground
Friday 1st June
01743 281281 (Theatre Severn Box Office)

Proms concert led by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, with a children's funfair, various food stalls and several bars on site. The event will culminate in a spectacular firework display.

Wem Town & Parish Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
2nd - 3rd June

Saturday 2nd June
Procession of vintage vehicles through the town, followed by a 'Big Picnic' lunch on Wem Recreation Ground, including games, competitions and food & drink.

Sunday 3rd June
Open air service on Wem Recreation Ground, with parade of uniformed organisations.

Cheswardine Diamond Jubilee Celebration
2nd - 4th June

Saturday 2nd June
"We'll Meet Again" afternoon tea in Cheswardine Village Hall, for any villagers who were there on Coronation Day in 1952.

Sunday 3rd June
"Jubilee Queen" will be crowned at St Swithun's Church, followed by a parade through the village.

Monday 4th June
Proms in the Park with live music and family fun, followed by the lighting of the beacon and fireworks display to round off the celebrations.

The Great British Jubilee Tea Party & Picnic, Dearnford Lake, Whitchurch
Tuesday 5th June
01948 655914
www.dearnford.com

Celebrate the Diamond Jubilee by having tea and cake or a picnic with your loved ones at the lake. Dearnford Lake will supply everything you need!

Victorian Jubilee Celebration at Hawkstone Historic Park & Follies, Weston-under-Redcastle
Tuesday 5th June
01948 841700
www.hawkstone.co.uk

Enjoy local gingerbread and port during the walk through these spectacular landscapes and gardens.

If you have any more to add to the list in your area please email Emily at eharrison@shropshiretourism.co.uk so that we can add them to www.northshropshire.co.uk and www.shropshiretourism.co.uk.