Pateley Bridge High Street is on full alert this morning as a crack-team of expert judges find out what makes it so special and a contender to win this year’s Great British High Street competition.
A judge from Marks & Spencer’s, the sponsor of the village category, has a 50% say on who wins the title of best village high street in Britain.
The other 50% is taken up by the public vote – already 80,000 votes have been cast.
The best village high street will get a share of a prize pot worth £100,000 and expert training from Google’s digital taskforce for shops, bars and restaurants as well as a trip to Twitter UK’s London office to boost their social media skills.
Keith Tordoff, Chairman of Nidderdale Chamber of Trade said:
Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire are thrilled to have been shortlisted by the judges of the Great British High Street Awards. To be recognised as the one of the best High Streets in the country by the judges who are from such renowned companies is in itself an accolade.
To continue to be part of the competition with a chance of being named the best High Street in the country is an extremely exciting time for everyone who loves Pateley Bridge and we will be looking to those same people to vote for us!
Peter Donohoe, Sustainable Business Manager at M&S said:
We’re proud signatories of the High Street Pledge, working collaboratively with our partners to help regenerate communities across the UK.
We’re pleased to be involved with selecting the best high street and are looking forward to hearing more about the work that’s been done in Langport, Kirkby Lonsdale and Pateley Bridge.
The Great British High Street Competition 2016 celebrates the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets. It is one of a number of initiatives to help champion high streets as the cornerstones of the community.
This year’s competition saw a record 900 entries across all 14 categories, including the new categories for individuals and shops.
The twenty-seven finalists for places were announced on 18 October. In the village category Pateley Bridge in the Yorkshire Dales will be competing against Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria and Langport in Somerset.
Now the shortlist has been drawn up and the public has the chance to vote directly for their best-loved high street online.
Between now and 18 November you can cast your vote for free via thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk
