The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The owner of several night time venues in Spalding says he’d back a bid for Purple Flag status for the town.
XO and Imaginarium owner Matt Clark says it’s something he approached South Holland District Council about several years ago.
And he felt it might bring night time vendors working together more.
“I mentioned it to the council about 15 to 17 years ago when the town’s night life was really on a high,” he said. “I believe it’s a brilliant scheme and it’s something the local authority should be getting involved with,” he said. “It can be something similar to like a Business Improvement District.
“We’ve got our own Responsible Retailer Code and you’d like to think other vendors would have their own to ensure a higher standard for companies.
“As a town we’ve got to do all we can to improve the economy.
“The whole town is in a bit of a sad state at the moment, it could do with a catalyst to get us all working together.
“I think some people only see the bad side to the night time economy and the drinking but don’t see the rest of the impact it has on even the daytime economy.
“People want clothes to go out in and get hair cut so they spend their money in the day too.
“Any town needs a good night time economy behind it.”
Matt says that his businesses are doing well post pandemic.
“It’s going well so far.
“We’re happy the younger generation are coming out as we were a little worried after the lockdowns the 18 and 19-year-olds wouldn’t be out so much, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“We’re up about 20 to 30 per cent on takings too, which seems to indicate people are coming to us earlier. “
