High Bridge Festival this weekend

While debate rages over how and if money allocated by the Mary Portas fund is being spent by other towns and cities across the UK, here in Newcastle, the High Bridge Quarter Tenants Association is working hard with the help of NE1 Ltd to wisely invest the £10K grant it received from the fund. Two years ago, business improvement district company, NE1 Ltd helped the tenants of High Bridge to form a Tenants Association to champion the Quarter which has experienced mixed fortunes over the last few decades and last year, supported the Quarter’s application for Portas funding. High Bridge is a haven for independent fashion boutiques, vintage emporiums, independent record stores and the new home to Baltic 39. Since its launch, the Tenants Association has worked hard to put the High Bridge Quarter back on the city’s map and attract new audiences to experience what the area has to offer. With NE1’s help, the Tenants Association hosted two hugely successful street carnivals in 2012, the first in April, the other in September to provide a market style focus to help encourage new visitors into the area and to infuse new life into the Quarter. Thanks to the success of last year’s events, and the Mary Portas financial support, the tenants of High Bridge will have a series of events this year, starting this Saturday 20 April. The Festival will be a family event packed with Market stalls, serving a plethora of world street food, entertainment and music, which will see a host of top performers from the world of music playing on the stage, including American Idol Star Jeff Dingle. A fun day for all! NE1 continues to work closely with the Tenants Association to assist its members in organising events and activities and to explore ways of increasing the appeal of the area. Tariq Albassam of NE1 Ltd explained: “High Bridge with its unique mix of independent fashion and music retailers alongside venues like Baltic 39 and the Stand comedy club contributes to making Newcastle a vibrant city centre and provides a uniqueness that sets it apart from other UK cities. High Bridge Tenants Association Chair, Elaine Sinclair said: “The Portas’ funding, together with the help we continue to receive from NE1 Ltd, has helped turn the spotlight on High Bridge and attract a new generation of shoppers. We’re determined to keep hosting events like the street festivals to celebrate all that’s on offer in the Quarter and to promote and protect the area’s unique identity which provides diversity in Newcastle’s retail scene.”