Feel Good Festival Stalls Available at The Station Bazaar

Rochdale Best Bar None Awards 2013

The Baum collects accolade as drinking spots put safety first

 

The Baum has been named ‘Best Bar None’ in ceremony celebrating top safety standards at drinking establishments across the borouh.

 

Andy Glover - Rochdale Council Public Protection Manager presents the award for "Best Bar None" to Heidi & Simon Cromton of The Baum, Rochdale.

Best Bar None is a national scheme backed by the Home Office which sees venues which sell alcohol adhere to a range of strict safety standards. Only those which pass a gruelling two hour assessment by nationally accredited assessors are awarded a Best Bar None plaque. Venus undergo reassessment each year.

 

Prospective members have to answer questions on a range of things including whether their staff are trained in conflict management and first aid, how they ensure safe use of glass, whether they hold regular meetings to review security and whether they have a dispersal policy in place to deal with large numbers of people leaving their venue at the same time.

 

The annual Best Bar None awards, which were judged this year by Jim Taylor, Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, Annette Anderson, Chief Superintendent of Rochdale Police and Councillor Sultan Ali, Cabinet Member for Strengthening Communities at Rochdale Borough Council, reward those venues which have implemented additional safety measures beyond what is required to be a member of the scheme.

 

The Baum was highlighted because of its excellent staff training record and community involvement, including a scheme which saw their staff work with business students from Hopwood Hall College to improve their product knowledge. They were also praised for their responsible attitude including ensuring revellers do not create noise nuisance while leaving the premises.

 

The full list of winners is:

 

Winner Best pub - The Baum

Runner up best pub - The Flying Horse

Winner best bar - Mango

Runner up best bar - Pacific

Overall winner - The Baum

 

The Rochdale Best Bar None Scheme, which is managed by Rochdale Town Centre Management, was introduced in 2008. Earlier this year, it expanded to include venues outside Rochdale including the Ladybarn in Milnrow, the Healey in Shawclough and the Norden Arms.

 

Councillor Sultan Ali, Cabinet Member for Strengthening Communities at Rochdale Borough Council. Said: “It’s encouraging to see that our licensed premises take the safety of their customers and the wider community so seriously.

 

“This project, along with schemes like Homesafe, which sees police and licensing officers flood the town centre streets at key times on Friday and Saturday nights, go a long way to ensuring that our town centres are safe and enjoyable places to be.”

 

Rochdale Town Centre manager, Debbie O’Brien said: “We’re lucky to have fantastic venues like the Baum in our town centre. These awards are a mark of quality and yet another reason for people to come and enjoy all that our borough has to offer.”

 

Andy Glover presenting the award of best Bar to Mark Dorosz - Manager of Mango

For more photo's from the Best Bar None Awards Ceremony please visit the Rochdale Town Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rochdaletcm?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/rochdaletcm/media_set?set=a.567544296631403.1073741826.100001275122230&type=3 

 

Rochdale Co-operative Fun Day - Saturday 22 June, 10am - 4pm, Rochdale Town Hall

 

 

Meeting of High Street Foundation - Tuesday 21 May

This week around 40 members of the Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation met at Number One Riverside to discuss the Heritage offer within our town centres. Attendees included Marks & Spencer, O2, the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre, Rochdale Style Magazine, Molesworth Bright Clegg Solicitors, Recruitment Solutions, Hopwood Hall College, iTXT, the Rochdale Hornets, Morris Dean and The Best of Rochdale (to name just a few).

The meeting was excellently Chaired by Paul Clark of CJ Partnerships along with Vice Chair - Greg Couzens and the theme of the evening was HERITAGE.

Peter Rowlinson - Director of Planning & Regulation at Rochdale Council kicked off proceedings with a general update. Lots has been happening in Heywood & Middleton Town Centres and the Council are working with local businesses to establish Town Teams for both centres and budgets of £25K are being allocated to both centres to invest in supporting the vitality and vibrancy of these towns.

We saw some exclusive photographs taken of the medieval bridges underneath The Butts (see photo's below!) which will be exposed when the River is re-opened, and heard about exciting plans to launch an international design competition for Rochdale town centre backed by English Heritage.

Julian Jefferson - the Arts & Heritage Director for the Borough gave a sterling presentation on the Borough's heritage offer despite his Powerpoint slides running away with themselves! We heard about our physical heritage offer;
East Lancs Railway
Ellenroad Engine House
GM Fire Service Museum
Middleton Golden Cluster
The Pioneers Museum
Touchstones
& the wonderful Town Hall

He also promoted a range of heritage events taking place including a Rochdale Co-operatives Day on 22 June, the Heywood 1940's Day (29 June), Rochdale Food Good Festival (30 & 31 August) and a Zusammen Choir Procession that took place last week!

A pop up shop has also been opened for 1 month by young people in Rochdale Town Centre who took their inspiration from the town's industrial heritage. 

Other exciting snippets of news...the Metrolink into Rochdale Town Centre is on schedule and could be running as early as January 2013, a section of the Tour de France race will come through Rochdale Borough next year! (OK so it's only 1Km but it's still comming to the Boro!) Marks & Spencer are investing in a store refurbishment in September and O2 have opened a new flagship store in Middleton town centre!

CAR PARKING was a usual hot topic - should it be free all day? Should people be charged 10p an hour so it can be measured? Should people have to buy something to get a free parking ticket? Should you be able to park anywhere for 10 minutes saving grace? The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre are offering permits for town centre workers for £2 a day!

Marks & Spencer called for action to be taken on the empty shops and quick wins could include decorative hoardings / artwork in shop windows to make the high street look more attractive.

A new development is opening in July - The Rochdale Station Bazaar (opposite Rochdale train station) comprising 15 individual retail units, a coffee shop and Cost Cutter supermarket.

The Best of Rochdale promoted their philosphy - to promote the best of Rochdale! And Winning Pitch are holding a Growth Accelerator workshop for local businesses on 19 June.

It was a shame the meeting ran out of time as I could have sat and listened for another hour, and the energy in the room was captivating.

All of the ideas and issues discussed at the High Street Foundation meetings are reported back to Rochdale Council Town Centres Committee to ensure action is taken.

If you would like to get involved and join the High Street Foundation, come along to our next meeting on Tuesday 09 July, 6pm - 7.30pm at Number One Riverside, Rochdale.

These images show the medieval bridges above the River Roch - taken by Urban Exploratory Photography.

 

A group of young people have opened a Pop Up shop on Yorkshire Street in Rochdale Town Centre - selling T-shirs and fabrics inspired by the town's industrial heritage.

 

A selection of goods on sale at the Retail Ready Pop Up Shop on Yorkshire Street, Rochdale.

 

Oh What A Night!

The much anticipated #SingRochdale Zusammen Choir Procession took place around Rochdale last Thursday evening. Over 200 people joined in the drop-in choir, the rain stayed away and there was even some sunshine!

The procession was organised by the Rochdale Pioneers Museum and Touchstones Rochdale as part of the national Museums at Night Festival. The drop-in choir consisted of members of the public and community groups who came together to sing for one night only. All were given a commemorative #SingRochdale gold medal with a green and white ribbon.  The choir was accompanied by Littleborough Brass Band and Rochdale Youth Brass Band as well as singers and musicians from Rochdale Sixth Form College.

The procession was led by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) Junior Wardens who carried the #SingRochdale banner. The procession began at St Chad’s Church at 6pm with the drop-in choir singing ‘If I Knew You Were Coming I’d Have Baked A Cake’ by Rochdale’s own Gracie Fields, followed by Geoff Alexander’s ‘I’m Going Back to Rochdale’.

The procession went on to sing at various local landmarks including the Broadfield Park Bandstand and the Rochdale War Memorial. Songs included children’s favourite ‘Reach’ by S Club 7, William Blake’s Jerusalem and ‘Eight Days A Week’ by the Beatles. The procession ended at around 7.45pm at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum with the choir singing another Gracie favourite, ‘Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye’, and the Rochdale Youth Brass Band playing ‘The Final Countdown’. The parishioners of the St Mary in the Baum Church, neighbour of the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, provided participants with tea and coffee after the procession.

Artist Susan Forsyth, who has previous organised Zusammen Choir Processions in Lisbon, London and Warsaw described the #SingRochdale event as ‘the best Zusammen Choir ever!’ and said ‘huge credit to everyone in Rochdale for embracing the Zusammen spirit.’ One participant said they enjoyed the ‘friendliness, camaraderie and general 'feel' good atmosphere’ with another saying they liked ‘the fun, the brass band and no rain’. Rochdale Pioneers Museum Manager Jenny Broadbent said ‘since the event several individuals have contacted us to to say they enjoyed it so much they’d like to see #SingRochdale become an annual event!’

 

Photography by Andy Hirst: www.andyhirst.com

The Next Meeting of the High Street Foundation will be held on Tuesday 21 May, 6pm - 7.30pm, Number One Riverside

A G E N D A

 

6.00pm	Networking Light refreshments will be served		15mins
6.15pm	Welcome	Paul Clark	5mins
6.20pm	General Update	Mark Widdup Executive Director, RMBC	10mins
6.30pm	Update on Heywood & Middleton progress	Peter Rowlinson Service Director, Planning & Regulation	10mins
6.40pm	Rochdale Borough Heritage Offer Discussion / Q&A	Julian Jefferson Arts & Heritage Manager – Link 4 LIfe	35mins
7.15pm	Open Forum Any delegates are welcome to say a few words to promote their business / raise any issues or share best practice.   Specific requests have been received from:   Rochdale Online   Best of Rochdale	All                 Pauline Journeaux   Deborah Bell	15mins
7.30pm	Close

 

Museums At Night - Thursday 16 May, 6pm onwards, St Chads Church, Rochdale

Zusammen Choir Procession

#SingRochdale

Why not vist a museum or a twilight market after work on Thursday 16 May?

Rochdale town centre is taking part in Museums at Night, a national after hours festival of arts, culture and heritage.

You can visit any of the town's museums for free until 8pm, including Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Touchstones Arts and Heritage Centre and Rochdale Town Hall.
 
There will also be a Zusammen Choir Procession through the town, a twilight market held outside Rochdale Town Hall and a range of street theatre, music and family entertainment.

Come along and join the Zusammen Choir Procession! Zusammen means 'together' and the drop-in choir will consist entirely of members of the public and community groups who come together to sing together for one night only. There are no rehearsals and no singing skill is required. Song sheets will be provided. To join in the procession meet at St Chad's Church, Sparrow Hill, at 6pm.
FREE car parking is available on Rochdale Town Hall from 3pm onwards. More details are available on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/562690513771077/


Song List:

1. If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Have Baked A Cake (Gracie Fields)
2. I'm Going Back To Rochdale (Geoff Alexander)
3. Leaning On A Lampost (George Formby)
4. Magic Penny (Traditional)
5. Reach For The Stars (S Club 7)
6. Jerusalem (Words By William Blake)
7. Danny Boy (Traditional)
8. I Vow To Thee My Country