The Hop Pocket Shopping Village and Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire have collaborated to create a substantial new tourist information hub at the shopping village’s busy Bishops Frome location.
Right on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire border, as a regular destination for thousands of visitors all year round, The Hop Pocket recognised that many would find it useful to source more information on places to eat, sleep and enjoy, to keep them coming back to the area.
With an ever-expanding 5.5 acre site, housing a large number of independent retailers including fashion, furniture, an art gallery, artisan food and drink, housewares, a vast craft centre and café/restaurant, plus plant centre, the business had the footflow and the space to create a comprehensive promotional place to showcase what the county and its borders offers.
Together with the support of Herefordshire’s destination marketing company, Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire, they staged a permanent display of literature for the consumer to take away, and a seating area (of garden furniture that can be purchased) for those wishing to browse. Large engaging wall maps help people to locate the attractions and accommodation, and the hub will continue to evolve to become even more comprehensive.
“We already had bits of local community information here, but could see the benefit of something more widely informative, to remind people that there are reasons to stay and revisit” said Hop Pocket partner Matthew Pudge.
“With the decline of tourist information centres across the county, we are delighted to support the development of this ideal location and give our members an excellent regular venue to promote themselves in. This has been created with no public funding, just the creativity and collaboration of two businesses who’s mission is to promote tourism,” added Heidi Chamberlain-Jones Director of Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire.
One of the first groups to visit the hub was the Malvern Bed and Breakfast Consortium, who found the whole shopping village a brilliant place to send visitors looking for something to do come rain or shine.
If other tourism businesses would like to display their literature in the information hub, please contact either Maria Barber T: 01531 640323 or Heidi on T: 07713 243869
More about The Hop Pocket Shopping Village.