Spalding Flower Parade impacted retail and hospitality positively with Red Lion in Market Place seeing takings up £2,500 up on last year
Town centre firms reported a busy weekend after thousands of people were drawn to watch Spalding Flower Parade.
Pubs, cafes and cab firms reported good trade thanks to the sunny weather, with visitors attracted to the town from far and wide.
The parade had a positive impact on the local economy after firms brought in additional staff but the barriers, road closures and attractions at the Castle Sports Centre did also affect some traders.
Kirsty Berry, manager at the Red Lion on Market Place, said: “Our beer order was three times bigger than last year.
“Our takings increased to £2,500 more this year and the weather helped as we sold out of cider
“Every single one of our 23 employees came in and no one had the day off and we opened at 9am until midnight.”
Security staff were on the door and plastic was used instead of glasses as the pub had to introduce safety measures due to the Public Spaces Protection Order which covers the town centre.
She added: “Most people stayed around and one or two went off to the Castle and then came back.
“It is great seeing the town pulling together.”
The Red Lion provides bar staff at the South Holland Centre where afternoon tea, cold drinks and a slush machine were on offer plus a great view of the parade.
Mandy Stancer, landlady for 16 years at the Lincoln Arms on Bridge Street, said: “It was definitely good trade-wise and a busier day on the Saturday but with an early close.
“Because the weather was on our side we took more this year than last year.
“You never know what it is going to be like and it was really warm.”
Her dad Peter Bell used to put the straw matting on the tulip floats from 1970 until 1986 before foam was used instead.
She said: “It is really important that things like this are carried on.
“The parade is very close to my heart and my daughter and granddaughter have also been involved.
“I think it is important to try and keep it going for the town as it is what Spalding is known for, although it is more of a carnival now than an actual flower parade.”
Conversely the owner of The Green Bowl on New Road, Trudy Edgington, had a quieter day than predicted compared with 2023.
She said: “It was quiet, not like last year and I think it was because they put everything at the Castle sports ground so visitors had everything they needed.
“I am not complaining as we had a nice day anyway and the weather was perfect.
“It was not as good last year business-wise. We were busy but there seemed to be more lining the streets last year.”
Pop-up coffee company owner Hannah Joe who runs Jackalope Joe set up at 8am outside the Royal Mail Cart on Pinchbeck Road and had queues of up to 17 people.
She said: “Because of our position by the pub and it being a beautiful day the iced coffees were popular though we ran out of ice.
“It was good and really successful with people on their way to the parade popping in for coffee and cake.
“Smart Cabs were dropping off people at the pub so we picked up new people that way.”
With a good business relationship with the pub and similar takings to last year Hannah feels people are supportive of community events.
She said: “People really want to come out for them
“I think it is lovely to have so much heritage behind the parade and that is what I love.
“People who are interested and excited to see it come back. It is important to the town and the organisers have done a good job.”
Keir Moore, manager of The Moorings on Commercial Road saw an increase in drinks rather than food perhaps due to the good weather.
He said: “It was a good day for us with a lot more on the takings side and busier on wet sales.
“If it is hot people don't really want to eat.
“It was a perfect day and good for the town, bigger than last year and the weather was kinder.”
The parade goes over the bridge nearby which meant it also brought more visitors to the pub and the landlord decided to prepare in advance for a busy day.
He said: “We were staffed well and prepared well so people were not waiting too long for drinks.
“I thought the parade was fantastic with people upbeat and in good spirits.
“There was no trouble from what I gather.”
Retail staff also found that the parade brought in visitors from further afield.
Emily Davy, sales associates at Robert Goddard, said: “The parade is good for Spalding town and good for the shops.
“People popped in who said they didn’t know we were here.”
India Pignatiello, sales assistant at Furniture Warehouse, said: “It was busy in store with visitors from as far away as Sheffield.
“The parade brings business back to the shops and livens up the town centre.”
Shops such as jewellers Element 78, in the Market Place, and the optician Molsom and Associates might not have received extra trade but value the importance of the parade.
Vicky Harvey, manager at Molsom and Associates opticians said: “We love the atmosphere and visitors it brings to Spalding.
“Well done to all the volunteers who made it possible.”
Jason Coates, owner of Element 78 said: “It is good for the town.
“It is lovely to see the town busy and we need more events like this in the town.”
Some aspects of the parade which affected traders were the road closures, not being able to have outside seating, barriers stopping people from crossing the road from one side to the other and the location of their business on the route.
Phil Davis, owner of Rumblings Café and Takeaway in The Crescent, said: “I would say we are slightly out of the way but at the same time the flower parade is fantastic.
“Everyone had a really good day and our takings were not up or down than that of a normal Saturday.
“It was busier than last year and everyone was in good spirits so it was positive all round.
The road closure and not having outside seating did affect the café however.
He added: “Perhaps not having a seating area is a bit of a problem.
“Next year we might ask to have chairs and tables on the pavement and road as the road is already shut.
“It is something to think about as we lost our seating area during Covid and never really got it back.”
The Sunshine Café in Bridge Street is passed by the parade and was busy on Saturday and quiet on Sunday.
Owner Adam Sun said: “We couldn't put seating outside but it was a good atmosphere and it was better trade than last year.”
Jack Coupland, manager at Smart Cabs also reported good trade providing taxis for the park and ride and that it is ‘always a good year when the parade is on.’
Over at Penningtons on Red Lion Street a lot of the visitors were not local and it helped that they could cater outside.
Owner Anna Avery said: “We did have a lovely busy day and 99 per cent of business was not from our usual regulars.
“We geared up for crowds and we got the crowds and nearly all visitors were pleasantly surprised to find somewhere able to accommodate people.
“It was a success and a really good atmosphere and we had extra staff on.
“It has really surprised me how many people have embraced the flower parade and it is a lovely carnival atmosphere .
“It is a very different thing now to the 70s.
“It is more about the community and I can't complain.”
Check out all of our Spalding Flower Parade coverage here
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