Historic Worcester streets will be decorated with Christmas lights for first time ever

There were no Christmas lights and bunting along Friar Street and New Street in past years because of a lack of fixing points.

Paul Chester from Three Counties Christmas has now installed fixing points and the lights will go up in early November.

They will remain in place all year round on timers with future plans for art installations along the streets.

Worcester BID led the project supported by Paul Collins from Worcester City Council's Planning and Conservation who ensured they were installed correctly with minimal disruption to the historic street. 

Samantha McCarthy, from Worcester BID, said: “The anticipation around this new festoon lighting is brilliant to see.

"It is in initiatives like this that city centres see their truest benefit from the BID, as a private sector support to provide extra elements to the city centre to assist our shops and business.

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"Delivering projects to enhance the public realm is key to support with the recovery of our city post pandemic.

"We are encouraging locals and visitors to explore different areas of Worcester, helping spread footfall and spend. We are looking forward to seeing this transformation of two historic streets.”

Businesses along the two streets are also excited to see the lights in place.

Terry Goodwin-Jones and Popi Pribojac own and run The Kings Gallery and Mangojuice Gallery on New Street.

We’re on #FriarStreet and #NewStreet this evening doing some prep work ready for some lighting next month!! All supported by @WorcesterBID 🎄💡🎄💡🎄💡 pic.twitter.com/ro4kDs4ssI

— Three Counties Christmas (@Christmas3Count) October 24, 2021

Mr Goodwin-Jones said: "Having traded in New Street for 22 years, it has often felt that we are poor relations to other areas because we never have any Christmas lights, so to now have some permanent festoon lighting is fantastic, especially with the darker evenings coming.

"It will make these streets so much more atmospheric at night."

Hannah Webb, from Bottles Wine Bar on New Street, said: “We’re so excited at Bottles at the prospect of festoon lighting all down two of Worcester’s most historic streets.

"As a Worcester girl who has lived and worked largely on New Street and Friar Street it really inspires a sense of nostalgia and I believe will create a gorgeous atmosphere down our already buzzing little streets."