As well as the many joys that the start of autumn brings – beautiful colours in nature, evenings round the fire and who doesn’t love winter boots and a cosy jumper?! – the reduced daylight hours and memories of summer can bring its challenges. Self-care helps maintain mood, encourage a more optimistic outlook, and increase serotonin levels, therefore enabling us to manage stress, lower our risk of illness and improve energy levels. Bishop’s Stortford offers a range of convenient ways to maintain health and well-being as the nights draw in. Here are some ideas… Holland & Barrett is a one-stop… Read more »

The kids are back at school, summer is behind us and Autumn, well-known as the season for fresh starts and making plans, has arrived. The ideal time for house-hunting! For those looking to sell, the weather is still on-side and gardens look colourful for photographs and viewings. Many see this as a convenient window of time to get properties in order and on the market before winter sets in and the busy festive season is upon us. Knowing your estate agent Despite the proliferation of online estate agents in recent years, face-to-face meetings and services offered by high-street estate agents… Read more »

Photo: Unique Hair & Male Barbering, Bridge Street (2022 Winner). Photo credit: JJD Media. Who would you like to put forward for the BID Extra Mile Award? Nominate the business/person in the BID area who you think goes above & beyond. To find out more, click here Scroll to the bottom of the link for the nomination form. Deadline for nominations is Saturday 30th September so don’t hang around! Good luck everyone!

Much like the town’s diverse architecture, with historical buildings to the north-side and modern to the south, Bishop’s Stortford’s offer is all about variety too. There’s a host of new and long-established businesses dotted around the town, including local independents, national and international brands and high street retailers. Personal Experience Bishop’s Stortford is known for its sense of community; a familiar face and personal service are very much part of the ‘Stortford Experience’. The many independents here each offer something special and interesting. Pop into the beautiful Fordes on North Street for some interiors advice and gifting inspiration. Need a… Read more »

Have you received our magazine through your door, with all the latest news and views from across the town? All brought to you by the Bishop’s Stortford BID! It includes features, seasonal hints and tips and reminders of what we have here in Bishop’s Stortford (both old and new), as well as updates on TK Maxx and the Jackson Square development, an interview with Centre Manager Michael Smith and the chance to win a £200 Discover Stortford Gift Card! You can pick up a copy at the Tourist Information Centre in Market Square or in waiting areas of businesses across… Read more »

The Discover Stortford ‘dog-friendly’ window sticker has now launched and offers a quick way to tell if businesses welcome pooches as well as humans! The following town centre businesses have the sticker and have confirmed their dog-friendly status: Art House/Barnes Flooring/Caffé Nero/Click Click/Coopers of Stortford/The Dog’s Head/Eden Hair/Fat Face/Fashion Flooring/Fashion Interiors/Mountain Warehouse/Paisa/Ruby Room/Stock Florist/Waterstones/Wright & Bailey London Keep your eyes peeled for more stickers in windows over the coming weeks and months. As businesses request them, we will update the list. You can now also search our business directory and filter by ‘dog-friendly’ or ‘baby-friendly’. This is a new feature… Read more »

A big thank you to everyone who entered our recent swan colouring competition. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed seeing all your wonderful creations and sharing them with the general public in the Community Space in Jackson Square. Mayor Cllr Richard Townsend had some tough decisions to make! We can now announce the winners in each age category: Age 3 and under: Isla Robbie Age 4 – 5: Olivia Age 6 – 7: Alice Draycott Ages 8 – 11: Menia Adamopoulos Age 12+: Kathleen Each winner will receive a Jellycat swan and a £20 Discover Stortford Gift Card, which can be spent in… Read more »

Congratulations to the winners of our three prize bundles worth £200 each! Robbie Scott won the children’s bundle, Preston Pite the teen bundle and Jayne Coulson the adult bundle. Please check your email if you haven’t already so we can arrange collection of your prizes. Thanks and well done to everyone who took part in the trail over the summer holiday. The word you were looking for was N-A-V-I-G-A-T-I-O-N. Winners of our Swan colouring competition will be announced later today. Keep an eye on Instagram/Facebook @DiscoverStortford and Twitter/X @StortfordBID. We’ll post here too.

Bishop’s Stortford residents are invited to attend a community information event on Thursday 14 September, from 4-7pm. The event will take place at the ex-Charringtons House car park, offering residents an opportunity to discover the wealth of help and support available to them. The aim of the event is to connect local organisations with the public and share vital information about their services. Additionally, the stalls at the event have been designed to be interactive, with some featuring children’s activities, making it a family-friendly occasion that combines valuable information with a touch of fun. Organisations attending include: PCSO Clare Andrews,… Read more »

Starting on Sunday 3 September, and every Sunday thereafter, a brand new car boot sale will be taking place in the centre of Bishop’s Stortford. Utilising the currently empty Charringtons and Causeway car parks, experienced operators Capital Car Boot Sales have chosen this site as the 6th in their portfolio. Sellers – No bookings are required, just turn up and pay on the day, arrive from 8am. Costs are: Cars – £15 / Small vans & 4x4s – £20 / Large vans – £25 Buyers – welcome from 9am with FREE entry! Park in the neighbouring car parks – Northgate… Read more »

In an increasingly digitised world, we feel fortunate to have maintained a wide range of face-to-face services in Bishop’s Stortford. A familiar face and personal service are very much part of the ‘Stortford Experience’ and this extends right through the town from our shops to our all-important service businesses, like banking. Why not pop into town and see how trained staff can make your life that little bit easier? Bishop’s Stortford offers a selection of eight high-street options, with a presence in South Street, Potter Street and several clustered at the north end of town around Market Square and North… Read more »

The development works at Jackson Square have officially begun to make way for designer discount store TK Maxx to open up a new store. They’ll be taking over a brand new 20,000 foot unit. To accommodate the new unit, works will be taking place in Bridge Street and also within the centre itself. It is still very much business as usual for all the stores within Jackson Centre, and whilst there may be some noise, disruption will be kept to a minimum. To find out more about this exciting development, Jackson Square Centre Manager Michael Smith talks us through the… Read more »