First ever Circus at Norfolk Square Gardens in Paddington
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PRESS STATEMENT FROM PADDINGTON BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
21 August 2009
FIRST EVER CIRCUS AT NORFOLK SQUARE GARDENS IN PADDINGTON
Norfolk Square Gardens in Paddington springs to life in mid-September every year when Paddington BusinessImprovement District (PBID) holds its ‘Party in Paddington’. This year, an extra special factor was incorporated, transforming the event into PBID’s first ever Circus in the Square.
The one-day event took place on Thursday 20 August 2009, just two blocks away from the Paddington Mainline Station. The square was decorated with a baby Big Top, balloons, and colourful flags, transforming it into a delightful circus.
Entry was free to all, attracting an impressive crowd of children and adults alike. Each entrant was given a yellow ‘Circus in the Square’ wristband, allowing them to receive concessions and discounts in various businesses within the Paddington BID area until end of August 2009.
Circus in the Square was supported by Westminster City Council who helped with additional marketing and advertising to attract a wider audience and helped cover site security and safety issues.
The circus programme was implemented by H2oh! Entertainment, a specialist event management agency. They provided all the circus entertainment including two feature performances, skilled circus artistes, jugglers, diabolo, hula hoopers, feather balancers, yo-yos, acrobatics and tight rope walkers. The event also had an interactive element, with a series of circus skills workshops amidst lots of colourful equipment, to accommodate a wide age range. Also part of the entertainment were funfair games, a stilt walking band and various food stalls.
Maxine Chapman, Chair of Paddington BID, said:
“ Paddington BID celebrated summer with a vibrant Circus in the Square event. With a mix of circus workshops, activities and performance artists. Tourists, local businesses, residents and school children were entertained throughout the day. Thanks go to all the stall holders and H2oh! Entertainment for managing the event. The wristband discount scheme promoted during the event day aims to generate greater businesses for local retailers until the end of the month, encouraging event visitors to return to the area. With the success of the circus behind us, we look forward to planning a community fair market and seeing illumination of Paddington for Christmas.”
H2oh! Entertainment said:
"We were delighted to be working with Paddington BID to create an exciting day of circus in a beautiful city setting. We had some top-class artists join us to offer roving entertainment, shows and more, to cater for the many people that came along to enjoy the event."
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
For more information please visit www.paddingtonbid.co.uk.
- The annual party in Norfolk Square Gardens is one of many initiatives that Paddington BID is funding through its ‘better marketed’ and ‘more attractive’ themes.
- The aim is to promote the area, encourage interaction between businesses and residents and attract more visitors to the area.
- Many PBID businesses contributed to the event, either in the form of stalls within the circus or as part of the linked discount scheme therefore providing an opportunity for immediate and continuous business.
- Paddington BID was initially established following a ballot of businesses in the Paddington area in February 2005 and was one of the first of its kind in the UK. In October 2008, 82.6% of businesses voted YES to renew Paddington Business Improvement District (BID).
- Paddington BID entered its second term in April 2009 with a strong mandate; set to continue for another four years delivering initiatives and projects to help regenerate the Paddington area.
- Whilst PBID strives to create a step change in people’s perceptions of Paddington, it is also about being a strong and cohesive business representative for the area.
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