Liverpool looks for love on the high street

Liverpool’s retail Business Improvement District has been festooned with 14 street wide banners asking visitors what they love about key streets in the city centre.

Erected for Valentines Day the banners, which are funded through a levy on businesses, will mark the launch of a new City Central BID campaign called: OnReflection.

OnReflection is City Central’s contribution to Liverpool’s new literary festival ‘In Other Words’ – which will run from April 23 to May 19 – to mark the re-opening of the Central Library.

People will be able to send in their thoughts via Facebook and Twitter, using the hashtag #OnReflection, with the BID team taking a ‘love book’ on tour throughout City Central until late March.

The public can also text to 0780 145 3918 or email citycentre.pr@liverpool.gov.uk

The words collected from the public will then be turned into works of art to be placed in shop windows of vacant units – which make up 10% of shops in Liverpool city centre – and so reflecting back the love to passers by, right through until June.

The idea for OnReflection was inspired by the Portas Review which called for more creative thinking to promote the British ‘High Street’.

Every entry will go into a prize draw with the winners chosen before the launch of In Other Words. Prizes will include hundreds of pounds of shopping vouchers in Metquarter and Cavern Walks as well as gifts from various stores throughout the city centre.

Ian Ward, Chairman of City Central BID, said: ”The people of Liverpool are world famous for their passion and pride. OnReflection is a great way to tap into that spirit and reflect the love they have for some of our most famous streets back to the visitors of our great city.”

Ged Gibbons, Chief Executive of City Central BID, which represents 631 businesses in the city centre, added: ”For our BID members OnReflection is a great opportunity to engage with customers and understand what they love about the high street.

”We’ll all benefit because the campaign will inject colour and fun into the city centre and spread some love at the same time!”

The street wide OnReflection banners are on Bold Street, Church Street, Clayton Square, Lord Street, Mathew Street, Queen Square, Whitechapel and Williamson Square.

Liverpool Waterfront