Cheshire East launches campaign to encourage more people back into night-time economy

It's hoped the drive will be a big boost to businesses

Crewe Market Hall is one of the area's most popular nightlife spots
Author: Dan DaviesPublished 11th Mar 2022

A campaign is underway across Cheshire East aimed at encouraging more people to support the area's night-time economy in a Covid-safe manner.

The drive - called the Say 'hi' campaign - is hoped to provide a much-needed boost to businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic over the last two years.

The campaign will have a strong presence on social media, a series of 11 films to support each of the council’s 11 towns, a range of print ads and a variety of physical promotion of the borough’s local restaurants, bars, night clubs, cinemas and theatres.

Places like pubs, bars and nightclubs have suffered massive losses during the pandemic

Councillor Nick Mannion, chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said: “We respect that residents have a wide range of views on how they would be comfortable supporting our night-time economy and this phase of the campaign will help to allay any fears they might have about doing this.

“Covid is still with us and our message reflects this. We are encouraging people to support our hugely diverse local night-time economy but to do so responsibly. Our advice is simply to make sure that you’re vaccinated before you head out. That way we can love life, stop Covid and look after each other by staying safe.”

“Our night-time economy has suffered significantly as a result of the pandemic and I am very happy that the latest phase of the Say ‘hi’ campaign is aimed specifically at the very businesses that have had to remain closed for a large part of this last two years.”

Cheshire East Council has already run two previous phases of this campaign. The first phase was in April last year and focused on encouraging people to return to the high street shortly after the country had come out of stricter lockdown measures. The second phase was in the build-up to Christmas, when the council encouraged people to reduce transmission of the virus by shopping locally.

The Say 'hi' campaign is aimed at encouraging people back into nightlife in a Covid-safe manner

One of the borough's most popular night-time entertainment spots is Crewe Market Hall - which opened in the spring of last year.

General Manager of the venue, Gary Johnson told us: "This is a safe space in many ways because it's high cleanings, there's a lot of space between tables, almost as though the two-metre rule is still here.

"I think when people see the pictures on the campaign, hopefully it will intrigue them - if they haven't been - to come and have a look and know that they're safe.

"If your concerns are based around the pandemic, come in and see us because there's plenty of space in here for people to space out and not be on top of each other, so in that respect it does make the venue safe."

For more information about the campaign, click here.

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