Askew Road Business Association
Have you ever felt Askew Road needs a bit more sparkle? A bit of a facelift? Ever wondered how you can attract more customers? Offer something extra to increase loyalty? Make our high street a bit more attractive? Maybe we can help.
“surprisingly cool Askew Road”
– FT
We’re On A Mission
We want to make sure our local high street thrives, provides the goods and services we all want close by, and add some colour and buzz to our environment with events and activities. Our group experience includes Askew Business Network, Edible Askew Road, May Madness on Starch Green, Bouncing Off the Wall Graphics Fair and running our own shops and businesses on Askew Road.
Who are we?
We are a group of locals, residents and businesses, who share a desire to make the area a better place to live, work and shop. We have gathered together as an initial working group, with the support of Hammersmith & Fulham council, to help revitalise activity in Askew Road, with the aim to:
• build further the sense of community and well being - a buzz around the street, improving the environment
• increase footfall and trading, increasing awareness of the shops and services in Askew Road and the surrounding area
• encourage people to make the most of our high street and shop local
Surprisingly Cool Askew Road
In a recent article in the FT, Fiona Golfar described ‘Burnt on Shepherd’s Bush’s surprisingly cool Askew Road’ as a cafe that made you want to jump out of bed. Indeed, according to research for Tyl by NatWest, our high street has all the top ten shops people want to see on their perfect high street. So, Askew Road is the perfect high street - bakers, post office, restaurants, coffee shops, clothes shops, supermarkets, cake shops, bookshop, butchers and pubs - plus many more. We even have a group of devoted gardeners who have cheered up the little plots around our tree bases with their planting.
Why Get Involved?
Only with the involvement of the whole Askew Road community will this initiative be a success. To make a difference we need shops and businesses like you to join in, get creative and be part of the events we are proposing to run. This is all about benefitting your business and your customers. Coming together to work on this will engender a greater community spirit and a feel good atmosphere in the street.
How To Get Involved
Join our working group to plan and activate ideas and events.
Take part in, and help coordinate events that will draw more people into Askew Road and create something to talk about and get in the local news.
Use our contact form to express your interest and find out more.
‘Get involved - and remember - our high street is a valuable community resource - use it or lose it!’
Events
The initiatives for this year have been suggested by the working group but will need your support to come to realisation. The idea is to devise events that involve a range of businesses along the road, inspire interest amongst the local community and get some publicity to encourage visitors.
We want everyone to get as imaginative as possible and think of ways we can make Askew Road more appealing and fulfil its role as our local high street. The events we’ve come up with so far are just start points - and we’ll need your enthusiasm and ingenuity to make them happen.
We have an Instagram account (@askewroad_W12) to help publicise and link all our efforts. We would encourage you to follow it and we will follow you back, re-post stories we’re tagged in and regularly post on our grid. This will also give us the opportunity to message each other and keep in touch.
Some of Our Proposed Events:
The Taste of Askew
Askew Road Arts Festival - Coming 18th-25th September 2024
Askew Road Pop-up Festive Christmas Shopping Night
Askew Road Wild Goose Chase
‘The wildly successful Taste of Askew food trail proved how innovative ideas are incredibly welcome on Askew Road’
Founding Committee
Kelly DeLautour - Detour /Joint-treasurer
Philippa Smith - Francis Smith Flowers /Chair
Matt Hedges - CP Architects /Joint-treasurer
Jo Szwedzinski - Forevermore Tattoo
Caroline Needham - Resident & ex-councillor
Anne Pennington - Digital Plot
Hettie Friesland - Findlay Brewer
Jonathan Mercer - Starch Green
Mathilde Griffin - H&F Council
Chris Gregory - Heartflood /Committee consultant
Talk to any of them about any ideas you have - or make suggestions here - please come and join us…