Steps have been taken to create a better welcome for visitors to Plymouth’s Waterfront, which will help local businesses bounce back as restrictions slowly lift.
Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District (PWP BID) has been working hard to ensure the area is ready to welcome both locals and visitors back, with fresh street art as well as new information points and leaflets for tourists.
New murals have been painted along North Street and Moon Street in Bretonside, transforming a neglected area into a fantastic Instagrammable feature which is already attracting new footfall for local businesses.
The bright, eye-catching murals were created by Big Ups, James Edgar Design and David Tetley at 51Studio. The work has been funded by PWP and the Reopening the High Street Safely Fund, part funded by the ERDF and HM Government.
PWP has also funded a new information monolith at Royal William Yard, matching the monoliths across Plymouth Hoe and Barbican. This contains a map and other key information to help visitors travel around the city and discover where to visit.
PWP worked with Shekinah Mission on these projects, with their team helping prep the wall for murals and installing the new monolith. The charity engage with people who have experienced homelessness, prison or mental health issues or are ex-service personnel, offering meaningful work experience with the aim of helping to support people into employment.
Diane Mansell, Chief Executive of PWP, said: “We’re working hard to make the Waterfront area the very best it can be, supporting our businesses as they reopen and ensuring we’re providing a fantastic welcome to shoppers and visitors.
“The new murals really brighten up the areas between Ebrington Street, North Street and Moon Street and on top of this we’ve added in some new signage to welcome people to the Bretonside shopping area.”
Work is also ongoing to drive footfall to the Waterfront with the creation of a new ‘Experience Plymouth’s Waterfront’ leaflet.
The leaflet, which showcases the area’s brilliant range of attractions, activities and points of interest, is being distributed widely across Devon and Cornwall to target visitors to the region this summer.
It includes a newly illustrated map, created by local artist Sarah Smalldon, helping visitors to identify key locations. It also highlights how easy it is to travel around Plymouth, with information about travelling by boat, bus, bike or on foot.
The leaflet was also funded through the Reopening the High Street Safely Fund, part funded by the ERDF and HM Government.
Find out more about PWP at www.waterfrontbid.co.uk.