'Talking Bridgwater Up' as New Tourism Brochure Launched

The long awaited new Bridgwater Tourism Brochure was launched at Carnival weekend at a special event at Bridgwater Town Hall by Mayor Diogo Rodrigues and Town Council Leader Brian Smedley hearalding the start of a push to ‘talk Bridgwater up’. 5,000 of the brochures have been sent to tourism offices and other outlets around the country and the others will be sent out around Somerset and available at the Town Hall for people to pick up and help promote the town.

Launching the guide, Cllr Smedley said: “We have been aspiring towards bringing in more tourism to Bridgwater and this is another step toward that goal.The message is Bridgwater is a fun town with a proud rebel history and a unique cultural offer, located close to amazing landscapes. We want to focus on tourism and attract visitors to stay in the new hotels springing up and by providing facilities for them we are creating a legacy for our own people. One of the key aims is to revitalise a town centre that welcomes visitors, provides for locals and is clearly vibrant and different.”

Calendars and Postcards

For the second year running Bridgwater Town Council will also be producing Bridgwater calendars and postcards, this time featuring a selection of works from local artists. Cllr Smedley said “Postcards are the ideal way of spreading the news of Bridgwater around the world. They’re available from the town hall at £1 for the full selection of 4 or 3op each. I used mine last year as Christmas cards (for instance). And the new Calendar, available for £4, keeps you in touch with the many interesting events happening here all year round.”

“We have so much offer in terms of fantastic events such as Bridgwater Carnival and the Quayside Festival, and our amazing heritage,” Cllr Smedley said.“You can tell the history of England through the history of Bridgwater.

“Bridgwater is growing and has six hotels coming to the area, so now is the time to talk the town up and make the most of what we have to offer here. Our location in the centre of Somerset makes us an excellent jumping off point to visit Somerset with its hills, moors, beaches, historic towns and quaint villages.”

Talk Up the Town

The Tourism Guide will be distributed widely and Cllr Smedley said with more than 100,000 visitors in town for carnival, now was the perfect time to launch the new brochure.

The Town Guide is available around the town but members of the public are encouraged to pop in to the ton hall and take a handful home with them for when they go travelling and to leave a few in useful locations.

The Tourism Brochure has been put together by an editorial team of Councillors and volunteers from the Town Tourism Forum including Patsy Robinson, Emma Rathbone, Pat Morley, Brian Smedley, Diogo Rodrigues, James Lloyd and designed by Jana Branecka.