Ashton Town Team
present
Independent
Retail Awards 2024
INDEPENDENT RETAIL AWARDS RETURN TO ASHTON
Shoppers can vote for their favourite independent retail businesses based in Ashton Town Centre in the Ashton Independent Business Awards. You can vote online from May 20th until June 30th with the winners announced on July 4th.
The town centre will be more of the focus of this year’s awards as businesses work hard to attract shoppers to the town once again. So, the footprint covered by the awards will be dedicated solely to that area. This will include Stamford Street, George Street, Old Street, Katherine Street, Oldham Road, Penny Meadow, Fletcher Street, Market Street, Booth Street, Henrietta Street, Bow Street, Warrington Street, Market Avenue, Wood Street, Delamere Street, Booth Street, Wellington Street, Cavendish Street, Bentinck Street and St Michael’s Square. Of course, this would include businesses in Ashton Market and those independent businesses in our Ashton shopping centres. Categories that you can nominate in are:
- Fashion/Footwear
- Fresh Food
- Cafe/Take Away
- Jewellers
- Hair & Beauty
- Specialist Retail
- Floral, Cards & Gifts
- New Independent Business
- Market Trader
There will also be a Town Team award chosen by the Deputy Chair of Ashton Town Team – Councillor Bill Fairfoull.
Chair of Ashton Town Team, Kevin Taylor BEM, said: “Ashton thrives on its independent retail offering and the awards are a way to recognise the quality and value they bring to the town centre. With the next year featuring extensive works in the town centre these businesses need your support more than ever so the Town Team hope you’ll be shopping local.”

VISIT ASHTON BLOOMS
Ashton Town Team are launching their 2024 events with a celebration of flowers and plants on Saturday 27th April between 11am and 2pm. Special craft activities will take place in Ashton Market Hall where children will have the chance to create their own flowers to take away. The event takes place on the same day that the popular children’s cookery class takes place at the rear of the Market Hall.
Plus watch out for the Gardening Bear character who will be roaming around the town centre, encouraging children to grow their own plants at home by giving away free flower and vegetable seeds. As you walk through Market Avenue and Fletcher Square you will also be able to enjoy the new flowers and plants in place in planters and take in all the towns greenery making an appearance for Spring to brighten up your visit.
Ashton Blooms has been organised by Ashton Town Team, a voluntary group supporting the town centre independent businesses, and sponsored by the UKSPF Creative Communities Grant Fund.
Who are Ashton Town Team?
Following the Portas review, an independent review into the future of our high streets, the Ashton Town Team was formed in 2012 with local businesses, Tameside Council and key stakeholders within the town centre.
It’s a voluntary organisation which relies on funding and sponsorship to achieve its aims in supporting our town centre and its small independent businesses. Small businesses offer something unique that provides an essential element in the mix of national retail and leisure which should form part of Ashton town centre. Over the years the Town Team have introduced events like Scarefest, Heritage Day and supported Totally Locally campaigns like Fiverfest. We have campaigned on issues like parking, town centre signage and security. In 2019 we produced a map for the town centre and this year we launch the Independent Business Awards for the town centre.