by Stephanie Kerr | Sep 9, 2026 | Latest News
BID Leamington will soon begin engaging with local businesses to explore expansion into new sectors and the opportunities this could bring.
As BID Leamington prepares for renewal in 2028, there will once again be an opportunity to explore what collective investment in the town centre can deliver. Over the coming year, a wider range of businesses in the town centre will be invited to share their views and help shape future proposals, so please read on and do not hesitate to get in touch to learn out more.
What BID Leamington delivers and why changes are being explored
Through BID Leamington, the town centre has benefited from the collective annual investment of around 350 retail and leisure businesses since 2008. Many high-profile events, including the Leamington Food and Drink Festival and the Lights of Leamington, have been delivered by BID Leamington. It also funds the town’s bunting, floral baskets and supports the Christmas lights, alongside providing valuable marketing, business representation and support. The BID team is also responsible for attracting significant amounts of additional revenue to invest in the town via grants and funding awards – often exceeding £80,000. This is highlighted across this website and set out in a detailed Business Plan.
Every five years, a Business Improvement District (BID) goes through a renewal process. This includes reviewing what the BID has delivered during the previous five-year term and consulting businesses on proposals for a new five-year Business Plan, which businesses then vote on through a formal ballot.
BID Leamington’s next renewal vote is due in early 2028, so, as part of this process, all aspects of the BID’s existing arrangements and deliverables are reviewed to ensure the scheme remains relevant, effective and fit to serve the business community in the future.
At the same time, the town centre and wider commercial landscape has changed since the current 2023–2028 Business Plan was developed. Major retail and leisure properties have transitioned to office and other commercial uses, while new employment areas are emerging beyond the current BID boundary. Business needs and customer behaviours have also changed.
Given the scale of this change, a more substantial review is needed. It is also recognised that undertaking this work properly, responsibly and in line with BID regulations – while continuing to deliver a high level of service to existing members – requires additional resources.
Recognising the positive impact that BID Leamington makes in the town centre, Warwick District Council (WDC) has agreed to support this work with £50,000 of funding. This will enable BID Leamington to undertake the research, analysis, stakeholder engagement, project testing and planning needed to thoroughly explore what the future looks like over the coming year.
This work will begin imminently and continue throughout 2027. Importantly, the additional funding means this work can be undertaken without diverting the BID’s current resources and capacity away from delivering its existing 2023–2028 Business Plan.
What could this mean for businesses and the town centre?
The opportunity is potentially significant. If supported, a more broadly supported BID could enable greater collective investment in the town centre, support the sustainability of existing BID activities, enhance the trading environment for more businesses and fund more activities which help make the town a lovely place to live and work.
Around 650 businesses in the town centre will be consulted over the coming year. Of these, approximately 350 are existing retail and leisure sector BID member businesses that have been investing in the town since 2008, while approximately 300 mostly office-based businesses are not currently members.
The consultation will provide plenty of opportunities to meet, share ideas and discuss what businesses would like to see in the future. We will also pilot some new projects to involve more local businesses and support their employees, whilst providing mutual benefit to existing members. If the research and consultation demonstrates a case for a broader BID, and businesses subsequently vote to support it, additional investment from wider membership would create opportunities for new or enhanced services.
As part of the research, BID Leamington will also look closely at what is already working elsewhere in the UK. While ‘office’ based businesses are not currently part of the BID levy base in Leamington, their inclusion is typical in many other BIDs. These places are delivering a wide range of valuable projects and initiatives for their business communities. Looking at what works elsewhere will provide an opportunity to learn and consider what could potentially be developed for Leamington.
Potential opportunities could include:
- Enhanced public realm and environmental improvements
- Additional cleaning and maintenance initiatives
- Exclusive offers and incentives for local employees
- Employee engagement and wellbeing initiatives
- More opportunities for business networking and collaboration
- Enhanced destination marketing and promotion
- Business and employee health and wellbeing support
- Other services and initiatives identified by businesses through the consultation
Any funding for these kinds of activities is shared across the membership, and the level will depend on a review of new rateable values, the businesses and properties ultimately included, their needs and aspirations as set out in the final proposals and, crucially, a successful ballot.
The process – exploring the opportunity with thorough research and engagement
The funding from WDC is specifically about resourcing the work needed to understand and test what is possible and what businesses would value. It does not determine or influence the outcome – that will ultimately be decided by businesses themselves.
The first step is detailed research and mapping, including establishing which businesses and properties could potentially be included. This will be followed by engagement with both existing BID businesses and those not currently members, to understand their priorities, needs, ideas and aspirations.
Only once this work is completed can BID Leamington develop properly costed proposals and determine whether there is sufficient appetite for additional collective investment. Any future expansion would require a formal business ballot and could not happen without collective business support.
This deliberately step-by-step approach is designed to ensure that any future proposals are evidence-based, transparent and genuinely shaped by the businesses they would impact.
The purpose of this work is to give businesses the information and opportunity to help shape what comes next.
The next step – please get in touch
As part of this process, BID Leamington will establish a shadow Board involving businesses and stakeholders interested in actively exploring and shaping this exciting opportunity. Additional resources will also be recruited to support the BID team with this important piece of work.
If you would like to learn more, get involved in the shadow Board or simply have a conversation about what the review could mean for your business or how you would like to be involved, we would love to hear from you.
For more information, please contact Steph by email at info@bidleamington.com or please phone 01926 470634.
by Stephanie Kerr | Sep 9, 2026 | Latest News
The countdown is on with just a few days to go until the much-loved Leamington Food and Drink Festival returns to the picturesque Pump Room Gardens on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026.
Now in its 19th year, the FREE-to-attend festival, organised by BID Leamington, has become one of the town’s flagship events and will feature around 120 exhibitors, including many of Leamington’s independent businesses, showcasing the very best in local and regional food and drink.
The ever-popular Live Cookery Theatre returns with demonstrations from talented local chefs, who will share recipes, tips and culinary inspiration throughout the weekend. Festival favourites Aubrey Allen, Bia’s Kitchen Show and Sophie Hyam will be joined by Darren Gurry, a quarter-finalist on MasterChef 2025, and the team from Rosa’s Thai.
Young foodies can enjoy the interactive Kids Make and Bake Cookery School, hosted by the award-winning Get Cooking Cookery School, giving budding chefs the chance to learn new skills while having fun.
Live entertainment will keep visitors entertained across both days from the Bandstand stage, kindly sponsored by Thomas Flavell & Sons Solicitors. The line-up includes Abigail O’Meara, Easy 3, Cartoon Tear, All Night Long, Papillon Jazz, Electric Ian, and Room 17. On Sunday, visitors will also hear from And The Sunset, fronted by local singer Amelia Webster, who is shortly releasing a new album. Visitors are encouraged to check the festival website for the full entertainment schedule.
Jamie Connolly, Managing Director of Thomas Flavell & Sons Solicitors, said: “We’re proud to support this year’s festival and its fantastic live music programme. It’s a wonderful community event that showcases the very best of our local businesses, producers and performers, and we’re delighted to help make another memorable weekend possible.”
Alison Shaw, Project Manager at BID Leamington, said: “We can’t wait to welcome visitors back for another fantastic festival. It’s a celebration of everything that makes Leamington’s food and drink scene so special, bringing together local businesses, talented chefs and producers from across the region for a fun-filled weekend. Please come and enjoy the fun.”
With just a few days to go, organisers are encouraging food lovers to join them for a weekend of local flavours, live music and family fun. Local businesses have been preparing for weeks, so the support of local people and visitors from further afield is hugely valued, and they can’t wait to welcome you. The festival runs from 10am – 6pm each day in the Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa.
For more information and festival updates, visit www.leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk.
Image Captions
- Family Fun Returns to the Pump Room Gardens this weekend for Leamington Food & Drink Festival.
- Wicked Cookies is a favourite at Leamington Food & Drink Festival.
- Room 17 joins the 2026 Food and Drink Festival music lineup.
- The Boiler Room will be back serving up local brews at Leamington Food & Drink Festival 2026.
by Stephanie Kerr | Jul 1, 2026 | Latest News
BID Leamington is proud to be supporting businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire, which are being urged to join a campaign to get a VAT cut for the hospitality sector.
A group of businesspeople from hospitality and retail, led by BID Leamington’s CEO Stephanie Kerr and McDonald’s franchisee Dawood Ibtehsam, met at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce to discuss the issues the sector is facing.
Steph and Dawood were joined by Matt Crowther, of Pug Pubs; Aaron Corsi, of Stratford BID; Darren Tosh, of Shakespeare’s England; Erwin Middel, of Baxter Storey; John Barrett, of CV One Nightclubs and Coventry BID; Gurdip Chatha, of Esque Beauty; and Lydia Papaphilippopoulos-Snape, of Warwick Street Kitchen.
Corin Crane, chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, also contributed to the discussion after the group was formed on the back of the Chamber’s research for its Business Manifesto which will launch this year.
The discussion included everything from rising costs of business through to skills shortages and highlighted the significant contribution the sectors make to the regional and national economies.
The meeting heard how many businesses are struggling just to pay the bills and that closures and job losses are biting hard.
And, while a range of priorities for the sector were discussed – from business rates through to support in implementing the changes brought about by the Employment Rights Act – the group agreed to focus its efforts on championing the campaign to secure a VAT reduction for hospitality businesses.
Steph said: “We wanted to give businesses an opportunity to talk about the issues they are facing and that included just how hard it is to survive in the current economic climate.
“But it was really important that we emerged from the meeting with actions that we could put into place and the key for us is backing the ‘VAT’s The Problem’ campaign and we’re encouraging as many people as possible to support it to get the message over that businesses in this sector need help.
“It could make all the difference when it comes to a business surviving.”
Dawood added: “Costs and red tape have risen so much recently so it means a business such as a restaurant has to sell a lot more meals just to cover its overheads. It’s why so many businesses are struggling and it’s why we were so keen to take this action.
“We’re grateful to everyone who joined the discussion and to the Chamber of Commerce for hosting us.”
Corin said: “We undertook a huge amount of research for our Business Manifesto and one of the aims was to set up a business-led group that would look specifically at hospitality and retail.
“And, even though the manifesto hasn’t been published yet, we felt there was a real urgency in getting this group off the ground and when I heard the discussion, it was clear how acute the issues are.”
For more information and to back the campaign to reduce VAT for the hospitality sector go to:
For more information on the group, contact Steph on email at info@bidleamington.com or the Chamber on email at leec@cw-chamber.co.uk
by Stephanie Kerr | Sep 9, 2025 | Latest News
It was a big ‘thumbs up’ from everyone for this year’s Leamington Food and Drink Festival as thousands of foodies descended on the Pump Room Gardens at the weekend to celebrate one of the region’s most popular culinary events.
This year the organisers, BID Leamington, felt the festival was extra special as it comes at the time when local food and drink businesses really need an extra boost, and along with the sunshine, the locally focused family friendly vibe really shone through.
Over two days, around 120 exhibitors showcased with a smile, an irresistible mix of flavours, serving up everything from burgers, jerk chicken and pizzas to gyros, burritos, loaded hotdogs and curries. There was also every kind of drink imaginable from local beers, spirits, wines, cocktails, matcha smoothies, shakes, speciality coffees, soft drinks and more!
For those with a sweet tooth, the choice was just as tempting – cakes, ice cream, brownies, doughnuts, cookies, churros and cannoli filled the stalls, alongside artisan produce such as chutneys, jams, cheeses, pies and freshly baked bread.
The family-friendly two-day event, which this year was sponsored by Davidsons Law, also delivered a packed programme of live entertainment, demonstrations and hands-on fun!
Crowds at the Live Cookery Theatre enjoyed learning butchery skills with Russell Allen of Aubrey Allen, spice blending with Michael Price of Prices Spices, creative cooking tips from the fabulous Bia Rodrigues from BIA’s Kitchen Show, along with the culinary secrets of Michael Webber of Good Food Cartel, and authentic flavours from Rosa’s Thai.
The bandstand was buzzing and provided the festival soundtrack, featuring a wide mix of live music from the ever-popular Room 17, Abi Rowberry and Sam Lawrence, to the uplifting harmonies of the Big Sing Choir and the distinctive sounds of Sweet Mischief and Man Made Moon.
Children were also kept busy with fun, hands-on sessions at the Kid’s Cookery School, led by Anne Marie Lambert of Get Cooking! where budding young chefs could roll up their sleeves and get creative in the kitchen.
Adding to the fun, Everyone Active brought along interactive activities, including a thrilling axe-throwing challenge and penalty shoot-out competitions, which proved to be a big hit with families throughout the weekend.
Festival organiser Alison Shaw, Project Manager at BID Leamington, hailed the weekend as one of the best yet. She said “Leamington Food and Drink Festival is a wonderful event to organise, and delivers a fabulous weekend of food, drink and entertainment for all ages. We are hugely grateful to the local community for their support and wish to thank our traders, staff and wonderful volunteers who made our 18th annual festival such a success”.
Stephanie Kerr, Chief Executive at BID Leamington, agreed wholeheartedly and said “It was great to see so many people out, with many commenting that they loved the friendly atmosphere. This is really important to us as it is a community festival, with many friends and family members involved in helping the traders and behind the scenes. We really want people to come and love it”.
The Leamington Food Festival will be back in 2026, and in the meantime, visitors can continue to enjoy many of the traders here in the town centre. Please see the royal-leamington-spa.co.uk website for a full listing and download the free ‘Love Leam App’ for loyalty offers, deals and trails.
Photo credit: Steph Kerr
Photo Captions
- Room 17 closing the Saturday afternoon slot on the bandstand at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- Thumbs up from Amy, Josh and their children as they enjoy the food at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- Local business owner Charlie from Zero with her planet friendly products at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- The Wicked Cookies stall at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- Family fun at the Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- The Boiler Room in Leamington serving up a range of drinks at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- Russell Allen sharing butchery skills on the Live Cookery Theatre sponsored by Davidsons Law at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- Bia Rodrigues from BIA’s Kitchen Show sharing her passion with local fans on the Live Cookery Theatre at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- Local favourite Shakespeare Spit Roast Company at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- Michael Price of Prices Spices who also demonstrated on the Live Cookery Theatre at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- The Warwick Street Kitchen team serving coffee and bakery treats at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- Local business owner Rosemary from Cenu Cacao wowing customers with locally made chocolate at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- RT Catering serving with a smile at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- The World’s Smallest Irish Bar makes an appearance at Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
- Stilt Man aka ‘Willy Wonka’ made a welcome return to Leamington Food and Drink Festival 2025.
by Stephanie Kerr | Mar 17, 2025 | Latest News
The Lights of Leamington team is delighted to celebrate the success of the Lights of Leamington Festival 2025 and wishes to thank everyone who attended, supported, and helped bring this extraordinary event to life.
Launching on the 8th of February, 6,000 people visited the ‘Switched on Stories’ exhibition at All Saints Church which explored the festival’s rich history. Then from February 19th to 23rd, an astounding 39,000 people visited Jephson Gardens for Spotlight Festival, which featured a beautiful light show produced by SLX. Other festival highlights were two sold-out Candlelight Concerts and two nights of dancing in the gardens at a Silent Disco.
To celebrate, the Lights of Leamington team have launched a Photography Showcase, inviting attendees to submit their best festival images and videos. Details on how to take part are available on the festival website, with submissions open until Monday 7th April, 2025.
Stephanie Kerr, BID Leamington said “We saw so many phones and cameras capturing the magic and we loved seeing what was posted online, including the creative films that were made.”
“With the help of Nat from Gallery Photiq, we would now love to view the festival through your eyes, and showcase some of your favourite images and films that capture your moments of wow, joy and creativity.”
The event brought the community together in many creative ways, with over 650 children taking part in free half-term workshops, crafting Dyah Lamps and contributing to a glowing mural of angel wings.
Visitors also enjoyed ‘The Power of Love’ heart trail around the town centre, and the unveiling of a new permanent mural commissioned by BID Leamington at the Royal Priors Shopping Centre, and created by BRINK Contemporary Arts in collaboration with @mig29_murals.
Led by a voluntary steering group formed in 2020, Spotlight Festival was directed by Stephanie Kerr of BID Leamington and produced by Kate Livingston of Slate Events. Many volunteers, local businesses, and partners also helped bring the festival to life. Special thanks go to our volunteers, Charlie Sabin, Jo Derviller from Imaginate Creative, and Pete Smith from PSL Distribution for their support.
Warwick District Council UKSPF grant funding and sponsorship from the Royal Leamington Spa Town Council played a crucial role in ensuring that the majority of the festival was free to attend, as the team was committed to making it accessible and supporting local businesses.
As we look to the future, we are eager to gather feedback to shape upcoming projects. We encourage attendees and community members to share their thoughts through the survey available on our festival website.
For more information about the photography showcase, to submit images, or to provide feedback, please visit https://lightsofleamington.co.uk/gallery/
Our sincere thanks to everyone who made Lights of Leamington ‘Spotlight Festival 2025’ and ‘Switched on Stories’ such a success!
Notes:
Our official website: lightsofleamington.co.uk.
To view details of the photography showcase, including how to submit and the gallery, see: https://lightsofleamington.co.uk/gallery/
To compete our survey, see: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z9RQQQJ
To learn more about the Lights of Leamington story, see: https://lightsofleamington.co.uk/news-info/background/
Contact:
Email: info@lightsofleamington.co.uk
Follow us on social media:
By the Lake – Light Show details:
The light show named ‘By the Lake’ was produced by SLX. Alex Keighley was the Creative Producer and Tom Trick the Lighting and Programming Designer. The music was also ‘light inspired’, using the tracks Lumen and Chroma by Mark Petrie.
Photo credit: James Callaghan.
by Stephanie Kerr | Feb 20, 2025 | Latest News
The Lights of Leamington Spotlight Festival 2025 opened in spectacular fashion last night, with over 3,000 attendees gathering to witness the breathtaking ‘By the Lake’ light show. Set against a stunning backdrop, this stunning display of light and colour captivated audiences and was even featured LIVE on ITV Central News.
Over 200 attendees were enchanted by the sold-out Candlelight Concert in All Saints Church Leamington, where the Signature String Quartet delivered a magical performance, creating an atmosphere filled with warmth and music.
In the Pump Room Gardens, crowds were left enchanted by the bandstand illuminated by LAMP Leamington, which showed the park in the new light. Meanwhile, in Jephson Gardens, the dazzling spinning disco ball heart by Jephson’s Clock Tower was a highlight. This sparkling feature will take centre stage once again during the Silent Disco events on Friday and Saturday nights, promising even more unforgettable moments.
The festival continues for four more nights until Sunday, 23rd February, running from 5pm to 9pm each evening. Food and drink is also available at The Aviary Cafe and Riverside Glasshouse, which has been renamed Jephson Tavern to reflect past times.
In addition to the awe-inspiring light displays, visitors can enjoy a range of free activities, including free workshops, trails and competitions throughout Leamington town centre, making it a perfect outing for all ages.
For full details on events and attractions please explore this website (or visit us www.lightsofleamington.co.uk).
The cover photo and beautiful images below are credited to: James Callaghan (details – click here).
by Stephanie Kerr | Feb 13, 2025 | Latest News
The Power of Love!
Royal Leamington Spa is set to be filled with love this February 14 with the launch of ‘The Power of Love’ trail. A trail of five spectacular giant, artist-decorated hearts can be found in key locations across the town centre. Each heart celebrates a unique aspect of Leamington’s vibrant culture and community while carrying inspiring messages of love and connection.
Running from 14 February – 02 March, The Power of Love trail offers residents and visitors alike a creative and interactive experience, making it the perfect way to celebrate the season of love while exploring everything the town has to offer. The trail forms part of the wider Spotlight Festival, an exciting celebration featuring dazzling light installations and a packed programme of events throughout the February half-term school holiday.
Each heart is beautifully designed by artists and inspired by different themes that showcase the heart and soul of life in the town centre. The ‘Love Nights Out’ disco heart also offers a special surprise, as this will be a feature of the Silent Disco in Jephson Gardens on the 21 and 22 of February as part of Spotlight 2025.
Stephanie Kerr, Executive Director of BID Leamington, said: “We are thrilled to bring The Power of Love Trail to Leamington as part of the Spotlight Festival and our Love Leam month. These beautiful hearts celebrate everything that makes our town so special—our community, our businesses, and our vibrant culture. We hope everyone can take some time to explore the trail, enjoy the festivities, and share the love this February”.
The trail, organised by BID Leamington, is the creation of Tilley Bancroft from Making Trails and also benefits from the support of various local organisations. We wish to extend thanks to Royal Leamington Spa Town Council for their support, and to local venues who have offered locations, including Regent Court Shopping Centre, Royal Priors Shopping Centre, All Saints Church Leamington and Warwick District Council.
Nicola Cormell, Royal Priors Centre Manager said: “We’re very pleased to have Royal Priors included on the Power of Love Trail. These amazing hearts are a wonderful way to reflect the town centre’s culture while connecting the community. The artists have done a wonderful job. The Love Local, Shop Local theme of the heart here at Royal Priors celebrates the unique charm of Leamington town centre, and with each of the five hearts carrying a unique design we’re sure they will prove very popular with visitors as they explore the trail.”
Visitors can follow the trail using the Love Leam App, or maps which are available online and in visitor locations around town. Adding to the fun, visitors can also take part in a competition to win £100 to spend in the town centre! To enter, simply share a photo of your favourite hearts on social media using #LoveLeamHeartTrail and tag @LightsofLeamington (or an account listed below).
Whether you’re adding some fun to Valentine’s Day, or simply looking to enjoy a creative and uplifting experience ‘The Power of Love’ trail is not to be missed!
Download the trail map (PDF – Click here) (JPG – Click here).
Details of the trail locations, and the competition are below. Tickets for the Silent Disco are available on Eventbrite or via links on our whats on page.
Find us:
- Instagram @Love Leamington and @LightsofLeamington
- Facebook @RoyalLeamingtonSpaTownCentre and @LightsofLeamington
- TikTok @Love Leamington
#LoveLeamHeartTrail #PowerofLoveLeamington
NOTES:
Creation and Design
Brought to you by BID Leamington, the trail is the creation of Tilley Bancroft from Making Trails, who also designed the ‘Love Community’ and ‘Love Nature’ hearts. ‘Love Local’ and ‘Love Yourself’ was designed by Lynne Hollingsworth and Fran Vid created ‘Love Nights Out’.
Locations, themes and supporters:
Love Nights Out – Let Your Hair Down
Celebrate your unique sparkle and enjoy fun-filled nights out!
Proudly supported by BID Leamington, Slate Events, & WDC Events
Location: Clock Tower, Jephson Gardens
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Google – Clock Tower – Click Here
___
Love Yourself – Take Some ‘Me Time’
Indulge in relaxation, take time for self-care or enjoy a treat!
Proudly supported by BID Leamington
Location: Regent Court Shopping Centre
/// spoke.fever.given (https://w3w.co/spoke.fever.given)
Google – Click here
___
Love Community – Share the Love, Volunteer, Offer Thanks
Reflect on the power of community and the joy of giving back.
Proudly supported by All Saints Parish Church
Location: All Saints Church
/// model.pounds.rival (https://w3w.co/model.pounds.rival)
Google – Click Here
___
Love Local – Shop Local: Visit Your Favourite Places!
Support local businesses and celebrate the unique charm of Leamington town centre.
Proudly supported by Royal Leamington Spa Town Council
Location: Royal Priors, Waterstones
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Google – click here.
___
Love Nature – Breathe In Our Beautiful Green Spaces
Celebrate the tranquillity and beauty of Leamington’s gorgeous green spaces.
Proudly supported by Warwick District Council Green Spaces
Location: Christchurch Gardens
/// pepper.bottom.lime (https://w3w.co/pepper.bottom.lime)
Google – Click here.
___
Power of Love Snap & Win Competition Details:
- To enter, simply share a photo of your favourite hearts on social media using #LoveLeamHeartTrail and tag one of the accounts below:
- Instagram @Love Leamington and @LightsofLeamington
- Facebook @RoyalLeamingtonSpaTownCentre and @LightsofLeamington
- TikTok @Love Leamington
- The prize, is to a maximum value of £100.00
- The competition will run from 14th February 2025 until 5pm on Sunday 2nd March 2025.
- The Entries will be comprised of people who have taken a photo of one of the five ‘Power of Love Trail’ giant hearts and posted this image publicly, including #LoveLeamHeartTrail with relevant tags, on their own social media account in the timeframe of the promotion.
- Up to five entries per social media account featuring each of the five different hearts in each location, will qualify to enter the completion.
- The account holder must also tag one of the accounts below and use hashtag #LoveLeamPowerofLove.
- The Winner will be randomly selected from identified qualifying posts on Tuesday 4th March 2025 and notified via their social media account shortly after.
- The Promoter will offer The Winner the choice of redeeming vouchers totalling the maximum value of the Prize Draw from businesses who have the ability to offer vouchers in the period of the competition and are listed on the https://royal-leamington-spa.co.uk/ website in the business directory.
For full Terms and Conditions please click here (PDF download).
by Stephanie Kerr | Feb 4, 2025 | Latest News
This February, Leamington Spa’s town centre will be aglow as it welcomes the inaugural Spotlight Festival 2025. Inspired by the historic Lights of Leamington, this reimagined celebration will run from February 8th to March 2nd, featuring mesmerising light displays, interactive installations, and community-driven events designed to captivate residents and visitors alike.
The festival seeks to honour the legacy of the original Lights of Leamington, a beloved event held in Jephson Gardens from 1951 to 1961, which drew thousands with its spectacular illuminations. Spotlight Festival 2025 will blend nostalgic elements with modern artistic expressions, rekindling community spirit while introducing fresh and immersive experiences.
With a mix of free and ticketed events, the festival offers something for all ages, celebrating light, creativity, and community engagement.
Festival Highlights
Free Events:
- Switched On Stories Exhibition – Feb 8–23, All Saints Church, daily till 5pm
A captivating display of memorabilia and memories from the original Lights of Leamington festival, offering a nostalgic journey through time.
- By The Lake – Feb 19–23, Jephson Gardens, 5pm – 9pm
Experience an enchanting light display around the lake, transforming the gardens into a magical wonderland. Find lights, music, performances, refreshments & more.
- Live Music at Jephson Tavern aka Riverside House (7pm – 9pm)
- Thursday, Feb 20 – Freya & Banoffee
- Friday, Feb 21 – Hannah Woof
- Saturday, Feb 22 – Jack Hopkinson
- The Power of Love & Magic Windows trails – Feb 14–Mar 2, Town Centre
A heartwarming interactive trail celebrating love in all its forms, inviting visitors to explore the town centre through a series of inspiring installations.
- Light Dance – Feb 19 & 20, Pump Room Gardens, 5pm – 9pm
View the incredible light spectacle created by local students from LAMP.
Free Workshops – February Half Term
- Diya Lamp Workshop – Feb 19, All Saints Church, 11 – 1pm
A captivating display of memorabilia and memories from the original Lights of Leamington festival.
- Light Art Workshop – Feb 20 & 21, Pump Room Gallery & Museum, 1:30 – 3:00pm
Create a unique lantern (20th) or a microphone and glasses (21st) perfect for joining in the silent disco.
- Taking Flight Angel Wings Workshop 1 – Feb 20, Jephson Gardens Glass House, 6pm – 8pm
Let your inner glow take flight and contribute to a glowing community mural.
- Taking Flight Angel Wings Workshop 2 – Feb 22, Royal Priors Shopping Centre, 11am – 4pm
Let your inner glow take flight and contribute to a glowing community mural.
Ticketed Experiences:
- Concert by Candlelight (Feb 19, All Saints Church)
An intimate candlelit concert featuring the renowned Leamington-based Signature String Quartet.
- Silent Disco (Feb 21–22, Jephson Gardens)
Dance under the stars at a vibrant silent disco in the heart of the festival’s illuminated landscapes.
- Moonlight Film Screenings (Feb 15–19, Spa Centre)
A special series of light-inspired films, bringing cinematic magic to the festival’s lineup.
Festival Director Kate Livingston expressed excitement about the event, stating:
“Spotlight Festival 2025 is about bringing our community together to celebrate creativity and shared history. As this is our inaugural year, we’ve curated a program that honours the past while looking to the future. We hope to inspire joy and participation from all corners of our community.”
Stephanie Kerr, Executive Director of BID Leamington, emphasised the festival’s broader impact:
“Our aim is to infuse the town centre with colour and life this February, cultivating an atmosphere of discovery and warmth. This festival is a labour of love, supported by many local individuals and organisations, for which we are deeply grateful. With the community’s support, we envision this event growing in the coming years.”
Spotlight Festival 2025 offers a unique opportunity to explore Leamington Spa in a new light—whether revisiting cherished memories or creating new ones.
For more details, ticket information, and ways to get involved please explore this website!
Let’s illuminate Leamington together this February!
Images from the Swiitech on Stories Exhibition.
by Stephanie Kerr | Dec 4, 2024 | Latest News
Hundreds of families welcomed in the festive season at an annual event which saw a dazzling display of lanterns light up Leamington town centre.
Leamington’s 14th annual Lantern Parade saw residents and visitors parade homemade paper lanterns through the town for this year’s sparkling spectacular.
Participants created hundreds of lanterns for this much-loved event based on dragons, mythical creatures, unicorns, fish and Peppa Pig, as well as traditional snowmen and Christmas trees, and lanterns inspired by their favourite animals.
The evening featured a host of entertainment including stilt walkers who led the parade, and music from David Harrop, the Methodist Choir, and Royal Spa Brass and culminated at the Town Hall with an appearance from Santa and carol singing.
The Lantern Parade, organised by BID Leamington, is inspired by ‘The Lights of Leamington’ event, which lit up Jephson Gardens from 1951 to 1961.
Alison Shaw, BID Leamington project manager, said: “We would like to thank everyone who joined us for this year’s Lantern Parade to welcome in the festive season.
“It’s always an incredibly popular event which forms part of people’s Christmas traditions which is wonderful.
“We had some spectacular lanterns made for the occasion, with some truly creative designs which delighted participants and spectators.
“Also, we would like to thank our local businesses who support this event and all our wonderful volunteers who work tirelessly year-on-year to make the event such a success.
“It was also a fantastic opportunity to get people into the town centre, and we would encourage everyone to continue to shop local this Christmas.”
BID Leamington still has a number of other festive events coming up including Festive Fun trails around town running from 01 – 22 December and Santa visits on 03 and 12 December Christmas Angels will add some sparkle to the town centre on Small Business Saturday 07 December.
For more information, visit www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk
by Stephanie Kerr | Oct 20, 2024 | Latest News
A spooktacular Halloween treasure hunt is set to return to Leamington town centre – with £1,000 worth of prizes to be won.
BID Leamington’s annual ‘Pumpkin Path’ will see participants hunt for clues in the windows of shops, cafes and restaurants across the town centre between Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, November 3 for the opportunity to win a host of prizes donated by Leamington businesses.
This year’s frightfully fun family event will feature three trails and participants will be tasked with finding an orange pumpkin in each of the shop windows which contains a letter.
Once the trail is completed, the letters will reveal the location of the ‘Halloween Book posting box’ where entry forms can be posted.
Families who gather at least 10 clues will be entered into the prize draw, while those who gather all of the clues will be entered into the grand prize draw to be in with a chance of winning £200 worth of treats.
Entry forms are available to download at www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk and can also be found at participating businesses as well as the Halloween stand on the upper mall of Royal Priors Shopping Centre.
Alison Shaw, Project Manager at BID Leamington, said: “The Pumpkin Path is a fantastic annual event that is enjoyed by hundreds of families every year.
“It is an opportunity to get into the Halloween spirit while rediscovering some of the businesses across the town centre, or even finding some new favourites.
“The event is always very well supported by businesses, and we have some excellent prizes that have been donated.
“We hope everyone has fun taking part in this year’s event and gathering the clues to find the location of our spooky mummies post box.”
The competition will close on Sunday, November 3 at 10.00pm. Entries can also be posted to BID Leamington, 35c Park Court, Park Street, Leamington, CV32 4QN, with the closing date for postal entries being Tuesday, November 5.
