The heart of Kirkby has enjoyed a noticeable lift this summer after a string of free, family-focused events organised under the Summer of Family Fun banner.
Funding and footfall
The Kirkby Neighbourhood Board invested £60,000 — money from the Government’s Pride in Place funding — to stage the programme, which ran from the end of June through mid-August. According to figures released by the neighbourhood board, the town centre recorded an additional 17,678 visits over that period compared with the same weeks last year.
Event days themselves produced a 13% uplift in footfall compared with typical summer Saturdays without events, organisers say. The activities ranged from football-themed attractions and a Circus Spectacular to fan-fest character appearances, live entertainment and interactive workshops aimed at families with children.
Traders report tangible benefits
Local shopkeepers and businesses have told WE NEWS the events have done more than just bring people in — they have helped convert visitors into customers and bookings.
- Travel adviser Michael McIver, of Perfect Getaways on St Chad’s Parade, said the events had led to more and higher-value bookings than a typical summer.
- Sam Clair, owner of Made to be Mum on St Chad’s Parade, said the atmosphere generated by the events had noticeably boosted trade.
“Summer is not usually a peak season for us because people tend to already be on their holidays but this year we’ve been attracting so many people into the town centre... The family days have created a brilliant atmosphere in the town centre,” said Michael McIver.
McIver told organisers the mix of family-friendly entertainment was drawing people who might otherwise have skipped a town-centre shopping trip during the school holidays. He added that the bookings were not limited to budget holidays but included higher-value trips such as cruises and tours to India.
Clair echoed that view, saying the events had “noticeably increased the footfall and brought so much energy to the town centre.” Traders described a buoyant atmosphere similar to the pull of the town’s Christmas lights switch-on.
What it means for Kirkby
The figures and trader testimony underline an important point for Kirkby’s high street: well-organised, free community events can generate measurable economic benefits. For a town centre competing with out-of-town retail and online shopping, moments that bring families into the centre and keep them there are vital.
| Metric | Reported Figure |
|---|---|
| Neighbourhood Board investment | £60,000 |
| Footfall increase (end June–mid Aug vs last year) | 17,678 |
| Event day uplift vs non-event Saturdays | 13% |
Council-backed schemes such as this are relatively rare and can act as a template for future regeneration efforts. They also give local traders reasons to invest in shopfronts, promotions and staffing at times of the year when business would otherwise be quieter.
Next steps and local expectations
Organisers and traders will now be watching to see whether the temporary uplift translates into sustained improvements: more repeat visits, higher conversion of footfall into sales and greater awareness of what Kirkby town centre offers.
The success of the Summer of Family Fun will add weight to calls for continued local investment in events and public space improvements. If the objective is to bring people back to the high street, these figures suggest a modest but clear return on the neighbourhood board’s £60,000 outlay.
For residents, the message is simple: the town centre can be lively and welcoming when the right ingredients are put in place. For traders and council decision-makers, the test will be turning that summer buzz into a long-term recovery for Kirkby’s high street.
