St Ives BID Wins Best Event at National BID Awards

St Ives Business Improvement District has picked up a major national honour after its New Year’s Eve celebrations were named Best Event of the Year at the inaugural National BID Awards.

The award recognises the positive community impact of the town’s hugely popular New Year’s Eve event, with St Ives BID beating competition from across the country.

A Major Boost at a Quiet Time of Year

The annual celebrations attract up to 40,000 visitors to St Ives over the New Year period. For many coastal towns, this is traditionally one of the quietest trading times of the year. In St Ives, however, it brings a significant boost for local businesses.

Accommodation providers report being fully booked over the New Year period, while hospitality businesses see some of their strongest winter trading. Some venues have said trade can rival summer levels. One national chain said its St Ives site recorded the highest sales out of 220 locations across the UK on New Year’s Eve.

The BID also said there is growing evidence that first-time visitors who come for the New Year celebrations later book holidays in St Ives at other times of the year, helping to support the local economy and jobs.

From Fireworks to a Town-Wide Celebration

What began as a traditional fireworks display has grown into a town-wide collaboration. The event now features live music, street stalls and the now-famous fancy dress tradition, culminating in a midnight fireworks display over the harbour.

The celebrations are free to attend and are supported by a range of local partners, with St Ives Town Council acting as the main sponsor.

Extensive planning and co-ordination goes into delivering the event. This includes working with Cornwall Council, Devon and Cornwall Police and emergency services to manage safety and crowd control, alongside arrangements for waste management and maintaining the town centre’s reputation as a clean and welcoming destination.

‘A Real Credit to St Ives’

Sarah Hooper, Manager of St Ives BID, said:

“This award is a real credit to St Ives and to everyone who helps make New Year’s Eve here such a special and well-run occasion. The celebrations bring tens of thousands of people into the town at a time when many coastal communities are traditionally quiet, and the economic benefit for local businesses is huge.

“Our aim as a BID is to support businesses and strengthen the local economy year-round. Events like New Year’s Eve show what can be achieved when businesses, the community and key partners work together.”

St Ives BID is part of a network of Business Improvement Districts across the UK. Funded through a levy paid by local businesses, BIDs exist to improve trading conditions, boost footfall and investment, promote local destinations, and support businesses through marketing, events, public realm improvements and partnership working.

📷St Ives BID Manager Sarah Hooper (right) and BID Business Liaison Catherine Cooper, with the National BID Award.