LQ In The News
Each month LQ BID will bring our members the latest media coverage gained through recent press stories. Links will include, news articles, videos, podcasts, images and more. These links will be available for you to view at your own leisure, ensuring you are kept up to date with the latest stories hot off the press!
April
In early April, Linen Quarter BID’s MD, Chris McCracken, spoke to Bauer Media’s David Tighe to discuss what LQ BID is doing to build towards recovery, and offered a glimpse of what to expect on the latest Business Bites. April also saw one of LQ BIDs biggest projects get approved by BCC planning committee, and enhanced safety measures highlighted across LQ as more offices returned.
Business Bites
Bauer Media
Bauer Business Bites | Episode 38 | Chris McCracken – YouTube
Planning Approved
Irish News
Safety Increased
News Letter
Business First
Safety measures dialled up across Linen Quarter · BUSINESSFIRST (businessfirstonline.co.uk)
March
In March, Linen Quarter BID’s MD, Chris McCracken wrote and shared an opinion piece on ‘Reimagining Belfast post-Covid’, adding thought to the wider debate of the city we want to see. Speaking with Margaret Canning from the Belfast Telegraph, the piece garnered media attention, highlighting the ongoing work of the BID and its role as the city recovers.
Reimagining Public Realm / Opinion Piece
Belfast Telegraph
Belfast Telegraph
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/analysis/reimagining-belfast-post-covid-40200907.html
Regeneration / Presentation
Business First
Belfast Chamber
FEBRUARY
This month Linen Quarter BID revealed results from a recent public survey which highlighted an overwhelming demand from the public for change to Belfast’s urban environment. We also saw the Belfast City Centre gift card make national headlines, with a focus on what consumers can experience in the City Centre when normality resumes.
Public Realm Consultation:
Belfast Live
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/plans-new-outdoor-area-social-
Love Belfast
https://lovebelfast.co.uk/changing-spaces-public-consultation-reveals-belfasts-future-cityscape/
Business First Online
Belfast City Centre Gift Card:
Crave Magazine
https://cravemag.co.uk/travel/valentines-day-gifts-town-city-gift-
Intouch Rugby
December
This month Linen Quarter BID welcomed hospitality and retail businesses back to the District, with the installation of vinyl wraps on the Scottish Mutual Building, which sits on the entrance to Bedford Street. LQ BID managed the work as part of our 20 project recovery plan that aims to promote the area as one of the most exciting destinations in the city following the pandemic.
NEWSLETTER
BUSINESS FIRST
LOVE BELFAST
In other December news, LQ BID were delighted to introduce the District’s first cigarette butt ballot bin. The bin was installed by LQ BID outside Great Victoria Street station as part of our ongoing efforts to keep Belfast’s historic quarter clean.
November
This month LQ BID launched plans for new public realm within the district, specifically for local hospitality businesses to make use of and highlight the district as a must-visit destination. Online coverage has been included below:
Irish News
Newsletter
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/business/consumer/linen-quarter-bid-launches-consultation-3034936
Business First
Best of Belfast Podcast
To coincide with imagining future public realm in the District, LQ BID’s MD Chris McCracken, spoke to Best of Belfast podcast to discuss how far the quarter has come since the story of Otto Jaffe, an interesting character / entrepreneur who really put the District on the map. Link to podcast can be found here:
Sir Otto Jaffe: “The Linen Entrepreneur Who Changed A City” — Best Of Belfast
October
Coverage for the Belfast City Centre Gift Card launch continued into October, with more publications becoming aware of the initiative and the positive story this launch provided, particularly with news being dominated by a pandemic. Coverage for the gift card can be found in the following links below:
Belfast Live
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/new-gift-card-initiative-launched-19009076
NVTV
https://www.nvtv.co.uk/on-demand/
NI 4 KIDZ
Belfast Chamber
Also, in October LQ BID was delighted to extend our partnership with the PSNI StreetBeat team, CQ BID and welcome University of Ulster to the collaboration. LQ StreetBeat provide enhanced policing to the District, and the team is on hand to deter anti-social behaviour, provide premises checks and advice to many businesses occupied in the area. Read more below:
Newsletter
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/business/consumer/streetbeat-back-another-year-2994874
Business First
https://www.businessfirstonline.co.uk/other-articles/police-on-the-beat-on-belfasts-streets-2/
September
To provide support to local businesses and to help the City Centre recover, LQ BID partnered with Belfast One and Destination CQ BIDs to promote the Belfast City Centre Gift Card, an initiative aimed at boosting the City Centre offering, to ensure spend is locked in to local economy. The partnership has been a success to date, with over 155 businesses signed up to offer the card. Links below explain how the card works and how you can purchase:
Belfast Telegraph
New campaign: Belfast gift card to boost visits and spending – BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
Business Eye
http://www.businesseye.co.uk/gift-city-new-initiative-launched-boost-city-centre/
Irish News
Sync NI
Belfast Media
Also in September, LQ BIDs MD Chris McCracken wrote an opinion piece for Belfast Media. This was in connection with the Belfast Homecoming Conference, where Chris was a member of the panel talking about the future of tech offices in Belfast City Centre.
