A European food and craft fair coming to Douglas in July will help boost trade in the town centre, says Douglas town centre manager Gill Anderson.

Douglas Development Partnership’s Mrs Anderson has welcomed the initiative which will see a fair organised by professional continental traders taking place on Douglas’s Loch promenade from July 4th to 7th.

‘We’re pleased to lend our support to the fair as it’s very much in line with one of the key findings from the Portas Review* on reviving town centres which refers to how street trading and outdoor retailing in general can be a fantastic way to bring a town to life. We’ve found this to be the case with the success of street trading events on North Quay in the summer and last year’s Christmas Emporium series; all of these brought a real sense of vibrancy and a touch of theatre to the overall retail experience while traders throughout the town reported increased takings. Innovative retailing such as al fresco craft and food fairs go a long way towards boosting footfall and generating increased revenue so we’re delighted that Douglas has been selected for this exciting one-off event where the organisers are bearing all the costs and where local traders will be offering their merchandise alongside their continental counterparts. In short, this fair looks set to bring a flavour of the continent to the town over the bank holiday weekend.’

The traditional European food and craft fair will run from 9am to 5pm from July 4th to 7th on Loch promenade.

*The Portas Review: An independent review into the future of our high streets. (www.maryportas.com)