Friday food and fun in Ashton

Starting this September, the first Friday of the month will bring a new early evening pop-up arts and food event to Ashton town centre.

‘Fridays on the Square,’ being trialled by Tameside Council, will offer the opportunity to relax, kick back and socialise with family and friends.

Funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for Communities and Place, four pilot events will take place on the first Friday of the month from 4pm to 8pm between September to December.

The events aim to attract and welcome all ages to join in the fun with great food, drink, art activities, and music on offer to help bring a sense of vibrancy and community back to the town centre.

With a selection of street food traders combined with family entertainment, it will provide families with the opportunity to pop into Ashton town centre on the way home or after school and join in with creative and fun activities while enjoying a bite to eat or early evening meal in a welcoming environment.

The event will offer adults the chance to enjoy a social after-work drink or meal to catch up with colleagues or friends before heading home or out for the evening to help bring a sense of vibrancy and community back to the town centre.

Councillor Sangita Patel, Tameside Council’s Assistant Executive Member for Culture, Heritage, and Digital Inclusivity, said: “It is exciting to collaborate with the local community, businesses and partners bring together my vision for an event which highlights the town as well as Tameside’s cultural offer, local arts, and creative activities. The UKPSF funding has given us a unique opportunity to do something different and trial an event that can bring people together in the town centre.”

Councillor David Sweeton, Tameside Council Executive Member for Inclusive Growth, Business and Employment, said: “I am delighted we can use this funding to invest in projects which support the Master planning and Levelling up work we are doing to help make our town centres, community spaces and cultural offer and support local businesses and the local economy in line with our Inclusive Growth Strategy.

“The event will support opportunities for growth and development for residents and businesses, it gives us the opportunity to evaluate what type of events could be commercially viable for the future.”

Fridays on the Square has been fully funded from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for Communities and Place for the Ashton Creative Improvement District.

For more information, go to www.intameside.co.uk/fridaysonthesquare.

For more information about UKSPF, please visit www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/UKSPF