Kelso has won the prestigious Rising Star Award at the Great British High Street 2019 Awards, beating other nominees from across the United Kingdom. Visit Kelso will receive £15,000 for their town.
The Rising Star High Street award celebrates up and coming local communities who are on their way to transforming for the future. Kelso was singled out for their innovative app and a centralised communications hub. The Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth awarded Kelso the prize at the awards show in Edinburgh.
The awards are run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in partnership with Visa and aims to recognise and celebrate the communities that are working to revive local high streets.
At the awards, Kelso also won the Rising Star Scotland award before winning the overall prize.
Emily McGowan and Tina Newton of Visit Kelso picked up the award on behalf of The Square in Kelso
Commenting John Lamont MP said: “I was delighted to be in Edinburgh to see Kelso pick up this prestigious award. Local people always tell me how proud they are of the number of independent shops and cafes in Kelso.
“The Square is a particularly beautiful part of the town so it is no surprise that Kelso done so well.
“It was particularly good to see the innovation of Visit Kelso highlighted. Only by responding to our different shopping habits will our high streets continue to thrive.”
Local MSP, Rachael Hamilton said: “My constituency office sits just off the The Square in Kelso so I am able to use the great shops and facilities that it offers.
“The innovative marketing initiatives by Visit Kelso, such as their information leaflets and shopping nights, have greatly driven footfall and put Kelso on the map as a go-to destination.
“I really think that Kelso has shown the rest of the UK an example of how we can really keep our high streets vibrant.”
