Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District (BID), which is funded by the local business community, has announced the five recipients of its new Attractions Grant fund.
Following the roll-out of the Events and Markets Support Grants, the Attractions Grant scheme was launched to support both established and new all-year-round venues.
The five grants offered will help to improve venue facilities and sustainability, which will enrich the town and bring more visitors, and with them, an economic contribution, to the area.
Grants of up to £3,000 were awarded following a rigorous application process. They needed to be match funded and had to demonstrate how they would enrich the town and bring people and potential customers to the area.
- £3,000: Forum to replace its speaker system and thereby improve sound quality for customers and facilitate bigger, more demanding shows
- £2,000: Spa Valley Railway to enhance its hospitality offer and bring in a new income stream through a high-end coffee machine
- £1,500: Trinity Theatre to invest in a new interactive touchscreen to support its new heritage attraction, which is aimed to bring thousands to the town
- £1,500: Royal TW Water to invest in a machine to allow for sales to take place at the Chalybeate Spring at any time and support the operation, which includes regular dippers and costumed characters to keep going sustainably
- £500: RTW Arts Society to invest in new signage and help promote this free attraction on the Pantiles to visitors
The awards also follow a one-off grant of £5,000 that was awarded to Trinity during its emergency fundraising campaign in the Spring.
RTW Together BID CEO Alex Green said: “We are delighted to have been able to introduce a new grant process specifically to support existing and potential cultural and tourist attractions that bring vibrancy and energy to the town.
“These grants are able to deliver on our core aims – to attract more footfall to the town, as well as make Tunbridge Wells a sought-after destination with high-quality events and activities.”
