Home lifestyle store – Bell of Northampton is partnering with three local food producers to create a new look menu for the summer.Located in the heart of Bell of Northampton’s showroom on Kingsthorpe Road, Northampton, the much loved Love Lunch café continues to use local produce as part of its menu offering.A trio of local suppliers provide regular deliveries to the store. Wesses Bakery in Market Harborough provides Bell with a daily delivery of essential fresh produce, including bread and milk to help the café serve up its range of sandwiches and variety of delicious barista-made coffees and specialty teas.Daily...

22 May, 2025

Get ready to raise a glass and celebrate all things local. Northamptonshire Food & Drink Week is back - from Saturday 31 May to Sunday 8 June - and it’s shaping up to be more delicious than ever.Following the success of its inaugural year, this week-long celebration brings together local flavours, passionate producers, and independent venues for a feast of special events, exclusive menus, tasting tours, chef pop-ups, and more - all designed to support local businesses and shine a spotlight on the county’s growing reputation as a food and drink destination.Organised by Made in Northamptonshire and the Northamptonshire Tourism Business...

21 May, 2025

The Greats Awards - which celebrate their 23rd anniversary this year - shine the spotlight on gift independents and multiples that have demonstrated exceptional retail flair in the last year.Family run business, Jeyes of Earls Barton were finalists in The Best Non-Specialist Retailer of Gifts Category, shortlisted alongside some incredible venues including Blenheim Palace Gift Shop, Natural History Museum Gift Shop, Savill’s of Windsor Park Gardens, Loch Leven’s Larder and Pearce’s Farm Shop.This category highlighted retailers for whom gifts are not their main product focus but all who have shown excellence across the retail spectrum, including their range of gifts, product...

21 May, 2025

NN’s biggest food and drink show, Delapré Food Festival, returns to Northampton this June – and organisers are promising the most exciting weekend yet, with headline chef appearances, hands-on masterclasses, and brand-new family entertainment.On Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June, food and drink stalls will fill the historic lawns of Delapré Abbey alongside outdoor bars, street food, a professional chef demo stage, live music, tasting sessions and expert-led masterclasses.New for 2025, the festival introduces a free family circus, bringing entertainment for children big and small – including Punch and Judy shows, unicycles, hula hooping, juggling and story-telling sessions. Also debuting...

21 May, 2025

UK economy delivers strongest quarterly performance in a year despite forecasts of business downturnA surprising 0.7% economic growth in the first quarter of 2025 has defied gloomy predictions, but retailers face an imminent "reality check" as April's tax increases begin to bite, according to the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira).The latest Office for National Statistics figures released today show the UK economy expanding at its fastest pace in twelve months, outperforming City analysts' expectations of 0.6% growth. While this represents welcome positive momentum for Britain's retail sector, March's more modest 0.2% growth signals potentially challenging times ahead.Andrew Goodacre, CEO of...

16 May, 2025

Northampton town centre’s ‘gold standard’ evening and night-time economy has been honoured with a top international award for the sixth year in a row.It was confirmed yesterday that Northampton has retained the prestigious Purple Flag award which celebrates places that create thriving, vibrant night-time economies that are safe for visitors, workers and residents.Across the globe only 90 locations – including world-renowned tourist destinations – have been awarded the Purple Flag which is similar to the Blue Flag scheme for beaches and aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between 5pm and 5am.In addition...

15 May, 2025

A packed house at Corby Cube this week celebrated a decade of Made With Many – the organisation behind some of Northamptonshire’s most inclusive and ambitious cultural activity.The atmosphere was electric as artists, community members, volunteers and local leaders came together to reflect on 10 years of creative impact and look ahead to what’s next.Supported throughout by significant funding from Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme, Made With Many has become a vital part of the local cultural landscape.Launched in 2015 under the original name Made In Corby, the organisation is led by a consortium that includes Groundwork...

15 May, 2025

Local fine jewellers Michael Jones Jeweller have renewed their sponsorship agreement with Northampton’s Royal & Derngate, continuing their support for the theatre’s programme of home-produced and co-produced drama.Michael Jones Jeweller have a longstanding relationship with the theatre, having been the primary sponsor of Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton productions for the last eight years, as well as being an established Business Club partner. These Made in Northampton shows have brought the theatre national recognition, with productions such as The Pope which subsequently inspired a major film and the Olivier Award-winning The Worst Witch. This autumn the theatre will be...

15 May, 2025

With the UK Parliament progressing the Renters' Rights Bill, significant changes are on the horizon for landlords. To support local property owners in navigating these reforms, Woodhead & Co is hosting a free online webinar on Tuesday, 20 May at 7:00 PM.The Renters' Rights Bill, expected to receive Royal Assent by summer/autumn 2025, will abolish Section 21 "no-fault" evictions and transition all tenancies to periodic agreements. Landlords will be required to provide valid grounds for eviction (such as rent arrears or plans to sell), and the Bill also proposes caps on rent increases (once annually) and protections against discrimination for tenants...

14 May, 2025

North Northamptonshire Council has received funding from the Rural England Prosperity Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver two Business Growth Grant schemes - the Rural Business Grant Scheme (RUBI) and the Business Growth Grant Scheme.Capital grants between £5,000 and £25,000 are available to help micro and small businesses become more resilient and support growth.These grants can be used to help businesses invest in equipment or build extensions and alterations. The scheme aims to support businesses to grow, diversify and innovate, with the visitor economy as a key focus. Eligibility Applications can be made for projects that can start quickly...

14 May, 2025

The Never Alone Project, Northamptonshire’s leading bereavement charity, has been selected as Rushden Lakes’ inaugural charity partner for 2025/26.Earlier this year, Northamptonshire charities had the opportunity to apply to partner with Rushden Lakes to become its first-ever Charity of the Year. The initiative invited applicants to detail their charity's aims, provide a brief history, and explain how they would utilise the benefits offered by the destination.The new program will provide several benefits for the charity throughout the year, from May 2025 to March 2026. Benefits include social media and digital support, a Customer Service collection box, outdoor event space, use...

12 May, 2025