First of all, let's welcome our new member!
Corrine Lancashire - Concepts Rye
Social Media Fun
You’ll have no doubt seen this one already!
One of the great challenges volunteer-led organisations face is that they get trapped in a catch-22 of needing to publicise their work to boost their visitor numbers and thereby their income, but are limited by time and resources. The Heritage Centre does an incredible job of keeping Rye on the map, but social media is yet another thing they have to remember to do without the luxury of a team to do it for them. It all takes time and effort when there are only so many hours in the day, and limited people to help.
Rye Chamber (also a volunteer-led organisation) is passionate about supporting those who make Rye a unique place to visit, our local businesses all recognise that we all benefit individually if we work collaboratively to encourage visitor numbers. So with that in mind, the Chamber’s very own Sarah Broadbent hatched a plan with Simon Parsons at Rye Heritage Centre to create a version of the latest Instagram trend 'if Gen-Z wrote the marketing script' in a bid to create a bit of extra attention for them and maybe help build their online audience by piggy-backing the respective online audiences for Visit1066, The Mermaid and Swallowtail Hill. Simon was huge game, and we roped in our Town Crier, Paul Goring, and Father Paul White of St Mary's to make it work. The Mermaid Inn was also super supportive in letting us film there and sharing our efforts.
We hoped it would make people laugh and spotlight Rye's heritage. It certainly seems to have done so - in the week since we posted the reel we've had 33.7K plays and lots of people have saved the reel so hopefully when they are next planning a day out or a holiday Rye's historical sites might be on their list. If you haven't done so already, please share it!
BID Update - have your say!
Some members may have already been contacted by Sue or Mo from Mosaic as part of the feasibility study. Many businesses in Rye and surrounds will receive a link to complete an online survey in the next few weeks. Please ensure that you complete it! It won’t be very long but we must seek your views on what you want for the town and surrounding area going forward.
We will be giving a comprehensive update on the BID and the feasibility study at our AGM on November 21st. Please book your space NOW! It's guaranteed to sell out!
Festival Round-Up
Local wine & food were both figuratively and literally on our lips at the inaugural Rye Harvest Food & Wine Fair. Over 1000 visitors enjoyed the produce, the talks, the packed entertainment program and the incredible weather at the Cricket Salts on the 14th-15th of September. The success promises to cement its position as a regular annual event.
Rye Arts Festival
The 53rd Annual Rye Arts Festival wrapped -up this weekend with a festival programme that was diverse and exciting. One outstanding highlight was the contemporary Scottish Dub group An Dannsa Dub, which was a high-energy, high-spirited affair. Congratulations to the team on this booking - a fantastic and memorable evening for Rye!
Tourism - The Feast is East!
Wine & Food tourism is a growth market for the area and Rye has enjoyed some excellent press across the last few weeks. Here’s the round-up in case you’ve missed any of it.
Food & Travel magazine ran an exceptional 11-page feature on East Sussex in which Rye and its surrounds claimed much attention. The piece was the result of an extensive itinerary organised for them by 1066 Country Marketing. The feature includes Charles Palmer, Tillingham, Tibbs Farm, Rye Fisheries and Seafood Bar as well as the Plough (incidentally, all of these businesses were involved in the recent Rye Harvest Wine & Food Fair!)
In terms of measuring the value of the feature the advertising equivalent value is as follows:
For a (subjective) editorial promotion F&T Magazine charge a tourism organisation £2,400 per page. So, for a feature of this length, 11 pages = £26,400
Were it to be counted as single advert pages, the total cost = £84,700
I’m sure you’ll agree that this is seriously impressive and we commend 1066 for orchestrating such as successful trip 👏.
You can read the feature in full here...
The Telegraph also ran a wonderful travel feature showcasing Rye just last week. The piece by Greg Dickinson featured The George In Rye where he stayed for his visit but also includes mentions The Mermaid, Ypres Castle Inn, Waterworks Micropub, Globe Inn Marsh, The Fig, The Kino and the Rye Castle Museum. The feature also includes the Gallivant at Camber, the New Inn at Winchelsea and all the best spots in Dungeness. The headline says it all; ‘Nowhere comes close to this stretch of the south coast’ – and we couldn’t agree more. You can read the full feature here.
Tourism Data
If you benefit from joint 1066 / Chamber membership you’ll already know that 1066 has appealed for summer ’24 season feedback so we can benchmark how our visitor economy has performed this year. If you’ve already provided feedback then thank you. If you haven’t done so already then you have until October 11th to email 1066.membership@rdc.gov.uk or you can email Sarah here at the Chamber as she is also the 1066 Rye Rep - info@ryechamber.org
East Sussex Visitor & Cultural Economy Task Group
The September meeting provided updates on the following:
Steps to Success Programme 2024-26
Aiming to support young people to find the best route for them at the end of year 11. Setting career-related goals, as well as goals that relate to the young person’s personal development – with a particular focus on work placements, especially hospitality
To find out more about Steps to Success, email workexperience@eastsussex.gov.uk
Transform Service
Focused on developing apprenticeships and skills. It is very keen to develop employer links in hospitality, construction and creative/digital.
Email TRANSFORM@eastsussex.gov.uk with your initial enquiry and the team will then send an application form and book an initial appointment to discuss your needs.
Little Gate College Internships and work placements for students with special needs.
Email Tracey-Anne Cook to discuss placements and internships at
Experience Sussex
A new programme funded by ESCC. The website will be live in November. The Aim is to champion careers in the visitor economy across Sussex.
Currently: | Vision: |
£5bn impact in Sussex | Additional £2.5bn |
£5bn impact in Sussex | 35,000 more jobs |
74,000 full-time jobs | High-quality tourism |
Net Zero 360 Tourism: Rother
According to Mintel’s UK Sustainability in Travel Market Report 2022, 75% of Britons want to do more to minimise their impact on the environment whilst travelling. A solid approach to sustainability will also help you cut your energy costs and minimise waste.
This FREE sustainability workshop is for any tourism or hospitality business in the Rother District area that wants to keep up with consumer trends, attract more customers, and cut their running costs.
During a full day of highly interactive, free training you’ll explore:
What net zero means for the tourism and hospitality sector.
How to measure your carbon footprint and identify where you can cut the most carbon and costs.
How to use Clean Growth UK’s free carbon calculator.
How to communicate your sustainability journey in your marketing.
Plenty of real-life tourism and hospitality examples.
You’ll come away with a carbon reduction plan that will help you cut costs, attract customers and employees, and future-proof your business.
When? Tuesday 15 October 2024, 9.30am – 4pm Where? Rye Nature Reserve, Rye, TN31 7TX BOOK HERE NOW
Rother District Council: Consultation on the Council Plan 2024-28
Businesses, Residents and Organisations are being asked to give their views on how the council operates and its priorities for the next four years.
The draft Council Plan sets out the challenges and opportunities in the district and what it wants to achieve, including growing the rural economy, improving business resilience and attracting more visitors to the area. It also identifies how success will be measured. The plan includes actions that will need to be delivered by partners with the council committed to working with communities and partners to achieve these.
RDC is seeking your feedback. Our businesses must have a voice in the economic strategy for the region. The consultation closes on the 21st October 2024.
Click here to read the document and complete the questionnaire.
Levelling Up / Public toilets
Keeping it short and sweet this month as we’re sure you’re bored of hearing the minutiae! We’re still in negotiation with both RDC and RTC about how we can use our funds to refurbish the Station Approach public conveniences. You’d think this is straightforward - believe us, it isn’t. But we are getting there.
Christmas is around the corner!
St Mary’s is holding a Christmas Tree Festival this year and we are delighted to be sponsoring this event. They are appealing to our town’s businesses to take part- all you need is some creativity. Bring and decorate a tree to create a magical Christmas forest inside St Mary’s Church. Here are the rules!
Bring a real or artificial tree, or fashion your tree from scratch (6 ft max!)
Decorate your tree to represent your society or business in any way you wish – make it all about you!
Lights are welcome but they must be battery-operated
Setting up days are Friday, November 29th 2pm to 8pm and Saturday, November 2pm to 5pm.
Taking down day is Friday December 20th 2pm-8pm
Grand Switching On will be at the Toy Service – Sunday 2nd December 10.30am with Father Christmas!
It’s free to take part but you MUST book your space in the church before Saturday 10th November. Email viviennepattison@gmail.com or hilarymorfitt@mac.com
We think this is a great idea and will be a magical event. We have so many creative shops in our town that we’re sure some of you will have some excellent ideas for really stunning Christmas trees!
Dates for your Diary
11th October - 1066 Tourism Feedback for 1066 deadline - get involved!
NetZero 360 - Tourism Sustainability Workshop Tuesday 15 October 2024, 9.30am – 4pm
Rye Nature Reserve Booking essential
21st October Rother Council Plan Consultation - closing date. Get your responses in!
Rye Chamber AGM: Thursday 21st November
Join us in the ballroom at The George in Rye, Book NOW. FREE. Don't miss it.
Rye Late Night Shopping / Christmas Lights Switch-On: Saturday 23rd November
More details to follow from the Christmas in Rye Committee in due course.
Christmas Tree Festival Switch On - Sunday 2nd December at 10:30am.
St. Mary's - get involved!
Christmas in Rye: Saturday 7th December
More details to follow from the Christmas in Rye Committee in due course.
NOT A MEMBER?
Join over 150 businesses that benefit from the work of the Rye Chamber. It costs just £50 a year - regardless of the size of your business. Visit our website to learn more.
See you next month!
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