We are Super Weston

Becky Walsh

0.0 (0)
PLACES & TRAVEL
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to the brand new ‘Super Weston’ podcast, shining a light on all the reasons why Weston is a ‘super’ place to live, work and visit. Tune in and listen to stories of business innovators, local people with unique stories to tell about life in Weston, and those who are raising the game through new projects and events. Plus insider tips on where to eat and drink. Be prepared to be surprised!

12/09/2023

Ep 19 Beyond the boards: the past, present and future of Weston's iconic piers

2023 has been designated the 'Year of the Pier', and in our final podcast of the season, we are celebrating Weston's piers. Of the 60 piers left in the UK, four can be found on North Somerset's 19-mile coastline, and three of them are in Weston! We chat to pier experts Michelle Michael, one of the owners/directors of The Grand Pier and Revo, and Simon Talbot-Ponsonby, Director of Birnbeck Regeneration Trust, about the history and future of Weston's three very different, iconic piers. They discuss: - The evolution of entertainment at The Grand Pier, from its Victorian beginnings to the present day - Michelle's family's aspirations for The Grand Pier and Weston - The importance The Grand Pier places on hiring and training young people in Weston-super-Mare - Large-scale events: The Grand Pier can seat up to 1,000 people, making it the biggest venue in the town - The charity work Michelle, her team and The Grand Pier are involved with - at their recent charitable ball, they raised a staggering £410,000 - Celebrity visitor anecdotes from The Grand Pier - Upcoming events, recent developments (including new feature lighting) and future investment happening at The Grand Pier. - The history of Birnbeck Pier from its days as an enormous funfair to being commandeered as a secret weapons research establishment. - How the implementation of modern transport lead to its demise. - Birnbeck Pier's importance for the RNLI - North Somerset Council's recent ownership of Birnbeck Pier after years of uncertainty. - Funding, grants and future plans for the restoration of the pier. -Michelle and Simon's favourite places to eat out, shop and go in Weston-super-Mare. You can also read a transcript of the podcast here. To comment on today's conversation head over to Instagram or LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode, we would so appreciate it if you could rate, review and subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify - it helps us to share the amazing stories of the people of Weston-super-Mare. Huge things are happening in Weston-super-Mare, the creative, historic seaside town on the Somerset coast in the South West of England. Find out more on our website Super Weston Huge thanks to our host Becky Walsh and our voiceover artist Matt Hardy

47 min
11/23/2023

Ep 18: Commercial property & investment opportunities in Weston-super-Mare

This week, we talk to Simon Price, a partner at Alder King, and Jane Harrison, Head of Economy at North Somerset Council, about the increasing appeal of Weston-super-Mare as a place to locate a business, and for developer investment. During the episode they discuss: Trends for business growth and interest in Weston, including industrial sector growth, particularly in advanced manufacturing. How KMW and Rockhaven are collectively developing sites of over 130,000 sq. feet, speculating on positive market demand. The attractiveness of locating a business in Weston, thanks to staff availability, good transport connections, culture-led regeneration and government investment, alongside ease of access to local government support, advice and business networks. The great value for money of commercial property in Weston, where average top-end rents are £18 - £20 per sq. metre, whereas just 20 miles away in Bristol, they are £42 - £50 per sq. metre. The importance of the Weston Enterprise Area and the handholding and support for any business moving into the area. The many environmental and community groups in the town focused on areas like trees, plastics reduction, and sustainability that businesses may want to partner with for ESG goals.Investment in the High Street, the increase in independent businesses coming into the town centre and why large empty units like TJ Hughes remains empty. They also share with us some interesting facts about Weston, and their favourite places to go, eat and drink. To comment on today's conversation head over to Instagram or LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode, we would so appreciate it if you could rate, review and subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify - it helps us to share the amazing stories of the people of Weston-super-Mare. Huge things are happening in Weston-super-Mare, the creative, historic seaside town on the Somerset coast in the South West of England. Find out more on our website Super Weston Huge thanks to our host Becky Walsh and our voiceover artist Matt Hardy

50 min
11/08/2023

Ep 17 Christmas in Weston - what's on and where to shop with Fay Powell and Alan Smith

This week, host Becky Walsh chats with guests Fay Powell and Alan Smith, to discover what Weston has to offer this Christmas. Alan Smith, Manager of The Sovereign, shares what the shopping centre has been up to over the past year, and their grand festive plans for December, including late night shopping and a Christmas light switch-on (30th November 2023). Fay Powell, Central Services Manager of Weston Town Council, shares the Christmas activities she has planned with her family including pantomimes, markets, workshops, and festive activities, and reveals her favourite local shops. Fay also talks about: Weston's grand Christmas lights switch-on (2nd December 2023), funded by the town council and Weston BID, which will see the mayor, competition winners and celebrities from the Blakehay pantomime illuminating the town!eat: Food Festival, taking place in Winter Gardens and Italian Gardens on Small Business Saturday (2nd December). Weston Museum's extended Christmas Market weekend (2nd-3rd December)For more information about what’s on this Christmas in Weston head to the Visit Weston website. To comment on today's conversation head over to Instagram or LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode, we would so appreciate it if you could rate, review and subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify - it helps us to share the amazing stories of the people of Weston-super-Mare. Huge things are happening in Weston-super-Mare, the creative, historic seaside town on the Somerset coast in the South West of England. Find out more on our website Super Weston Huge thanks to our host Becky Walsh and our voiceover artist Matt Hardy

32 min
10/27/2023

Ep 16 The Stable: a business and community hub of creativity and inclusivity

The Stable is a vibrant hub that has woven itself into the fabric of the community in Weston-super-Mare. A multifaceted space, it offers everything from co-working offices, to a board game cafe, hot desks, a pub, pop-up food shop, artisan markets and more. In the latest episode of the We are Super Weston podcast, Councillor Jemma Coles - the driving force behind the remarkable transformation of the building and ongoing community initiatives - tells us about her journey and how The Stable got to where it is today. Host Becky and Jemma talk about: What led Jemma to this role The vision behind this thriving community hub The diversity of businesses that have set up at The Stable and subsequent opportunities for networkingThe foresightedness of their community initiatives, such as Stable Foundations, which has been instrumental in supporting young people with learning disabilities and others who may have been overlooked by traditional support systemsHer favourite places to eat out and shop in WestonMore about The Stable To comment on today's conversation head over to Instagram or LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode, we would so appreciate it if you could rate, review and subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify - it helps us to share the amazing stories of the people of Weston-super-Mare. Huge things are happening in Weston-super-Mare, the creative, historic seaside town on the Somerset coast in the South West of England. Find out more on our website Super Weston Huge thanks to our host Becky Walsh and our voiceover artist Matt Hardy

38 min
10/17/2023

Ep 15 Food WorksSW: Cultivating food and drink innovation in the West Country

The West Country is fast becoming a hotbed for entrepreneurial food and drink producers thanks to food and drink innovation centre, Food WorksSW, which opened in 2020. If you have an idea for a new food or drink product, or have a small food business you want to scale-up, Food WorksSW can help you innovate and grow. Located just off the A370 into Weston-super-Mare, The Food WorksSW offers food-grade business units and development kitchens, as well as hands-on food technical and specialist business support, conference and meeting rooms, a business lounge for co-working and a coffee shop. On today’s podcast, host Becky is chatting to Rebecca Hale - Marketing and Facilities Manager of Food WorksSW, and Alli Briaris, owner of Drinks Kitchen alcohol-free beverages. They talk about: The amazing facilities at the Food WorksSW for food producers and those looking for co-working spaceThe businesses who are benefiting from the Food WorksSW servicesThe story behind Alli setting up her own non-alcoholic beverages business, Drinks KitchenHow the Food WorksSW has helped Alli’s business scale-up.How the eat: Festivals have helped give Alli’s product an outlet to sell, along with a community of supportive producers To comment on today's conversation head over to Instagram or LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode, we would so appreciate it if you could rate, review and subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify - it helps us to share the amazing stories of the people of Weston-super-Mare. Huge things are happening in Weston-super-Mare, the creative, historic seaside town on the Somerset coast in the South West of England. Find out more on our website Super Weston Huge thanks to our host Becky Walsh and our voiceover artist Matt Hardy

32 min
10/09/2023

Ep 14 Thinking of moving? David Plaister talks property in Weston-super-Mare

With house prices considerably lower in Weston-super-Mare* than the West Country capital, Bristolians are moving to the North Somerset seaside town in their droves. In this week’s podcast, we talk to David Plaister - owner of the family-run Weston Estate Agency that bears his name - about this growing trend, where the best places are to live in Weston and what’s going on with the property market in general. Becky and David discuss: The trend for people moving to Weston from Bristol How Weston has become a ‘suburb of Bristol’ due to its excellent train connectionsThe sense of community, great schools, and hospital in WestonSome of the popular areas to live in the townFor more information about David Plaister: Website: https://www.davidplaister.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidplaister/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/davidplaisterltd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidplaisterltd *According to Rightmove, the average house price in Weston in 2023 is £271,853, in comparison to Bristol at £393,582. With semi-detached houses in Weston reaching £289,413, while in Bristol they are £429,391. To comment on today's conversation head over to Instagram or LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode, we would so appreciate it if you could rate, review and subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify - it helps us to share the amazing stories of the people of Weston-super-Mare. Huge things are happening in Weston-super-Mare, the creative, historic seaside town on the Somerset coast in the South West of England. Find out more on our website Super Weston Huge thanks to our host Becky Walsh and our voiceover artist Matt Hardy

34 min
09/21/2023

Ep 13 Best Weston-super-Mare walks with local experts Paul Batts and Jane Murch

Perched on the edge of the Mendip Hills, surrounded by gorgeous Somerset countryside and with miles of flat seafront promenade, Weston-super-Mare is a walker’s paradise. In episode 13 of our We are Super Weston podcast, host Becky Walsh speaks to local experts, Paul Batts - owner of independent shop, Outdoors & Active - and Jane Murch, Visitor and Information Services Manager for Visit Weston, about the best places to go for a stroll in and around Weston. They discuss: Their favourite walking trails in and around Weston-super-MareThe opening of the new King Charles III England Coast Path and related celebrations at Weston MuseumHealth tourism in WestonTheir favourite things about working and living in the townWeston Literature Festival's special guest Raynor Winn (author of The Salt Path) 5-8 October. Best places to stay (including dog-friendly places!), eat and drink in WestonDiscover more on our blog: superweston.net/latest To comment on today's conversation head over to Instagram or LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode, we would so appreciate it if you could rate, review and subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify - it helps us to share the amazing stories of the people of Weston-super-Mare. Huge things are happening in Weston-super-Mare, the creative, historic seaside town on the Somerset coast in the South West of England. Find out more on our website Super Weston Huge thanks to our host Becky Walsh and our voiceover artist Matt Hardy

38 min
09/12/2023

Ep 12 Wind, water and beach sports with former Combat Paramedic and adventurer Ben Peters

In today’s episode, we chat with former Combat Paramedic Ben Peters, about some of his many adventures, his work with young people and WhatSUP paddleboarding, and some of the adrenaline sports on offer in Weston. Born and bred in Weston, Ben's extraordinary life has seen him paddleboard down the Amazon River, work as Bear Grylls’ medic and help rebuild the British Virgin Islands with Richard Branson. Host Becky Walsh talks to him about: Where his appetite for adrenaline comes from and how it has inspired his youth work in Weston-super-MareWhat led him to working with Bear Grylls and Richard BransonThe fantastic range of outdoor activities on offer in Weston for those who want adventure and excitement (e.g kitesurfing, windsurfing, blokarts, stunt kites, paddleboarding and canoeing to name a few!) How people looking to participate in water and windsports can stay safe in the water in Weston by getting involved with local clubsHis involvement with Weston Wind, Wheels and Waves, and the accessibility of his paddleboarding club, WhatSUP UK (which includes a wheelchair accessible paddleboard)Fascinating facts about Knightstone Island in WestonCeliac-friendly places to eat out in WestonThe upcoming Weston Beach RaceHere are a few links to help you find out more about Weston’s wind, water and adrenaline sports: South & West Association of Traction Kiting The Mudlarks Weston Rollers’ Skate Nights Visit Weston Weston Blokart Club Discover more on our blog www.superweston.net/latest To comment on today's conversation head over to Instagram or LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode, we would so appreciate it if you could rate, review and subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify - it helps us to share the amazing stories of the people of Weston-super-Mare. Huge things are happening in Weston-super-Mare, the creative, historic seaside town on the Somerset coast in the South West of England. Find out more on our website Super Weston Huge thanks to our host Becky Walsh and our voiceover artist Matt Hardy

32 min

Welcome to the brand new ‘Super Weston’ podcast, shining a light on all the reasons why Weston is a ‘super’ place to live, work and visit. Tune in and listen to stories of business innovators, local people with unique stories to tell about life in Weston, and those who are raising the game through new projects and events. Plus insider tips on where to eat and drink. Be prepared to be surprised!

Creator

Becky Walsh
Years Active

2K
Episodes

20
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2024 We are Super Weston
Show Website

We are Super Weston