A new website has been launched to promote and highlight the wide range of shops and other services on Fore Bondgate and nearby streets, including Finkle Street and North Bondgate.
Mark Murray, who has recently opened a gift shop on Fore Bondgate and who is responsible for building the new website, said the main aim of forebondgate.co.uk is to inform people who live in or visit the town about what’s on offer in its historic town centre.
“Traders on Fore Bondgate have made great efforts in the past to promote the street, including holding a very successful street party in August 2019, setting up a promotional Facebook page and organising bunting to make the street look more attractive,” said Mark. “The new website is another way to promote the town centre.
“There are now 33 businesses, including several quirky gift shops, cafés, restaurants, bars, takeaways, clothes shops, hair and beauty salons, art galleries, a bookshop, a carpet shop, and specialist sports shops, listed in the Street Directory section of the new website, with more to come. Fore Bondgate has lots to offer residents and visitors, but it’s sometimes difficult to get that message across. The businesses hope this initiative will give the area a much-needed boost.
“The website has been launched at a time when a new public space is being developed by Durham County Council connecting Fore Bondgate and North Bondgate, alongside improvements to the public realm, including better paving, new street lighting, better directional signage, and new and improved shop fronts, planned for the near future.
“There are lots of exciting new developments which have either opened recently, such as the new Faith Museum in Auckland Castle, or will be coming on stream next year, including the planned Stack Bishop Auckland on Newgate Street, the Kingsway Square development, and new restaurants and bars, which will give people even more reason to visit Fore Bondgate, the Market Square and Newgate Street.”
The website includes a news page which currently features the recent opening of Mark’s DC Gifts shop at 57 Fore Bondgate specialising in incense, crystals, candles and unusual products, such as White Sage Smudge Sticks, Nepalese products, Fair Trade windchimes, woollen hats and more.
There is also an Events page and a page about the history of the street, one of the oldest in Bishop Auckland, dating back to medieval times, and a page with information about business opportunities on the street. There are also listings for business premises on Fore Bondgate for sale or for lease.
“Bishop Auckland’s town centre regeneration is a work in progress, added Mark, “however, the town centre already has a huge amount to offer residents and visitors, and businesses on Fore Bondgate hope this website will make it clear to them what’s available in the town right now.”
Bishop Press has also learned that www.newgatestreet.com and www.bishopmarketplace.co.uk domain names are available to register if anyone on those streets would like to follow Fore Bondgate’s lead and set up promotional websites.
For more information and to find out what else the website has to offer, visit it here.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
Very informative and well done. I sincerely hope folk get inspired by this website and visit Bishop Auckland and especially Fore Bondgate.