St Albans City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) has released a new guide featuring independent businesses in the city centre.

From trendy fashion to artisanal cheese, the city is home to an array of independently owned businesses offering shoppers with unique products and a personalised friendly service.

Designed to help visitors and residents discover what’s on offer, the new Independent Shopping & Services Guide lists businesses in the St Albans City Centre BID area. Focusing on businesses that have a retail offering and provide consumer services, the directory includes Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Fashion & Beauty, Home & Property and Gifts & Services. The guide also includes information on businesses that are dog-friendly and those that accept the St Albans Gift Card.

As part of the BID’s Destination Marketing objective, the BID also produce the St Albans Official Visitor Guide and the City Centre Food & Drink Map which was launched last year. Through the Enjoy St Albans brand, the BID help attract tourists and support businesses by promoting the city and highlighting everything it has to offer to shop, eat, stay and enjoy in St Albans, this include the official website, PR, social media and publications like the Independent Shopping & Services Guide.

Vivien Cannon, BID Manager, St Albans City Centre BID says: “Our independent businesses provide a diverse product offering and personalised service which contributes to the distinctive character of our city. Independents are key drivers encouraging footfall and visitors into the city. This new guide helps raise their profile along with people’s awareness of the huge variety of city centre businesses. When you spend your money locally with Independents, you invest in your high street which creates local employment and supports the city community.”

The guide is available to pick up from visitor information points at St Albans Cathedral and St Albans Museum + Gallery as well as the city centre hotels.

You can also discover Independent businesses on the Enjoy St Albans website: http://www.enjoystalbans.com/shop/