Our passion for rejuvenating ailing town centres began this year.
Business leaders, shop owners, staff and members of the local community gathered to discuss the state of Huddersfield, and listen to our ideas for improvement.
Here is founding partner Kate Hardcastle prior to the event on the BBC:
This month, Huddersfield became the subject of the new McDonald’s advert and the I’m Lovin’ It campaign. The ad features a man walking through an immaculate looking town centre, full of life and vibrance, cheerily singing to himself, and ending up in the local restaurant. Seems a world away from Kate’s assessment above.
Here is the advert:
And here is some local reaction, both for and against:
“They should have filmed the advert at 4am on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Mcdonalds is not a nice place to be. . . . .”
“haha love how they editing the pizza hut sign next too it. huddersfield has never looked so new 
”
“I see that the Empire Club has been air brushed out. Well, the ad does go out before the watershed.”
“Cause theres no where else that id rather be. To be honest, id rather be anywhere other than Huddersfield”
“That’s our town. McDonalds has done less than nothing for Huddersfield and now they’re using our streets to try get more of their wrappers blowing around, more of the rainforests cut down, more of our wages beaten down and more of our cash sent to some billionaire abroad. I feel genuinely wounded and ashamed watching this. RIP Huddersfield.”
“haha, this advert makes huddersfield look all clean and happy and tidy!”
“HUDDERSFIELD is Getting Recognised.. At last!”
“Huddersfield is a very desirable place and a very good place to live with great travel access across UK”
“It’s just a TV advert. It was filmed in Huddersfield, but that doesn’t mean it’s supposed to be a documentary about Huddersfield.”
“Why show the miserable Railway arches ? why show the miserable laundry on Bradford Road, Hillhouse, ? Why show where the junkies hang around behind wetherspoons ?
Why show the kid on a skate baord?
“I am sure there are nice scenes in huddersfield.”
Here is a photograph I took last month (3 am) outside said restaurant.
So opinion is divided. Has the filming done Huddersfield a favour in ‘advertising’ the town? Could this, and the publicity raised, lead to more retailers into wanting to open stores in the town? Or is it trying to dress up the problems, to encourage customers to visit the big global brand – therefore taking business from the smaller independent retailer?
Come and see for yourself.
Insight with Passion’s Town Centre Rejuvenation Scheme is on-going. Contact us for help in your area, or to find out how our methods and expertise can help your individual business or store transform.