Totally Locally Chorley

Totally Locally is something special. It’s more than a shop local campaign, it’s a philosophy.

It started out as a small idea in the North of England and has grown into a multi-award-winning worldwide movement. Groups of volunteers in towns and areas use the Town Kit, follow guidelines, and use templates and a full event strategy to make their town a stronger, more vibrant & resilient place.

There is now a network of Totally Locally Towns across the world, sharing ideas, working together, and making a difference to their independent businesses.

Chorley became a Totally Locally Town in October 2016 when a small group of independent businesses decided to work together to promote the town and all the independent businesses within Chorley Town Centre. Chorley Council along with Sir Lindsey Hoyle MP, Cllr Alistair Bradley and Cllr Danny Gee supported 50 independents to start Totally Locally Chorley with some funding towards printing the Totally Locally Chorley Map of Hidden Gems, a Chorley Elf mascot and marketing materials for various events throughout the year.

By working together organising events like the Fairy Trail, Jurassic Chorley, Easter Egg Hunts, Halloween Spooktacular, The Totally Locally Chorley Christmas Market, The Platinum Jubilee Family Fun Day, and The Elf Trail; locals and visitors to Chorley have found hidden gems which they hadn’t noticed or seen before.

Over 150 independent businesses have now joined Totally Locally Chorley to help promote each other and the town. If you are an independent business in Chorley, you are welcome to join their Facebook group Totally Locally Chorley Businesses.

Totally Locally Chorley regularly posts news, offers, and events on Facebook and Instagram so why not give them a like and keep in the loop of what’s happening in Chorley. It is not just about shopping, eating and drinking it is about growing our local community, and local economy and creating jobs for local people.

Over 40 Totally Locally Chorley independent businesses are currently taking part in the National Totally Locally Fiver Fest. Offering amazing £5 deals to shoppers in Chorley. The Fiver Fest increased footfall into the town centre not only helping the independents taking part but other town centre businesses too.

Sarah who owns For The Love of Plants had been suffering from low footfall and poor trade but on the

first day of Fiver Fest, she said ‘Amazing Day! Sold 21 of the deal so 105 Cacti/Succulents in total. Never had a Saturday like it, feel on top of the world!’

Wysteria Beauty received 80 bookings for their Fiver Fest offer of a 30-minute massage for £5.

The message behind Fiver Fest is simple it encourages people to switch £5 from their weekly supermarket or online shopping to a local independent business. If every adult in the Chorley Borough made just one switch of £5 per week it would help grow our local economy by £29 million a year.

Chorley is a friendly historical Market Town with a wide variety of unique small independent businesses including Browns the Butchers and their award-winning Lancashire Haggis, The Buttonhole for all your knitting and sewing needs, Krishans Jewellers for sparkle, Outdoor Land for walking and camping, Wilcock & Sons for hardware, Allens Butchers, Bunny’s Moggy’s and Doggy’s Pet Supplies, Reed Refillery, Tyrers Fruit and Vegetables, Chocobella, Hutchtree Bespoke Furniture, Reeds Refillery, Pats Cheese, Bills Tattoos, Ebb and Flo Bookshop, Massa’s Dessert and Café Bar, Fredericks Ice Cream, Chic Happens, Stonebridge Skates to name a few.

There is no shortage of eating establishments for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner all with their own unique ambience and menu there is something to suit all tastes and budgets. Why not try Woodchats Coffee Shop especially if you are looking for a Vegan-friendly menu, for Harry Potter Fans we have The Wizards Pot Tea Room, Encore is Chorley’s award-winning restaurant, Toni’s Pitta Pan is perfect if you are looking for an authentic Greek experience, The Ottoman Grill for a true taste of Turkey, No 61 Pizza and The Italian Cottage for Italian flavour and if you are looking for a gourmet burger you won’t go wrong with Burger Capitol or Smokies. These are just a few of Chorley’s amazing eateries so why not visit, have a stroll and eat local.

Chorley also has amazing microbars including The Shepherd Hall Ale House & Victoria Rooms, The Ale Station, Artisan Ale House, Nelipots Bar, Riley’s Taproom and Bar and lots more. Pop into one and ask for a trail map of Chorley’s microbars.

All these independents and so many more compliment the Tuesday outdoor market day, the Indoor Market, Market Walk along with Booths, Marks and Spencer’s Food, Luciano’s Chorley, Calico Lounge and Reel Cinema.

For entertainment Chorley Theatre, Escape Entertainment Venue, Astley Park and Astley Hall are all worth a visit.

Watch out for lots of forthcoming events including the Totally Locally Chorley Flower Festival, The Chorley Flower Show, Totally Locally Chorley Family Summer Fun Days, The Tale of the Tenner, The Totally Locally Chorley Halloween Spooktacular and The Totally Locally Chorley Christmas Market in conjunction with the Chorley Light Switch on.