by Elliot Taylor
Wowzer! August was another fantastic advert for the town of Warrington. We really did have it all: community events, new additions, and—last but certainly not least—some truly unforgettable anniversary celebrations.
To kick it all off, we saw VPX (Victoria Park Experience) travel to Bank Park for the second year in a row. This brought the experience’s wide array of free family activities right to the heart of the town centre for two events. The “old-fashioned fun” went down an absolute storm, with lots of children revelling in the chance to get involved with things like summer crafts and musical performances. This success came with massive thanks to organisers Warrington Youth Zone and “We Are Warrington” (the town’s Business Improvement District). These were responsible for taking on the crucial role of attracting local organisations to the event.
These included the likes of both Cheshire Constabulary and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, who were particularly grateful for the chance to spread some summer safety awareness. To cap things off, both Pete Pinnington Productions and local radio station Cheshire’s Mix 56 went down a treat. This included plenty of children taking an interest in their high-tech microphones and production equipment, by which they could feel a part of bringing VPX to life. All organisations were thrilled to be a part of the events and made points of praising the valuable opportunity to maintain ties across the Warrington community.
August also saw four excellent open days at the Warrington Museum of Policing. Here, you could find a well-organised group of passionate volunteers bringing local police history to life, chatting to children, parents, and grandparents. This created a lovely moment where generations came together and connected over Warrington’s policing heritage. As well as creating some lasting family memories, these events also acted as perfect advertisements for the Museum’s Annual Heritage Open Day, taking place on Saturday the 12th of September.
It was also a month in which Warrington Worldwide created some lasting memories, as the whole team visited the new town centre addition: Bob & Berts Coffee Shop, the day before opening.
Taking over what was the Vintage Viola charity shop in the area surrounding the old fish market, the popular franchise has had a warm welcome into Warrington. Opening its doors on the 26th of August, the heavily-refurbished 135-seater café welcomed absolute bucketloads of first-time customers, all of them making the most of a range of complimentary freebies and discounts on offer.
Renowned for its “proper coffee and great grub,” the café first originated in Portstewart, Northern Ireland, but has arrived in Warrington as a part of the next stage in a UK expansion project. The cafe specialises in quite a wide range, including all-day breakfasts, lunch meals, and typical fast food items. It also has plenty of its own surprises too, which are well worth discovering firsthand!
Prices are about the going rate, however due to the fantastic quality, are extremely hard to argue with. Despite the high standard, meals are still served at a very swift pace. Personally, I would definitely recommend giving the ‘Full English’ a go on your first visit.
As well as the delicious food, the cafe is also well-balanced and has created a relaxing atmosphere with its garden decor and homely sofa chairs. At first, I was particularly shocked by the Tardis effect the shop has. This makes it feel even more inviting, as tables are well-spaced out so that nothing feels at all cramped. Overall, as Gary Skentelbery explained, Bob & Berts definitely isn’t just another coffee shop and is 100% worth your time for a visit!
To top things off, August was also a massive month for the Warrington Wolves, as for the first time ever, the town’s museum unveiled a tailored exhibit, commemorating the club’s 150th anniversary.
This comes as a part of the club’s drive to reach out even further to the local Warrington community, which is well described within the exhibit’s printed advert: “Forged by Wire, Connected by Wolves, Built by Community”. Neil Kelly, the club’s head of identity, emphasised this even further during the exhibit’s opening presentation. Here, he stressed Warrington Wolves to be a massive part of who we are as a town, what we stand for, and most importantly, where we came from. Fans are therefore highly encouraged to come and check out the entirely free exhibit up until the closing date of the 27th of September.
To follow this up, the club went on to achieve some absolutely unforgettable matchday celebrations when they hosted Huddersfield on the 23rd of the month. Highlights of this included a pre-match march from the old Wilderspool site to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, as well as a group photograph outside the HJ, which welcomed every fan to feel a part of the Wire community. This was capped off by Warrington’s first-ever “Party on the Pitch” after the game, with local DJ James Glover taking to the stage. This gave fans a truly unique way to experience the HJ, placing them in the shoes of rugby league legends from past and present. Overall then, the event was another example of the club’s outstanding backroom staff going above and beyond to give fans the best experience possible.
This really is something to be celebrated and demonstrates the exact “nothing but the best will do” attitude, which continues to put Warrington firmly on the map!
