Cleveleys retailers joined forces to showcase the town to 30 UK coach party organisers
More than 30 Coach Party Organisers from as far away as London have visited Cleveleys in a showcase event organised by the town’s retailers.
The event also marked the first operational use of a proposed new coach drop-off point outside Millstores on Nutter Road, as part of a series of upgraded parking arrangements for visiting coaches.
The visit brought coach operators from Lancashire and further afield to Cleveleys. They were welcomed by the Mayor of Wyre, Councillor Steve Nicholls, and the town’s retailers as part of the ongoing coach-friendly Cleveleys initiative, supported by Millstores.
Operators travelled to the town using Walton’s Coaches of Freckleton, Preston, following an overnight stay at Farington Lodge Hotel in Leyland, and were met at Millstores before taking part in a guided visit of the town and seafront.
Simon Yates, joint owner of Millstores and one of the organisers, said
“We wanted to show, in real terms, how coaches can work in Cleveleys. Seeing the drop-off point in use and being able to walk the town together made it all feel very real and very practical.”
Jane Littlewood, Care for Cleveleys, said
“Our volunteers spend a lot of time keeping Cleveleys welcoming and tidy, so it’s really rewarding to see visitors arriving and enjoying the town. Coach parties fit naturally with what Cleveleys already offers.”
Natalie English, from The Coffee Bar, who treated the organisers to a specially-prepared corn beef hash feast, said
“When a coach arrives, you feel the difference straight away. People come in, sit down, have a drink, and take time to look around. It’s exactly the kind of steady trade town centres need during the week. We hope they enjoyed their trip.”
Steve Reed, event organiser on behalf of the coach party organisers, said
“We look at places through an operator’s eyes, and this visit ticked the practical boxes. The drop-off worked, the parking options were clear, and everything was within easy walking distance. That makes a big difference when you’re planning a smooth day out for passengers.”
The event marked the first live use of the proposed coach drop-off and 30-minute waiting area on Nutter Road outside Millstores, which is scheduled to be fully in place by the end of March. Existing coach facilities include drop-off bays at the western end of Victoria Road near the seafront, bays opposite the bus station, and dedicated parking for four coaches at Derby Road East car park.
These arrangements form part of a wider programme of work aimed at improving access, dwell time and operational clarity for coach operators visiting Cleveleys, alongside engagement with local retailers and community groups.
Mayor of Wyre, Councillor Steve Nicholls, added
“It’s good to see practical solutions being tested on the ground. Coaches bring people directly into town centres, and this visit showed how simple changes to access and parking can support local businesses and visitor footfall.”
The organisers will now gather feedback from attending operators to inform the next phase of the coach-friendly Cleveleys initiative, with further engagement planned with traders ahead of the new facilities becoming fully operational later this spring.