OFFERS galore have been lined up by Middlesbrough businesses taking part in a nationwide drive to boost town centre trade.

Fiver Fest celebrates the UK’s fantastic independent shops and businesses – and Middlesbrough has more than its fair share.

The last event in October saw 63 towns and countless businesses up and down the country taking part in a fantastic opportunity to raise their profile and reach new customers.

And the campaign returns at the weekend with a fortnight of great offers, deals and attractions from now until Saturday, February 29.

Businesses taking part in Fiver Fest put on special £5 offers over the two weeks, to show the diversity and value of what they sell, and to say thank you to the communities that support them.

The initiative grew out of the Totally Locally £5 message which showed the huge impact of people spending just £5 per week in their local independent shops can have on our high streets.

Those taking part in Middlesbrough include:

Play Brew Two pints of Play Brew beer for £5;

Bedford Street Coffee House Coffee and breakfast bun £5;

Baker Street Kitchen Any tea or coffee and breakfast bun £5;

Mannequin Café New Double Decker sandwiches £5;

Café Etch Coffee and three Macarons for £5;

The Tea House Any sandwich and a mug of tea;

Bier Beer Pint pilsner and a Bavarian scotch egg;

The Dickens Parmo, chips, salad;

The Zetland Toad in the hole/risotto of the day;

Hit the Bar Two pints for a fiver on selected drinks.

Councillor Ashley Waters, Middlesbrough council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “We have and amazing array of independent shops, businesses and traders in Middlesbrough, and they’re vital to making the town centre such a vibrant place to shop, eat and work.

“Fiver Fest is a celebration of that fantastic diversity and originality, and a showcase for some great offers.

“I’m delighted to see so many businesses taking part, and I look forward to welcoming visitors old and new to what promises to be a terrific fortnight.”

Totally Locally founder Chris Sands added: “We know Fiver Fest isn’t going to change the world, but small changes in spending habits can really make a difference to our high streets. Just by diverting £5 of our weekly spend to local independents we give them a fighting chance to thrive. It’s a conversation worth having.”

To find out more about the nation Fiver Fest campaign, visit https://totallylocally.org/stuff/totally-locally-fiver-fest/

Totally Locally was founded in Calderdale, West Yorkshire in 2010. There are now over 60 towns in the UK who have gone ‘Totally Locally’.