2025 has been a remarkable year for Chichester. Together, we’ve celebrated 950 years since the formation of the Diocese of Chichester and Chichester Cathedral - a milestone that brought our community together in ways both joyful and profound.
From concerts and exhibitions to services and gatherings, the Chichester950 programme has shone a light on the rich religious, cultural, and civic life that has shaped our region for nearly a millennium. It’s been a year of stories, music, art, and shared moments that remind us why this place matters.
To capture some of that spirit, we’ve reached out to friends across our community - people who’ve been part of the festivities - to share their reflections on what Chichester950 has meant to them. In the first of three reflections, Helen Marshall, Chair of Chichester Business Improvement District (BID) offers her perspective on this extraordinary year and the impact it has had on the city, and its business community.
And before we leave you read Helen's reflection - we’d love to hear from you too. Tell us what stood out for you and help shape the Cathedral’s future programme and how we can improve your experience when visiting the Cathedral, or joining one of our events.
Click here to complete our survey>>
Amazing cultural experiences ensure local businesses thrive!
Back in 2024, when I was first got involved in the preplanning of Chichester950 from a stakeholder perspective, and equally when I became aware of the ambitious strategic intentions and objectives for the fantastic Chichester950 event, I was thrilled and filled with anticipation - for a couple of very different reasons.
Firstly, I clearly remember the Chichester900 festivities. The 900 event had left an indelible imprint on me as a young girl growing up in the city at the time. It was probably the first time I had appreciated what an amazing historical and cultural city I was lucky enough to have been born and brought up in. The memories and feelings of belonging to something bigger ran deep and they are probably responsible for kick starting my lifelong love for the city to this day.
Secondly, and perhaps more pertinent for today, I was also thrilled as I know the local businesses within the city centre would hugely benefit. And that is an important consideration for me as Chair of the Chichester Business Improvement District (BID). As an organisation, we advocate for and support local businesses – and partnering in events such as these marking important historical milestones ensures we can influence the best outcome for the local economy.
You may think it is a little tenuous to be able to make that link between a historic cultural festival and hardnosed commercial benefits for local businesses – but it is well trodden route and something we see clearly demonstrated time after time. This is not in dispute.
In summary, the Chichester950 programme was hugely positive for local city centre businesses primarily because it increased visitor numbers (footfall) and encouraged collaborative community engagement, leading to a much-needed boost in local spending across most sectors.
Helen Marshall, Chair of Chichester BID
Driving footfall into city centres is so important to ensure our local economy thrives. It has been a hard-fought battle ever since the introduction of online commerce and will continue to be as we navigate through the changing face and transformation of our High Streets everywhere. The programme featured a diverse range of activities throughout 2025, including an immersive light show by Luxmuralis, special concerts, and exhibitions, all designed to attract both residents and visitors into the heart of the city. This influx of people naturally led to more potential customers for city centre businesses.
The influx of people lead to an inevitable boost in spending. Visitors and attendees would have spent money on various goods and services, including food, drink, and retail, which directly benefited local eateries, shops, and accommodation providers.
But there is also a softer beneficial side effect … that of driving effective community collaboration. The programme promoted a strong sense of this, with organisations like us working with local businesses to leverage the event's appeal. For example, some businesses created special window displays to complement the festival's themes, linking their enterprises to the city-wide celebration.
By hosting a major cultural event, Chichester raised its profile as a vibrant destination, which helped to attract future tourism and business investment beyond the festival year. Putting our city on the map as a sought-after location for up-and-coming new brands and businesses to lay down their roots, is invaluable and has a longer term positive impact
And lasty, and something which is perhaps less obvious, was the boost given to our Evening and Night-time economy. Events such as the ticketed Chichester950 Light Experience were held in the evening, supporting the city's night-time economy. Many businesses would have benefitted from the many families keen to make an evening of it in the city after having enjoyed this amazing event.
So, there is no doubt that the programme served as a significant draw for people, which in turn translated into increased commercial activity and a positive economic effect for city centre businesses.
So, I look forward to the next time when we can make that incredible and fulfilling connection between culture and commerce. The benefits for all are clear to see!
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