Category: General

Free Halloween Spookfest Takes Over Tamworth’s Ankerside Shopping Centre Today

Halloween celebrations are getting underway in Tamworth today, Saturday 17 October 2026, as Darkside Markets brings its Spookfest event to Ankerside Shopping Centre.

The free event runs from 9am until 5pm, offering visitors the chance to explore an unusual collection of independent traders and Halloween-inspired products.

More than 30 alternative traders from across the Midlands and beyond are expected to take part.

A celebration of everything spooky

Spookfest promises a shopping experience with a difference, celebrating gothic styles, unusual handmade creations and the more imaginative side of Halloween.

Visitors can browse stalls offering distinctive products that may not be found in conventional high street shops.

The market is designed to appeal to fans of alternative fashion, gothic culture and Halloween-themed merchandise.

Supporting independent traders

The event also provides an opportunity to discover small independent businesses and creative makers.

Markets such as Spookfest offer traders a chance to introduce their products to new customers while bringing additional activity into the town centre.

With free admission, the event is accessible to anyone interested in browsing the stalls.

Event details

Date: Saturday 17 October 2026
Time: 9am–5pm
Venue: Ankerside Shopping Centre, George Street, Tamworth, B79 7LG
Admission: Free

Visitors can find further details through the Ankerside Shopping Centre website.

Lichfield City Centre Bucks National Trend as Shop Vacancies Fall by More Than a Third

Lichfield city centre is showing encouraging signs of resilience, with newly publicised figures revealing that the number of empty retail premises has fallen by more than a third since 2021.

Figures released by Lichfield District Council show that just 16 of the city’s 311 retail premises were vacant in June 2025, compared with 25 in April 2021.

That represents a vacancy rate of approximately 5%, significantly below the national high street average of 13.5% quoted by the council.

The findings offer encouraging news for local traders at a time when many British town and city centres continue to face challenges from changing shopping habits and competition from online retailers.

Investment in Lichfield’s future

Lichfield District Council leader Councillor Doug Pullen has welcomed the figures, pointing to investment in the city centre and improvements to public spaces as important parts of the council’s approach.

The authority believes its ongoing regeneration programme is helping make Lichfield an attractive destination for businesses, residents and visitors.

The planned Everyman cinema development is also expected to strengthen the city’s leisure and entertainment offering.

By providing additional reasons for people to visit the centre, the council hopes to support existing retailers, restaurants and hospitality businesses.

Supporting local businesses

Independent shops, established retailers, cafés and restaurants all contribute to Lichfield’s distinctive character.

The vacancy figures provide a positive indication of the city’s retail position, although they represent a snapshot from June 2025 rather than a current count of occupied premises.

The council has also indicated that its regeneration ambitions extend beyond Lichfield, with £1.2 million earmarked for improvements in Burntwood.

For Lichfield’s businesses, the latest report offers an encouraging reminder of the importance of a thriving and attractive city centre.

Image – Lichfield Live

Verified by MonsterInsights