Shoppers are being promised a Bank Holiday Bonanza shopping weekend in Croydon as its big name brands, shopping centres, small shops and even its car parks all join forces with Croydon BID and the council to get the town back to business after the recent riots.

Free and discounted car parking, free entertainment and countless special offers are all on the cards for the Bonanza Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday August 27th to Monday August 29th), thanks to an unprecedented effort by all the town’s key players, who have agreed to join forces on a major marketing campaign to boost business in the town.

Maria Chapman-Beer, interim chief executive of Croydon’s Business Improvement District (Croydon BID), which is leading the joint initiative alongside Croydon Council and the Whitgift and Centrale shopping centres, said: “It is amazing how everyone in the town is pulling together to help put Croydon back on its feet.

“Croydon has one of the best shopping centres in the South and I have been impressed by the sense of civic pride shown by all those in the Town Centre, both large and small traders, who have put the needs of Croydon above that of their own in order to contribute to this campaign.”

David Ordman, director of Centrale, added: ““There is a real sense of community spirit within Croydon following the recent events and I am delighted that Centrale Shopping Centre is working closely with our Town Centre retail partners and local businesses to support and strengthen our community.”

Councillor Phil Thomas, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for environment and highways, said: “Thanks to residents, retailers and the wider community Croydon is definitely back in business. This community has pulled together to show it will not be beaten by the recent public disorder.

“It is imperative that we continue to support our local businesses in their hour of need and I would urge shoppers to visit Croydon this weekend and take advantage of the free and cut price parking and the array of first-class shops and restaurants the borough has to offer. “

Shops across the borough are being encouraged to join the campaign by adding their own special offers, all of which will be publicised online by both the council and Croydon BID. Anyone interested should email their Bank Holiday weekend offer to:

croydonbid@whitelabelconsultants.org.uk.

Car parking deals include free parking in council on-street and surface car parks*, parking all day for £2 at Centrale Shopping Centre, NCP car parks (Allders, Dingwall Road, Fairfield Halls, Wandle Road and Whitgift), Whitgift open air carpark and Q Park in Surrey Street.

Free entertainment includes face painting at the BID-funded Croydon Visitors Centre, next to East Croydon Station, as well as in the main shopping centres. In addition, there will be clowns and stiltwalkers in the Whitgift Centre as well as Water Walkers – the chance to ‘walk on water’ in giant balloons – while Centrale Shopping Centre is running an ‘I Love Croydon’ promotion with free t-shirts to be given away, as well as a Golden Hearts treasure hunt with the chance to win more than £1,000 of prizes.

Special offers include up to 30% off furniture at Marks and Spencers, perfumes at less than duty free prices at Allders (selected lines only) and 20% off all purchases at Bon Marche over £20. For the full details of all the special offers available this weekend, see www.croydontowncentre.com and www.croydon.gov.uk

Croydon is the ideal destination for families with young children thanks to the Child-Safe scheme.

Machines dispensing colourful wristbands are installed at various locations throughout Centrale and Whitgift shopping centres and the Croydon Visitor Centre. Parents or guardians can write their contact number onto the wristband worn by the child, who is advised to go to a spot with a Child-Safe logo if they get lost.

*specific locations only – see website for details

When's the last time you visited Croydon?