Eat out and visit our museum

Last week, the Government announced that it would be launching the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme. This will run during August and will offer you 50 per cent off a meal, up to the value of £10, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at restaurants, cafés, hotels and pubs that are taking part in the scheme. We have some fantastic places to eat in the district and so we are encouraging local businesses to register for the scheme by visiting www.gov.uk/guidance/registeryour-establishment-for-the-eat-out-tohelp-out-scheme

The Government is also supplying promotional materials to those businesses who wish to participate.

As part of our ‘Support Local’ campaign, we are encouraging residents and visitors to show their support and visit our local restaurants, cafés and hotels.

It is vital that we all play our part in supporting our local businesses wherever we possibly can.

We’re encouraging people to shop local, spend local, support local.

I’m also pleased to tell you that our Novium Museum and Tourist Information Centre will be opening its doors again on Tuesday, July 28, at 11am.

If you wish to visit, please make sure that you book in advance at www.thenovium.org

The team has been busy making sure that they are prepared and ready to welcome you back.

Social distancing measures and one way systems have been put in place to enable you to enjoy the exhibitions on offer.

This includes the ‘Mystery Warrior – The North Bersted Man’ exhibition, pictured right, which has been kindly sponsored by Irwin Mitchell.

The exhibition reveals the secrets of an Iron Age Warrior, who may have fought alongside King Commius during Julius Caesar’s wars with the Gauls. It is well worth a visit.

Our leisure centres in Chichester, Southbourne and Midhurst, which are run in partnership with Everyone Active, are also working hard to reopen their centres soon.

To find out the latest information and more about the measures that they will be putting in place, please visit https://www. everyoneactive.com/centre/westgateleisure-centre

We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area, with attractions and activities galore, so please rediscover your local area and enjoy what it has to offer.

Please also remember that we are also offering free parking on Saturday and

Sundays in our Avenue de Chartres car park in Chichester; as well as offering one hour’s free parking in all council owned car parks (except Westgate Leisure Centre and the

Avenue de Chartres car park), when you select two hours on the Mipermit app.

Both of these offers are available until September 7, when they will be reviewed.