Message from Chief Executive Rachel McQueen

First and foremost, I hope that you, your families and your colleagues are safe and healthy at this incredibly challenging time. Our thoughts and best wishes are with you all as we collectively try to navigate our way through this unprecedented crisis.

Lancashire’s tourism and hospitality sector is the very lifeblood of our county, providing the warmest of welcomes not just to our visitors but to every single person that chooses to call Lancashire home. Feeding and watering us, entertaining us, educating us and delighting us in so many ways. We are devastated that you have had to close your doors and ask people to #StayAtHome.

However, we are also inspired by your Lancashire grit and determination to do just that, in order to keep your staff and visitors safe. And by the imaginative ways that you have found to keep Lancashire in the minds of the people who love it, whether that’s a virtual tour, a make at home kit, an exceptional meal delivered to the door, or a ginspiration box, you have been tireless in finding ways to carry on.

And we are here to try and help as much as we possibly can. We have also closed our doors, but we are set up working remotely and you can contact us in all of the usual ways. We are liaising daily with VisitEngland, VisitBritain and DCMS to share your experiences and challenges, lobby for targeted support and make sure that we have the most up to date information on the support available to share with you. Our partners over at Boost have launched the #AskForHelp campaign specifically for Lancashire businesses, so please do ask, and make sure that you are accessing every possible form of financial support.

We may have to batten down the hatches for now, but I know we are all working hard to make sure that Lancashire is ready to welcome everyone back with open arms as soon as it is safe to do so.

Please do keep safe, stay strong and keep in touch.

#WeAreLancashire