Vote YES for An Event-Ful St Andrews!
St Andrews businesses are being urged to vote in favour of renewing the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) to secure the future of major events that attract thousands of visitors each year, including the much-loved St Andrew’s Day celebrations.
Eligible businesses – those with a rateable value of more than £12,000 – have until 5pm on Thursday, 30 July 2026 to cast their vote. If successful, the BID will generate more than £1.1 million to invest in St Andrews over the next five years.
One of the BID’s flagship projects is The Hoolie, the annual St Andrew’s Day celebration, which has become one of the town’s most popular community events since launching in 2017. Held on the Saturday closest to St Andrew’s Day (30 November), the event begins with a bustling community market before moving into an afternoon and evening of live music from local performers, a giant street ceilidh on South Street, a torchlit procession to West Sands and a spectacular fireworks display.
The event has continued to evolve with accessibility at its heart. Last year, organisers introduced a Changing Places toilet and a dedicated quiet space at the St Andrews Baptist Church on South Street, ensuring more people could take part in the celebrations. Over 10,000 people attended last year’s event, making it the most successful Hoolie to date.
Among the businesses that benefit directly is St Andrews Brewing Company, located on South Street in the heart of the festivities.
Mandy Martin, General Manager, said, “The Hoolie gives us a fantastic boost during what is traditionally a quieter time of year, when many people are saving for Christmas. The pub is busy throughout the day with the market and then again during the ceilidh before the torchlight procession heads down to the beach. It creates a brilliant atmosphere and brings people right down to this end of South Street, which can sometimes be slightly outside the main flow of visitors.
“We always adapt our menu for the event, offering warming favourites like stovies, soup, hot chocolate and hot toddies. We also put out additional outdoor seating, with many families, including wheelchair users, booking space so they can enjoy the dancing, music and all the excitement.”
If renewed, the BID will deliver a five-year programme of projects to strengthen the town centre and support local businesses. Priorities include expanding the successful Clean & Green Team, continuing winter events, launching new health and wellbeing initiatives to position St Andrews as a year-round destination, improving signage and wayfinding, providing business support and training, and refreshing the town’s festive lights.
Debbie MacCallum, Honorary Chair, BID St Andrews, said, “This year, we want The Hoolie to be bigger and better than ever, giving thousands of local residents, students and visitors a St Andrew’s Day celebration to remember.
“Every year, we hear of the tangible benefits The Hoolie generates for businesses across the town. Hotels, restaurants, shops, cafés and bars all report increases in footfall and income, with the event shining a light on our brilliant and diverse community. And our townsfolk and visitors absolutely love it! We’ve already had people getting in touch who plan to travel to St Andrews specifically for this year’s event. But The Hoolie is just part of what we do. Over the last five years, the £1.1 million generated has supported a wide range of initiatives that have helped enhance and promote this beautiful town. Without the BID, many of these projects and improvements – including The Hoolie – simply would not happen. By voting ‘Yes’, businesses can help us build on everything we’ve achieved together, continue investing in the town centre and secure a bright future for St Andrews.”
The renewed BID will also help businesses maximise the opportunities presented by The Open Championship, which returns to St Andrews from 11–18 July 2027, ensuring the town is well positioned to benefit before, during and after the event.
Businesses that have not received their ballot paper or BID Business Plan, or require assistance with voting, are encouraged to contact the BID team – telephone 01334 477697, email info@bidstandrews.co.uk, www.bidstandrews.co.uk, 42 South Street, St Andrews, KY16 9JT
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS
A Business Improvement District (BID), of which there are over 30 in Scotland, is a defined area where businesses come together to invest collectively in projects and services to strengthen the local trading environment.
Levy-paying businesses would continue contributing 1.5% of their rateable value, generating around £220,000 each year and approximately £1.1 million over the next five years.
The BID ballot is a confidential postal ballot conducted by Fife Council on behalf of BID St Andrews and in accordance with Scottish BID legislation. Ballot papers will be counted on 31 July 2026, and the results will be announced within seven days. Following a successful ballot, BID St Andrews will commence on 2 August 2026 and run for five years until 1 August 2031.
Operating alongside a Baseline Service Agreement with Fife Council, the BID also ensures that existing services are maintained, while providing additional investment to make St Andrews a more vibrant, welcoming and successful place to do business.