About this Event
📅 Thursday 26 November 2026
📍 Loop, Ashford
Join HighStreetPositives for the in-person launch of Join the Dots - a new event series bringing together the people, ideas and conversations shaping the future of our high streets.
This special HSP event is being hosted in Ashford, with support from Ashford Borough Council, The Big Picture and involvement from a wide range of partners, businesses and organisations connected to the town and the wider high street ecosystem.
Held at Loop, The Big Picture’s exciting new destination in the heart of Ashford, this will also be a unique opportunity to experience the space the day before its official opening. Attendees will be among the first to step inside, explore the destination and see this new addition to Ashford’s town centre that brings together cinema, food and drink, social games, live events and flexible workspace, before it opens to the public.
The afternoon will begin with a town tour led by Ashford Borough Council, offering the opportunity to explore the town, hear about local projects and understand the partnerships helping shape Ashford’s future.
We will then come together at Loop for a cross-sector conversation exploring the themes, challenges and opportunities shaping high streets across the UK.
This event is for anyone invested or involved in the future of our high streets – from retailers and hospitality businesses to local authorities, property professionals, investors, community organisations and many others who play a role in creating successful places.
Expect:
- Real examples, case studies and best practice from across the sector
- Insights from people making a difference in towns and cities
- Honest conversations about the challenges and opportunities ahead
- Different perspectives coming together to explore the future of our high streets
At the heart of Join the Dots is a simple idea: high streets are shaped by many different people, organisations and decisions. The opportunity comes from connecting these perspectives, sharing learning and creating stronger collaboration across the whole ecosystem.
This will be a positive, practical and non-political conversation focused on the future of our high streets and the role we all play in shaping them.
Following the event, HighStreetPositives will share key themes, insights and conversations from the day as part of the wider Join the Dots programme, helping capture learning, highlight examples of progress and contribute to the ongoing conversation about the future of high streets.
Speakers and contributors will be announced soon.
🎟️ Early Bird Tickets
£45 – HighStreetPositives Members
£65 – Non-members
Not yet a member? Join the HighStreetPositives community from just £12 per month and access member benefits including discounted event tickets, webinars and opportunities to connect with others across the sector.
Find out more at Join Us - HighStreetPositives
NB local SME businesses can access discounted tickets. If cost is a barrier, please get in touch by emailing [email protected] . We want anyone passionate about the future of our high streets to be able to take part.
Event venue & nearby stays
Loop, Elwick Rd, Ashford, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.