Marathon offers huge trading opportunity this weekend

The annual ABP Newport Wales Marathon Festival takes place in the city this Sunday (April 13) - and presents a huge opportunity for many city centre businesses.

This year's event again includes three races - the marathon, a half-marathon and a 10k.

There are 9,000 runners signed up for the races and organisers expect up to 15,000 spectators on the day.

With the start and finish on Usk Way, near the University of South Wales campus, and with all three races starting with a loop of the city centre that takes in High Street, the city centre will be at the heart of the event.

Thousands of spectators will be looking for entertainment while they wait for their loved ones to finish.

Those supporting the 10k will have anything from 30 minutes to 2 hours to explore the city centre, those supporting the half marathon anything from 80 minutes to 4 hours and those supporting the marathon, anything from 2 to 5 hours.

And runners will be looking for somewhere to celebrate, spend and eat and drink post-race.

Post-event surveys from previous events have shown that 60% of all runners will eat out in Newport as part of their race day experience and will spend an average of £32 per person on food and drink.

That means a potential spend of at least £173,000 in the city centre this Sunday - but only if businesses open to take advantage of the additional footfall.

The event is officially open between 7.30am and 3.30pm, with the marathon & half-marathon starting at 9am and the 10k race starting at 9.45am.

Thousands of spectators will be looking for entertainment while they wait for their loved ones to finish, and runners will be looking for somewhere to celebrate, spend and eat and drink post-race.

The event organisers Run4Wales are promoting the city centre and our amazing traders, encouraging them to visit as part of their event day experience.

This is a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of the extra footfall that will come as a result of many thousands of runners and spectators being in the city centre.

Offering runners and spectators a discount on shopping or food, or offering a free celebratory drink when they purchase a meal when showing their finishers' medal is a fantastic way to drive footfall to your business and take advantage of this extra trading opportunity.