So it looks like the secret is out there- Stroud is voted by the Sunday Times as the best place to live in the UK for 2021 and the article will be published in the paper this Sunday. Hooray for us Stroudies!
Although I'm a relatively new Stroudie- with second generation roots in the area- its very, very easy to establish an affinity and a strong sense of tribal pride in my new home. Having always been drawn to radical, artistic areas - caught before the threat of gentrification gets hold- I feel as equally proud of Stroud as I did when I first moved to Camden to join the pre Britpop Music Scene in the 90s as an aspiring musician. What I found years later in Stroud- is incredibly reminiscent of that same musical community I experienced back then. Untouched, a bit rough around the edges, intensely artistic, liminal spaces with a very strong -well represented in all sectors- community- out there supporting all members of its community- especially in lockdown- where this support has only intensified.
However, having been in Camden for 20 years, I saw this spirit slowly starting to change- the place got sanitised, cleaned up, the liminal spaces- previously occupied by the artists, got bought up to become bricks and mortar investments- kept not as homes, but money blocks- more certain in that state to make money, than money in the bank- the rents went up, artists got outpriced and left- the place became disney-fied, Camden becoming a pastiche of its former self - as tourism and cafe culture span out of control.
I decided it was time to leave- to go back to square one and try to find this authentic spirit again. I did a Masters in Arts Policy and Management, where i chose to write my thesis on cultural placement- a 'swan song' to London life- trying to unravel the mystery of what makes an area so culturally strong and significant. To 'catch it' before (and if- hopefully never) gentrification took hold and examples in the UK where this exists. Frome was one, Totnes another, Hastings, Falmouth- I short stayed in them all before finally deciding on Stroud - it was a no brainer because of existing family already living in the area.
Battling this quandry in my thesis, I concluded the all importance of a grassroots 'bottom - up' decision making process- the power of the voice of the community- a voice that can only come directly and strongly from the locals- all locals from all backgrounds contributing in as authentic and free expression as possible.
Its precisely what the Sunday Times article has uncovered- this sense of a strong local community-where this community voice is highly valued- a place where the Plan B-ers live but its a dichotomy- keep a place as secret or as 'Hidden' as possible- and human nature will always seek to uncover it.
Running a home-stay - one has a huge responsibility to ensure this authenticity and cultural identity is kept firmly embedded and in place. Yes, we need our visitors to Stroud to keep our local free trade economy spinning, and my god- I love love love sharing information with guests about Stroud and its character- shouting out about Stroud to those that dont know about it. I get immense pleasure when Ive recommended something they have liked (or they in return have found something I haven't) but its also incredibly important to keep this radical, strong and rich sense of identity and character as vibrant as we can- to keep the balance and stop Stroud from becoming a victim of its own success- its cultural identity watered down and blunted by those who seek to profit.
Theres a famous phrase- Tourism is like a fire- you can cook your dinner on it but it can also burn your house down.
'The authentic experience' is the buzz phrase in tourism these days- with travel revolutionised with sites such as Airbnb- seeking to give tourists an even deeper 'behind the scenes' experience of an area. Phrases such as 'Live like a local' - abound in marketing strategies.
We positively welcome responsible travellers to our strange, radical, creative little town- but tread lightly, absorb and get under the skin of the indigenous qualities of the area and support our fair trade shops, restaurants and venues. Its this support that feeds directly back into the local community and indirectly supports its cultural identity.
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