Inside the historic market town where own lottery and currency have helped reshape the high street

Those behind the lottery then give the businesses that value back in real cash.The initiative is designed to strengthen the town’s high street, keep money circulating within the local economy, and give independent traders a fighting chance against larger chains and online retailers. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say It comes as boarded-up shops line some parts of the high street in Britain, with banks and department stores replaced by vape shops, barbers and bookmakers. Data by the Centre for Retail Research has revealed at least 15,000 stores closed in 2025, driven by high operating costs, rising business rates, and a shift to online shopping.Now, almost half of Britons do not visit their high street or shopping area at least once a week.But Pudsey is a town hoping to buck the trend. The Lottery is run by the Pudsey Business Network Forum with a licence from Leeds City Council and is overseen as a fully regulated scheme.Locals buy tickets from participating local businesses, and each month several winners are drawn, with prizes paid out in Pudsey Pounds, which are not legal tender but function as a local voucher‑style currency that can be used only in the town’s shops, markets, and other signed‑up enterprises.Since it was set up in 2020, around 70,000 Pudsey pounds have been spent in businesses in the town, helping to support the local high street.After covering the prizes and any costs, leftover lottery money is donated to good causes such as charities and community projects with more than £6,200 paid out so far.The scheme was set up by Pudsey Councillor Trish Smith (Reform), who told GB News: We've got dentists, we have a driving instructor, solicitors, coffee shops, nail bars, and some fantastic restaurants, there's so many businesses part of the scheme.When you win, you can either treat yourself say to a haircut, or a holiday, or a meal out, or buy your basics at the greengrocers or the butchers.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Woman ordered to remove 'eyesore' static caravan from picturesque Welsh villagePatriotic landlord celebrates victory in council row over giant St George’s flag painted on his pubKensington Gardens shut by police over major investigation as public urged to stay awayWe really want to support our high street and make sure that everybody shops locally. We've got the big out-of-town supermarkets that are competing and we need them, but we need our local high street.Our local high street typically is owned by local people, it employs local people. These are the people who love and care about us. You know, you go into a butcher, they'll probably know your name, they'll cut that piece of meat to just exactly what you want.Pudsey Pounds are not banknotes but almost look like Monopoly Money resembling vouchers at £1, £5, £10 and £20 that local businesses accept in exchange for goods or services up to their face value.The currency has been specifically designed with views of the Pudsey Borough, including a classic view of 1960’s Church Lane, an early tram negotiating the corner from Lidget Hill, a 1920s view of the children’s play area in Pudsey Park, and an Edwardian day out to Pudsey Beck in Black Carr Woods.Regular live draws online at different participating businesses and visible prize announcements every month on boards around the town publicise the scheme and shops that sell tickets benefit from extra footfall, while the chance to win Pudsey Pounds encourages repeat visits from shoppers.Nigel Monaghan, Pudsey Lottery Chairman, told GB News: It's difficult on the high street at the moment. We have supermarkets locally, the big supermarkets, which are fine and they have their purpose, but for somewhere like Pudsey, it's important to keep the local shops open.People enjoy taking part in the lottery, it's a pound to buy a ticket and they look forward to the draw taking place each month. If they win, it gives them a little extra money that they can use to treat themselves, whether it be going for a meal, or going to the butchers and supporting those local businesses.It's also publicity for the businesses as we go around doing the draw at the local businesses and invite the proprietors of the business to take part in the draw so they get publicity as well. Everybody certainly in Pudsey wins from it.From travel agents, to butchers and greengrocers, over 100 businesses in Pudsey accept the Pudsey Pound, with extra sales attributed to the scheme, as well as a boost in footfall from people who come to buy tickets or to see where they can spend their prizes.Businesses participating told GB News of the importance of the scheme, and six years on since its inception, how it continues to throw a lifeline to the high street.Adrian Thorp owns Blake Henry's, a family butcher in Pudsey. He said: We sell the Pudsey Lottery and we accept the Pudsey Pounds and everything goes back into the community t, which is really good. Obviously, it's not just the butchers, it's the greengrocers or the nail bar that take part and all the money goes back into the community.Money is tight everywhere. You know, even for me, everything is going up, petrol is going up, so if you can shop local instead of going to supermarkets, you save on travelling, and we appreciate it because it helps us out as well.Taomi Charlotte is the Owner of Pudsey Greengrocers and she also sells Pudsey Lottery tickets and accepts Pudsey Pounds.She said: That money goes straight back into our business, and people are shopping local and getting fresh produce by using the Pudsey Pounds. It brings the extra custom - if they didn't have the winning tickets, they might not come and shop with us. So if they've won, they're coming down the spot and all the local businesses, same as they will at other businesses, as you can use these vouchers in many of the stores in Pudsey.Katherine Beaumont, is the Manager of Hanson Travel Worldchoice, where Pudsey Pounds can be spent on extravagant getaways or local staycations.The Pudsey Lottery has been a great thing because we like to champion the high street, she told GB News.Things are changing - people are booking on the internet, and buying things on the internet. But it's important that we support our high street because once it's gone, they say use it or lose it.You can use the Pudsey Pounds here on any of the holidays that we have here. So you can put them to your Jet2 holiday, if you want to go on exotic holiday or if you just want one night away in Harrogate, or if you've got an afternoon tea or a theatre break, you can use them here.It just really helps all the businesses and I think it's nice to feel part of the community that everybody's joining together.Around 1,200 tickets are sold per month, with the first prize typically around £350, second prize £250, third prize £150, fourth prize £100 and fifth prize £50.In the March draw, Michael McDermott was lucky enough to scoop fourth prize.He told GB News: Every time I win the Pudsey lottery, it comes straight back into the pockets of businesses. In March I won fourth prize, which £125. Now that'll buy our food shop, buy our meat and veg and fruit and a little bit more for a month now.Although you don't miss that money you're putting in to buy the lottery tickets, you know that if you win, you're not going into your bank account. You can come up and spend it here and you know what you're buying. You can get quite a bit of really good deals and you're not having to go into your bank account.More details can be found on Facebook and on the Pudsey Lottery website or email info@pudseylottery.co.uk. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter