Harry Styles fans are flocking to his UK hometown, hoping it’s “As It Was” when the 30-year-old star was growing up.
Over the past yr, over 5,000 devotees — referred to as “Harries” — have visited Holmes Chapel, England, walking in One Direction to hit all of the spots the singer has frequented.
Leaders of the quaint Cheshire village northwest of London have encouraged the frenzy of tourists by making a map — that the local railway station ticket officers hand out at no cost — marking a 2-mile tour of the pop star’s favorite local haunts.
To encourage more tourism, local officials have announced plans to rent teenage tour guides to point out adoring fans sights equivalent to the bakery where Styles worked as a teen and a Chinese restaurant where he once brought Taylor Swift.
“We aim to begin official tours of Harry’s Home Village on Saturday mornings in June and weekdays in July, August and September, and will probably be recruiting Harry Styles fans from 16 and over to act as local guides,” Peter Whiers, chairman of Holmes Chapel Partnership, confirmed to SWNS.
Hopefuls will probably be chosen based on their real interest within the village, its history, and its links to Styles, and their excellent communication and storytelling skills.
The demand for tour guides is anticipated to be so great that the town is holding a half-day assessment session on April 20 to recruit as much as 16 teen guides to start this system.
The route guides Harries past the singer’s former home, his old-fashioned, Mandeville’s bakery — which has a life-sized placard of Styles from when he worked there on the weekends — and ends on the railway viaduct where he had his first kiss.
The brickwork at the bottom of the viaduct has turn into a monument to fans who’ve covered the realm with messages and signatures — because the star did within the One Direction biopic “That is Us.”
Whiers said the Harry Styles Walking Map resulted in “an incredible yr,” with businesses seizing the chance to cater to the influx of tourists. The town is hopeful the teenager tour guides will spur one other great yr.
The town also plans to publish an updated walking map showing where Holmes Chapel memorabilia, gifts, food, and drink will be purchased.
“Even the worst of the winter months has not stopped them from braving muddy banks and wet fields to pay homage at Harry’s Wall on the viaduct,” Whiers said concerning the fans.
“We now think it’s time for Holmes Chapel to extend what we will offer to the young visitors and ensure they return home with a memorable experience of Harry’s village,” he added.