Lymm Radio to expand and relaunch as Cheshire’s MIX 56

Cheshire’s MIX 56 will be the new name for Lymm Radio to reflect the station’s larger broadcast area along the A56 and M56 corridor.

The switch will take place on Tuesday 9th May following the King’s Coronation weekend.

Initially set up at the start of lockdown from a spare bedroom, the station is now a full time not-for-profit Social Enterprise with two on air studios in Lymm.  It will launch on the new DAB Small scale multiplexes in East Cheshire and Warrington this summer to include the towns of Warrington, Knutsford and Altrincham.

Many of the on-air team are from a commercial and BBC radio background, but the station also gives opportunities to local would-be presenters with a chance to get behind the mic.

Live broadcasts are regularly conducted from within the local community and recently, broadcast a two-hour outside broadcast celebrating Cheshire Day from Portcullis House in Westminster, with guests including local MP’s Andy Carter, Esther McVey and Speaker of the House Sir Lyndsey Hoyle.

The output also includes local sport from across the whole area, covering national league football, rugby and other sports.

Lymm Radio already has support from local businesses with a growing portfolio of commercial partners including McDonald’s, Kids Planet Day Nurseries, The McGoff Group, North West Timber, ODEON Cinemas and most recently, securing significant backing from United Utilities.

Station Managing Director Paul Smith said: “The station is going from strength to strength and with our move to DAB this year, the name change will be vital to help us grow.

“Lymm has been very kind to us, but we need to spread our wings a bit and offer local programmes which connect and relate to a wider local audience.  We also need to sound slick and as professional as the big guys, so we’re investing in presenter development for all the team.”

Co-founding Director Ian James added: “In the 2-year journey from a small online station broadcasting from our spare room, to being on the verge of DAB, MIX 56 is bringing back local radio to Cheshire.  The large radio groups have long cut local services back to the bone, which I believe is why we are growing our audience locally and being out there in the community.”