| 
Huntingdon has a vibrant and busy town centre with a diverse and
imaginative mix of both independent and national retailers including
Next, Mothercare, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Claire’s Accessories,
Costa Coffee and Starbucks. It boasts a pretty high street, a large
proportion of which is pedestrianised, and two main shopping precincts,
Chequers Court and St Benedict’s Court. However there are
some lovely shops tucked away down little side streets so be careful
not to miss these! The impressive Market Square where the war memorial,
The Thinking Soldier sits is flanked by the 18th century Town Hall
and the 13th Century All Saints Church. 
Shop mobility is available for those people who require assistance
when shopping in the town and can be found at Princes Street car
park, Malthouse Close. (01480 432793)
There are two weekly markets selling a wide variety of products
including food, clothing, flowers and a host of other commodities.
The fortnightly Farmers’ Market takes place on a Friday. This
popular event has achieved certified Farmers’ Market status
and won “Country Life” East of England Best Farmers’
Market award in 2006. Goods for sale include a wide variety of fresh,
local, high quality products including apples, ostrich and venison
meat, sausages, preserves, bread, and much, much more. These regular
markets are held in the Market Square right in the heart of the
town.
The town has a very active and visionary Town Centre Management
Partnership, which plays an important role in supporting and developing
the town centre. It is an independent organisation made up of representatives
from local businesses, the District and Town Councils, voluntary
organisations, and key stakeholders in the town, who work together
to improve the town centre of Huntingdon.
The Partnership employs a Town Partnership Manager dedicated to
Huntingdon, giving the aims of the Partnership greater impetus.
The range of its work and the breadth of its networks are extensive
and the Partnership is now firmly established as a key player. The
Partnership clearly demonstrates how everyone working together can
turn aspiration into reality.
The Partnership’s aims are simple - to improve and promote
Huntingdon and thereby attract more visitors, support existing businesses,
and pull in new businesses. In recent years, its projects have improved
the town centre for both businesses and visitors alike.
One of the Partnership’s key projects, the Continental Market,
is now an annual event, attracting literally thousands of visitors
from across the eastern region. In 2010 the first Italian food market
was held in the Market Square, filling the Square with mouth watering
smells, which will become a yearly attraction.
Other projects include town maps and shopping guides, and the annual
Christmas Lights festivities. Regular networking meetings are held
for members of the Partnership, offering business opportunities,
a chance to be heard - and to hear of plans for the town - and an
opportunity to make a real difference.
Huntingdon Business against Crime is another initiative introduced
to Huntingdon by the Partnership and was the first scheme of its
kind in Cambridgeshire to tackle business crime using state-of-the-art
technology.
Huntingdon is a rapidly developing town and the Partnership encourages
town centre businesses and key stakeholders to work together in
a proactive way, to help the town build on its strengths and respond
to its challenges, as well as working closely with property developers
to offer retailers an interesting mix of small and large businesses.
|
