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The Town Centre in Huntingdon

Huntingdon has a vibrant and busy town centre with a diverse and imaginative mix of both independent and national retailers including Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Claire’s Accessories and Costa Coffee. 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!

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 Centre 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. 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 is the first scheme of its kind in Cambridgeshire to tackle business crime using state-of-the-art technology.

Huntingdon is a rapidly developing town, experiencing genuine economic growth. 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.