Discover St Neots launches to put the town firmly on the map

A new organisation, Discover St Neots, has officially launched with a clear mission: to showcase everything the town has to offer and encourage more people to explore, visit and support local businesses. Backed by Huntingdonshire District Council and Huntingdon BID, the initiative brings together local passion, collaboration and pride in St Neots.

A new chapter has begun for St Neots with the launch of Discover St Neots, a dedicated platform designed to promote the town’s retailers, hospitality venues, attractions and events, and to support growth across the town centre and beyond.

Led by three local business owners — Richard Slade, who runs a design agency in St Neots, Sunny Mann, owner of award-winning café Chaii Hub, and Kerry Ashby, founder of independent boutique Rebel and Ashby — the project aims to shine a spotlight on what makes St Neots special.

The initiative adopts the established ‘Discover’ brand used by BID Huntingdon, chosen for its active message of encouraging people to explore where they live, work and visit. While Discover St Neots operates independently, it works collaboratively with the Discover Huntingdon and Discover Huntingdonshire brands to strengthen the area’s visitor economy.

Richard Slade said the town has long deserved a platform dedicated to telling its story.

“St Neots has so much to offer, but we’ve lacked a single resource to help people really discover it. This project is about being active — inviting both visitors and residents to explore our independent shops and cafés, our riverside setting and our rich history, while helping local businesses to thrive.”

From a retailer’s perspective, Sunny Mann believes the platform will help unlock St Neots’ full potential.

“As town centre businesses, we see first-hand how attractive St Neots can be. Working together through Discover St Neots will help drive footfall and highlight what makes our town worth visiting.”

Kerry Ashby added that independent businesses are central to the town’s identity.

“Independents are the heart of St Neots. By collaborating on this project, we can showcase the quality and diversity of what’s here — from shopping and dining to enjoying our beautiful riverside location.”

The project has received support from Huntingdon BID and Huntingdonshire District Council, reflecting a wider commitment to collaborative economic development across the district. It is also supported by local photographer Maciek Platek, whose imagery has helped promote St Neots’ unique character for many years.

The Discover St Neots website is now live at www.discoverstneots.co.uk, featuring a growing selection of local businesses and organisations. The team is now calling on businesses, community groups, event organisers and residents to get involved and help build a comprehensive showcase of the town.

“We want to hear from everyone who has something to share about St Neots,” Richard added. “Together, we can create something truly special and put St Neots on the map as a must-visit destination.”

Local businesses and organisations interested in being featured, or anyone wishing to contribute, can visit the website or contact the team directly.