A three-month trial bringing together Love Newmarket and Suffolk Constabulary started on 2^nd February and aims to make the town centre safer for businesses, residents and visitors.

What will we share?

• Details of prolific or relevant adult offenders who pose a risk to businesses.
• Names and images of wanted people.
• Photographs of unidentified adult suspects of local crimes.
• Updates on individuals with Police orders and conditions frequenting the area.
• Crime prevention advice to help protect your business.
• Successful convictions and positive outcomes.

This is all part of the police’s commitment to working with partners to keep Newmarket safe and is part of the Newmarket Together initiative.

Together, Police and members of Love Newmarket BID hope that use of the Alert platform will make a real difference in achieving this.

Forest Heath Locality Inspector Tim Scott welcomed the trial:

“This is an opportunity to test how working together on this digital platform will better protect businesses in the town centre.

“The ShopSafe Alert platform is tried and tested and by joining with local retailers and other businesses we can provide much-needed alerts and information instantly. This benefits not only businesses but our campaign against criminals, particularly shoplifters. This in turn benefits residents and visitors by making Newmarket a safer place to shop and enjoy other town centre venues.

“The police have long enjoyed a close working relationship with the Newmarket Bid and this is an opportunity to utilise technology to offer our knowledge and expertise to our partners.

“We shall be evaluating results of the trial over the next three months to determine what actions we can take in the future but our message is clear: we are determined to do everything we can to deter shoplifters and other people who break the law in the town centre.”

Natalie Robinson, Manager of Love Newmarket Bid said:

"Giving Newmarket police officers direct access to the ShopSafe Alert platform is a really positive step for the town.

“It allows offences to be monitored in real time, enables officers to upload bulletins about wanted offenders and ensures vital information is shared quickly with our businesses.

“Most importantly, it strengthens the relationship between the BID, local traders and the police, helping us work together to create a safer and more supportive environment for everyone in Newmarket."

Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore added:

“This is a really excellent example of how a joint approach can help tackle criminality in our town centres.

“The retail sector is a very important component of our economy, and it is critical we do all we can to support a strong and vibrant economy; this is a key priority in my Suffolk Police and Crime Plan.

“I am pleased to see this innovative trial of new technologies and improved data sharing, coupled with better crime prevention, to prevent retail crime.  This really does benefit the whole community and helps make Newmarket a safer place in which to live, work, travel and invest.”

Celebrating the amazing businesses we have here in Newmarket, the Love Newmarket Mystery Shopper Customer Service Awards Evening took place last night, crowning some of our local businesses as the best in sector.

We’re pleased to announce this year’s winners are:

Best Barber

Winner: Star Barbers

Second: Celiks Mensroom

Third: Gentleman's Grooming

Best Cafe & Takeaway

Winner: Eat Like Home

Second: Bravo Patisserie

Third: Nancy's Tearoom

Best Charity Shop

Winner: Sue Ryder

Second: Woodgreen

Third: British Heart Foundation

Best Community & Services

Winner: Newmarket Day Centre

Second: Yorkshire Building Society

Third: C&P Insurance

Best Estate & Letting Agent

Winner: Tylers

Second: Jackson-Stops

Third: Cheffins

Best Hair & Beauty

Winner: Bren Pauls

Second: The Tanning Room

Third: Head Office

Best Heath & Wellbeing

Winner: Spectacular Opticians

Second: NewMed Healthcare / Medicare Ski Clinic

Third: Scotts Opticians

Best Independent Retailer

Winner: NHRM Gift Shop

Second: Powters

Third: By Design

Best National Retailer

Winner: Holland & Barrett

Second: Mountain Warehouse

Third: Three

Best Restaurant & Pub

Winner: Ammos Cafe & Bistro

Second: Wildwood

Third: The Bub Pub

Team Member Service Excellence

Paxton - Majestic Wine

Jill - Holland & Barrett

George - Ammos Cafe & Bistro

Sav - Star Barbers

Anneliya - Eat Like Home

Jamie - Tylers

The Christmas Lights Switch On is a wonderful community event, with thousands coming to mark the start of the festive season.

With more and more businesses staying open later for 2025, please be sure to pop in and show your support:

• Cartwright Bros
• Cancer Research- open until 7pm
• QD- open until 8pm
• Potro Lounge- hosting a stall at the front selling hot chocolate and mulled wine for charity.
• The Bull Pub- MacMillan charity stall at the front of the pub
• Greggs- open until 8pm
• Graze Kitchen
• Hair Artistry- Christmas event 5pm - 7pm
• Bravo Café
• New Look- open until 8pm. Be sure to visit the pop-up shop and have a go on their winning wheel to win discounts in store.
• Wildwood
• TK Maxx- open until 8pm
• Pop-Up-Shop- Santa & Mrs Claus will be inside giving out Love Newmarket balloons from 5-7pm. Kings Cinema will be giving out free popcorn. New Look will have their winning wheel from 5:00pm-7:30pm and Presents Galore will be selling tickets to their charity Christmas shopping event.
• Starbucks- open until 7pm
• Savers- open until 7pm
• St Nicholas Hospice- open until 7pm
• Victor Victoria- cocktails and hot drinks til late
• Pantry- stall outside selling mulled wine, savoury bakes and cakes
• Ammos
• Little Jessie’s Bakery
• Rocking Rabbit
• Sapori Di Napori
• Cook

Remember to shop local wherever you can this Christmas!

Newmarket is set to sparkle once again this festive season as the town’s much-loved Christmas Light Switch On returns on Friday 21st November, organised by Love Newmarket BID.

The event, which begins at 4:30 pm on the High Street, promises an evening full of festive fun, live entertainment and a warm community atmosphere as we welcome the start of the Christmas shopping season.

This year, the honour of turning on the lights will go to local hero Mark O’Reilly, a dedicated coach and volunteer at the New Astley Boxing Club who was nominated by several local residents in Love Newmarket’s recent hero search.

Mark, who has lived in Newmarket for over 35 years, was nominated for his outstanding contribution to the community and the positive impact he has had on generations of young people.

Speaking about the honour, Mark said: “I’m extremely honoured to have been asked to turn on the Christmas Lights this year. I’ve been in the town for 36 years and don’t see that anything I do is particularly worthy of the title; I just do what I’m able to help our community.

“I’m in a position to help the kids of our area, giving them a chance that I didn’t have myself. I’ve volunteered for over 25 years, and have seen generations through the ring. Some start with me with gloves up to their elbows, next thing they’re towering above me with their own kid holding their hand.

“Mental illness is a big part of my life. I try and be there or talk to people as much as I can. In my industry, mental health is rife. I keep in contact as much as I can but it’s not a big deal – it’s just something I do.

“I’m very lucky to be in a position to do what I do so why wouldn’t I help people if I can. I’m no one special; I’m just Mark O’Reilly from the flats.”

The evening will be filled with live music and performances from local groups including Fairstead House School Choir, The Snow Queen & Friends, Vogue Athletics, the Starlight Sisters and the Newmarket Community Choir, leading up to the big moment at 7 pm when Mark will take to the stage to switch on the lights and officially start the festive season.

Visitors can enjoy a funfair, market stalls, Mr & Mrs Claus in the Newmarket Charitable Foundation’s pop up shop and festive food and drink from a range of local favourites such as The Tack Box, Waitrose, Il Sapori di Napoli, Bravo Café, Richer Spirits and Paulina’s Chilean Bakery. Many of the town’s independent shops, cafés and restaurants will stay open late to give visitors the chance to shop local and soak up the Christmas atmosphere.

All public car parks will be free from 4 pm, with the Guineas multi-storey remaining open until 9 pm. Public toilets at The Guineas will also stay open until 9 pm for the duration of the event.

Natalie Robinson, Manager of Love Newmarket BID, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Mark as our Christmas Light Switch On hero this year. His dedication, compassion and quiet commitment to helping others truly embodies the spirit of Newmarket. Mark represents everything that’s special about our town — community, kindness and pride. We can’t wait to celebrate the start of the festive season with him.”

The Christmas Light Switch On is proudly supported by Crem Recruitment, Newmarket Town Council and Tattersalls. With festive food, music, entertainment and a true community hero at its heart, this year’s event promises to be one of the most magical yet.

Find out here.

Loqiva has partnered with Newmarket BID to launch the Love Newmarket Digital Town Hub, a smart local platform designed to connect people with everything Newmarket has to offer.

The Love Newmarket app will help residents and sitors navigate the town with ease, while businesses will have powerful tools to share their offers, news and events. The app also enables residents to discover what other services are available in the town from local interest groups and youth activities to health and well-being services and mental health support.  It also provides the BID team with new ways to engage the community, gather feedback, and measure the success of initiatives in real time.

This marks the latest step in Newmarket BID’s work to support a vibrant local economy and thriving local community that reflects the town’s unique identity as the home of horseracing.

The app has been developed in partnership with the Newmarket Locality Team, who represent partners from across the West Suffolk Alliance to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for the population. The West Suffolk Alliance have provided the funding for the app to be developed with West Suffolk Council managing the grant agreement with Love Newmarket.

Natalie Robinson, BID Manager for Newmarket, said:

“Newmarket has such a rich mix of people, businesses and experiences. We’re proud to have fantastic independent retailers alongside some truly unique restaurants and cafés, which make the town a wonderful place to spend time.  Newmarket is also home to a vast array of voluntary organisations, groups and services which ensure that Newmarket is a great place to live.

Our new Digital Town Hub is about making all of that more visible and accessible, ensuring residents and visitors choose Newmarket first, keeping spend within our local economy whilst also supporting all areas of the residents lives such as health, recreation and support services.

For us at the BID, it’s also a vital tool to help us listen more closely, respond more quickly, and clearly demonstrate the impact of our work across the town.”

The Love Newmarket platform, designed and delivered by Loqiva, joins a growing network of successful digital town hubs around the UK and further afield.

Barry Conlon, Co-founder of Loqiva, said:

“We’re thrilled to be working with Natalie and the Newmarket BID team. They have clearly recognised the movement towards smarter town management, one that puts local people at the heart of decision-making while making day-to-day life in the town more connected and more convenient.

With such a strong sense of place and heritage, Newmarket is the perfect location for this kind of digital evolution.”

The Newmarket Digital Town Hub app is available to download now on the App Store and Google Play store.