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.

We’re excited to announce that our brand-new Pop Up Shop at Fairfields House is now open for business!

un by Newmarket Charitable Foundation with the support of Love Newmarket, the shop offers a flexible, cost-effective retail space available to hire on a short-term basis. Whether you’re an independent maker, small business, local creative or entrepreneur, this is a great opportunity to test your ideas, connect with customers and bring something new to Newmarket’s high street.

Hiring the Pop-Up Shop gives you the chance to:

• Create an immersive shopping experience
• Build brand awareness
• Test new products or services
• Trial a high street location
• Run exclusive, limited-time offers

Pop-up shops are a great way to reach new customers in a more personal, low-risk setting. With no long-term commitment, they’re perfect for trying something new – whether that’s a seasonal promotion, new product launch or simply exploring how your brand performs in a high street setting.

If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to generate buzz and grow your business locally, this could be your ideal next step.

Interested in booking or learning more?

Please get in touch with us via [email protected] or complete the booking form below to reserve your slot.

Availability is limited and demand is expected to be high.

Frequently Asked Questions

– Who can book the Pop-Up Shop?
The shop is open to independent traders, small businesses, established businesses, start-ups, creatives, charities, and community groups. Whether you’re launching a new product, testing a business idea, or showcasing your craft, we’d love to hear from you.

– Where is the Pop-Up Shop located?
The Pop-Up Shop is located at Fairfields House, right in the centre of Newmarket’s high street – a prominent, well-trafficked location ideal for connecting with local shoppers and visitors.

 – How long can I book the shop for?
The shop is available on a flexible, short-term basis – from 2 to 12 weeks depending on availability. Let us know your preferred dates and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

 – What facilities are included?
The space is set up to allow a variety of uses. It includes:

• Retail-ready display space
• Access to power, WiFi and lighting
• Support with promotion via Newmarket Charitable Foundation and Love Newmarket channels

 – How much does it cost?
Hire donation rates are kept deliberately low to support accessibility for small businesses and community users. Please contact us on [email protected] for current pricing and availability or review our Terms and Conditions below.

 – Can I share the space with another trader or organisation?
Yes – we welcome collaborative uses of the space. If you’d like to share your booking with another group or trader, let us know in your enquiry.

 – Do I need insurance?
Yes – all users must hold public liability insurance. We can advise on what you need if you’re unsure.

How do I book?

Just complete our booking form below and email to [email protected] or click to our online form by using the button above.

We’ll be in touch to confirm availability, pricing, and next steps

APPLY HERE

DOWNLOAD TERMS AND CONDITIONS HERE

As part of our response to the current challenges facing our High Street, we have worked with the Eastern BIDs Network to create a response to the Government's 'Transforming Business Rates' consultation:

Or please download here.