Hexham Business Group Takes Over the Visit Hexham Tourism Website

Hexham's main tourism website and its social media channels have found a new home. The Hexham Business Group, which represents around 90 local firms, has taken over the running of Visit Hexham after the organisation that previously managed it closed down.

Why the change happened

The Visit Hexham website and social accounts had been run by the Hexham Community Partnership, which wound up after Hexham Town Council withdrew its funding for 2026/27. The council said the partnership had relied too heavily on council support and had not secured other income to stand on its own.

That left a question over what would happen to the town's tourism presence, which promotes Hexham's shops, places to stay, attractions and events to visitors across the region and beyond.

Best for: Visit Hexham is the town's shop window for tourists. Keeping it running matters for the many independent businesses, cafes and accommodation providers that depend on visitor trade.

The business group steps in

Amy Moffatt, chair of the Hexham Business Group and a town-centre shop owner, and her colleagues agreed to take on the website and channels so the promotion of the town could carry on. The group plans to keep working with partners including Visit Northumberland, Northumberland National Park and the Hadrian's Wall Partnership.

Neil Wilkinson, outgoing chair of the Community Partnership, welcomed the rescue. "It would have been a disaster if the website had been allowed to fade away," he said.

Other assets find new homes

Visit Hexham was not the only asset in need of a new custodian as the partnership closed. The independent Forum Cinema on the Market Place is now standing on its own and is exploring charitable or community interest company status. Tynedale Hospice at Home has taken on the popular Hidden Gardens event, with ticket money going towards its care services, while the No. 28 community house on the Market Place has been handed back to landlord Karbon Homes.

Between them the moves keep several well-loved parts of Hexham life going under new stewardship, with local businesses and charities picking up where public funding left off.

This story was reported by the Hexham Courant.