As July slips behind us and August takes centre stage, Peterborough is in full summer swing—from morning lattes under parasols on Bridge Street to sunset walks at Ferry Meadows with that hazy evening glow stretching late into the night.

Whether you’re dipping into the last of the summer markets, cooling off at the Lido, or finally ticking off that riverside pub garden you’ve been meaning to visit,

There’s no shortage of ways to savour these long, golden days.

This week, we’re shining a light on a brilliant local business, celebrating a community hero, sharing a laid‑back recipe perfect for warm-weather lunches, and rounding up what’s on across the city to help you soak up August in style.

Let’s see what’s happening in Peterborough.

Peterscourt’s Eco Innovation Hub

Behind Peterscourt’s Gothic façade lies Peterborough’s Eco Innovation Centre, a green-minded business hub in a Grade II-listed building (built 1859), run by the City Council to support local eco-tech and knowledge-based ventures.

This summer, the Centre is buzzing with climate-tech start-ups, including a river-pollution monitoring project and a community air-quality initiative both tackling real-world Cambridgeshire challenges.

ntechcommons.c.These aren’t corporate giants, but local folks building small-scale solutions with big potential, right under the gothic lanterns of this historic space.

The hub also hosts technology, design, PR, and finance firms, all sharing super-fast internet and flexible offices in a space where past, present, and future overlap

Nominate Your Favourite Local Business

Do you have a favourite business in the Peterborough Area that deserves to be celebrated?

We want to shine a light on the hardworking local businesses that make our community special!

Whether it’s a cosy cafe, a dedicated service provider, or a unique boutique, we want to hear about it.

Submit your nominations for our "Local Business Spotlight" section in The Peterborough Spotlight!

Help us recognise the businesses that bring energy, creativity, and warmth to Peterborough. 

Tell us what makes them exceptional and why they deserve the spotlight!

Reply to this email with your nominations and a brief description to  – let’s lift up local Businesses!

Under August Weekender — Riverside Rave

When: Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 August 2025, 12:00–22:00

Where: Under the Nene Parkway flyover, Peterborough PE2 7DZ

Live drum‑and‑bass, UK garage and jungle under the iconic flyover. Saturday features UKG legends.

Ms Dynamite, Katy B, Mike Skinner and So Solid Crew with immersive visuals and graffiti art. Sunday brings Unitee’s blockbuster DnB takeover. A one‑of‑a‑kind local festival vibe.visitpeterborough.comkeep-your-head.com+3

Peterborough Beer Festival (CAMRA)

When: Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 August 2025

Where: Riverside Embankment, Peterborough city centre
CAMRA’s 46th annual Beer Festival returns to the Embankment, with local and regional breweries pouring ales alongside music, food stalls, and riverside views cambridge-camra.org.uk.

Museum Summer Fun at Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery

When: Throughout August (highlight events week of 12 – 20 Aug)
Family creative sessions like “Make a Monster” (12–13 Aug), “How to draw a Dalek” (17 Aug), Doctor Who workshops (19–20 Aug), plus a Summer Trail adventure on site all month.

Oak Adventurers Holiday Club at Ferry Meadows

When: 28 July – 29 August (Mon–Fri, 8:30 – 17:15)

Where: Nene Outdoors, Ferry Meadows, PE2 5UU

Outdoor adventure camp for 8–13‑year‑olds offering kayaking, paddleboarding, climbing and bushcraft amidst woodlands and lakes in Nene Park.

Wikipedia.

Key Theatre Summer Shows

When & Venue:

• “Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny” — Fri 1 August, New Theatre, Opens 19:00 (tickets from ~£37) newtheatre-pe

• “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” (Kindred Summer Musical) — Thu 21 – Sat 23 August newtheatre-peterborough.com

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• “Domination – The Rise and Fall of an Empire” with Prof. Alice Roberts — Fri 29 August newtheatre-peterborough.com

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Ferry Meadows Family Trail & Pond Dipping

When: Ongoing in August

Explore 500 acres of lakeside trails, sculptures, play zones, and seasonal family trails. Pond‑dipping and nature spotting workshops are available. A free or very low‑cost day out with summer fun in nature The Sun+1The Scottish Sun+1.

Ferry Meadows Wildlife Guardians

Over the weekend, a crew of volunteers from the Peterborough Wildlife Rescue spotted an injured swan in Ferry Meadows.

With gentle teamwork they guided it to a vet before a nighttime release just another quiet act of kindness that keeps our wild neighbours safe. No headlines—just fellow park-goers stepping in and fixing things

Turkish Kitchen: A Feast You’ll Want to Share

Strolling down New Road, you might wander past Turkish Kitchen’s sleek glass frontage without realising what’s waiting inside a bustling, family-run restaurant where the mezze spreads always win the conversation.

Picture this: you and a pal settle in under soft lights and order the Sharing Family Platter a hearty spread of live mezze, including crisp falafels, smoky eggplant, fresh hummus, and spicy ezme plus charcoal-grilled köfte and chicken shish all served with fluffy rice and salad.

Restaurant Guru

As your main arrives, the Adana kebab with its distinct grill-char is rich and juicy exactly what you want when you’re craving something proper. 

Finish on a sweet high with the buttery, nutty baklava, just sticky enough to linger on your tongue.

What really sticks with you?

It’s the easygoing chat with staff who clearly care, the warm glow of the place in the evening, and that sense that someone genuinely remembers your favourite dish.

No pretence, no fuss—just good food shared in a friendly spot.

📍 Find it: Turkish Kitchen, 34 New Rd, Peterborough PE1 1FW

Princebuild: Family Firm, National Accolade

You know their vans around town—and now Peterborough’s own Princebuild has gone national.

Crowned “Property & Construction Family Business of the Year 2025,” this local construction firm earned it with quality extensions, thoughtful home refurbishments, and teams that echo the pride of our city .

They say the award isn’t just theirs—it’s for every crew member who’s helped shape the homes of our neighbours.

New Cygnet Bridge Links Green Wheel

Plans are moving forward for Cygnet Bridge, a brand-new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Nene. Funded through Government’s Towns Fund and local combined authority cash, the bridge will complete a key link in the Green Wheel, making it even easier to navigate the city by bike or on foot.

Work should have began late 2024 and was to be completed by Summer 2026 but additional cost and delays makes this very unlikley.

Peterborough Telegraph Business Excellence Awards – Entries Open

The city’s biggest celebration of local enterprise is back! Nominations are now open for the 2025 Business Excellence Awards, covering 12 categories from “Small Business” to “Social Enterprise.”

Winners are announced at a gala on 20 November at the Marriott Hotel, Peterborough Business Park so whether you're a start-up café or a community-focused charity, this is your city-wide stage.

📌 Top tip: Tell a personal story in your entry—it’s the local connection that stands out.

Street Arts Hire Ltd Scores Big

Local creative dynamo Nathan Murdoch’s Street Arts Hire Ltd just picked up two awards at the Small Business Awards “Business Hero” and “Arts & Creative” for their striking community murals, including recent works at Cowgate and the Key Theatre. 

They’ve become a household name for turning blank walls into local landmarks and beauty.

Royal Award for Enterprise? Just Apply!

The Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Julie Spence, is encouraging Peterborough firms to apply for the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise.

A national honour for businesses showing growth, innovation, or community impact. A local win could bring major recognition to our city’s best.

1. Peterborough United Pre‑Season Thriller

Date: Sat 26 July 2025

Match: Peterborough United vs Grimsby Town at Blundell Park

Result: 3‑2 loss for Posh in what was a close-fought pre-season victory for Grimsby. A young Posh XI fought back late, but couldn’t complete the comeback Grimsby Town Football Club

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2. Opening League Game: Cardiff City vs Peterborough United

Date: Sat 2 August 2025, 12:30 pm kick-off

Competition: League One Matchweek 1

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Tickets

Overview: Posh begin their 2025–26 League One campaign away at Cardiff City, a key fixture to set the tone for the season 

3. Home League Match: Peterborough United vs Luton Town

Date: Sat 9 August 2025, 12:30 pm

Venue: Weston Homes Stadium

Competition: League One Matchweek 2

Significance: The first home game of the season is always special—get ready for the stadium buzz on 9 August theposh.com.

4. Peterborough Summer Regatta

Date: Sat 9 & Sun 10 August 2025

Venue: Thorpe Meadows rowing lake, Peterborough

Details: Side-by-side rowing races across 1,000 m on Saturday and 500 m sprints on Sunday. Events include senior, junior, masters and adaptive categories—family and spectator-friendly racing action on the

Nene peterboroughcityrowing.co.uk.

5. Bretton Cricket Club – Ongoing Summer Fixtures

Date: Saturdays throughout August
Venue: Bretton Park
Details: Weekend matches continue with friendly but competitive village cricket—perfect for a relaxed afternoon with local sport 

5. Peterborough Town Hockey Club – Summer League

Date: Weekday evenings in August
Venue: Bretton Gate pitches
Details: Mixed-level summer hockey continues with lively midweek matches, open to spectators and those interested in joining peterboroughtownhc.co.uk

Easy Summer Recipe – Strawberry & Basil Panzanella

Bored of cucumber salads?

Let’s level up your summer picnics with a Strawberry & Basil Panzanella a playful twist on the Italian bread salad that’s perfect for strawberry season and makes use of that half-stale sourdough on your counter.

🌿 What you need:

• A few thick slices of day-old sourdough or ciabatta

• A handful of fresh strawberries, halved

• A handful of fresh basil leaves, torn

• A few cherry tomatoes, halved

• A small red onion, thinly sliced

• Olive oil & balsamic vinegar

• Salt & pepper

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🍓 How to do it:

1️⃣ Tear your bread into chunks and toss in olive oil, then toast in a pan or oven until golden.

2️⃣ Toss strawberries, tomatoes, onion, and basil in a bowl.

3️⃣ Add the toasted bread, drizzle generously with balsamic and olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss again.

4️⃣ Let it sit for 10 minutes so the bread soaks up the juices before serving.

It’s sweet, sharp, herby, and surprisingly satisfying. Perfect alongside BBQ sausages or on its own with a cold drink in the garden.