St Austell Comes Alive for Show & Shine

A town full of life

From classic British cars and beautifully preserved vintage vehicles to American icons and quirky motoring creations, there was something to catch the eye around almost every corner.

The event saw vehicles displayed throughout the town centre, giving visitors the chance to get up close to some truly impressive examples and, perhaps just as importantly, experience St Austell at its busiest and most vibrant.

One of the biggest successes of the day was simply seeing so many people enjoying the town.

The streets were busy, families were out exploring, people stopped to chat with vehicle owners and there was a real buzz throughout the town centre.

Feedback following the event reflected just how noticeable that atmosphere was.

One visitor commented that they hadn't seen St Austell "that busy for years", while another described it as "a brilliantly busy day and a great buzz about the town."

Another local summed it up perfectly on Facebook:

"What a lovely day! I don't remember seeing St Austell so busy for years!"

For the St Austell Town Team, that is exactly what events like this are about.

More than just cars

While the vehicles were undoubtedly the stars of the show, the wider aim was to encourage people to spend time in St Austell, explore the town and discover what our local businesses have to offer.

A busy town centre creates opportunities for cafés, shops, restaurants and other local businesses, while also reminding residents and visitors just how much there is to enjoy here.

The hope is that the people who discovered or rediscovered St Austell on Saturday will come back again, not just for the next event, but throughout the year.

As one commenter on the event said:

"The more the town is used the more shops will come in."

That is a sentiment we wholeheartedly agree with.

Thank you!

The St Austell Town Team would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made Show & Shine possible.

To the vehicle owners who brought their cars and shared them with the public, to everyone involved in organising and running the event, to the businesses who supported it, and most importantly to everyone who came into town and helped create such a fantastic atmosphere.

We would also like to extend our thanks to Richard Snell for bringing his expertise and experience to the planning of the event. His contacts and enthusiasm was a really important part of the event's success. 

The response has been incredibly positive, and it was brilliant to see so many people enjoying St Austell.

We also loved seeing the photographs being shared afterwards, showing just how much variety there was on display from the beautifully presented red and cream classic to the enormous American Cadillac, vintage sports cars and some wonderfully unusual vehicles. Checck out the photos on our Facebook page and some on this post. 

Saturday proved what can happen when we put something exciting in the heart of our town: people come, people stay, people talk about it, and St Austell feels alive.