The Chaii Hub, an authentic Indian café and coffee shop in St Neots, has celebrated its first anniversary.

In the space of a year, co-owners Sunny and Preeti, have transformed the shop into a popular and welcoming space.

Five years ago, Sunny and his family moved to St Neots. He'd previously worked in hospitality in London and Cambridge, and felt that there was something missing in St Neots.

Preeti had visited the café for baby classes when it was ran by former tenants.

Preeti and Sunny then agreed that they could set up a successful business between the High Street and Cambridge Street.

When Sunny heard that the former tenants were leaving the premises, he decided to quit his job and pursue this venture with Preeti.

The pair decided to open a café that serves freshly cooked vegan and vegetarian Indian street food.

They also decided that they wanted the space to be somewhere safe for young people to play, so they created a games room fit with retro arcade games, board games, a pool table and a foosball table.

Sunny said: "The separate room in the cafe was an ideal size for a games room and a place where the family can hang out and relaxed together, getting away from screens and take the pressure off.”

Now, in 2024, Sunny and Preeti are delighted with St Neots' response to their venture.

Despite opening from Sunday to Thursday and missing weekend trade, the pair have done a fantastic job with the Chaii Hub.

Sunny added: "We have regulars who like our open hours because they know we are all about family and spending time with our children at the weekend is an important part of what we are doing.

"We are all about community, family and improving society."

To celebrate their first anniversary, Sunny and Preeti invited supporters, friends, family, and the mayor of St Neots, Rob Simonis, the mayoress of St Neots, Sian Simonis, and the deputy mayor of St Neots, Richard Slade, to sample some of their food.

Rob Simonis, mayor of St Neots, said: "We were delighted when we got the invite, we've been regulars of the café since it opened and love what Sunny and Preeti are doing."

The Chaii Hub is open Sunday - Thursday at 2-6 Cambridge Street.