Carnoustie Connect brings 100-plus businesses and group together in new digital hub

More than 100 Carnoustie businesses and organisations are already on board a new town app as it goes live.

And those behind the Carnoustie Connect digital hub say the scale of the take-up shows the appetite for something to bring the town together online.

The platform officially launched on Thursday to give residents and visitors a single place to discover everything Carnoustie has on offer.

Almost every shop on the High Street has signed up.

Businesses and organisations on board include Carnoustie Golf Shop, Wallace Vets, The Granary, HAYM, Visions, Carnoustie Theatre Club and the Station Hotel.

They have been joined by dozens of other local shops, services and community groups.

Katy Air and Chris Thornton of Carnoustie-based Airgonomics led the project.

The pair are clear that Carnoustie Connect is a community initiative first, with the technology there to serve it, not the other way round.

Katy said:

“This was never just about building an app.

“It’s about making it easier for people to find out what’s on, support the businesses on their doorstep, and feel part of what’s happening in the town.

“The app is the tool, the community is the point.”

The platform, built by town hub specialist Loqiva, lets residents and visitors browse local businesses, catch up on events and news, and find offers and things to do, all from one app or website.

Chris Thornton added:

“We wanted something that supported the community here in Carnoustie.

“Loqiva gave us the technology to do that. However, the ideas, the local knowledge and the drive behind it have all come from the people who live and work here.”

Katy continued:

“The initial response, from a wide variety of businesses and organisations, has been incredible.

“We’ve spoken to and heard from many people who are brimming with ideas of how we can use the app to drive collaboration and enhance the understanding of everything that’s going on in this amazing part of the world.

“We hope to keep adding more businesses and organisations in the weeks ahead.

“We’d encourage anyone in Carnoustie who hasn’t signed up yet to get in touch. The more of the town that’s on there, the more useful it becomes for everyone.”

Businesses only have to add their content once for their updates to appear across the app and website, giving them a much wider reach from just a few clicks.

Carnoustie Connect joins a growing network of Scottish towns, including Our Arbroath and Love St Andrews, helping local people bring their communities online.

Barry Conlon of Loqiva said: “Every one of these projects looks different, because every town is different.

“Katy and Chris know Carnoustie inside out, and it shows.

“This is very much Carnoustie’s platform, not ours. We’re just glad to have helped build it.”

Carnoustie Connect is available to download free on the App Store and Google Play, and at carnoustieconnect.co.uk.

This article appeared in the Courier on 24 September 2026