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With today’s culture of doom and gloom, hometown pride can sometimes feel like something that is in short supply.

Lucy Nicholl, however, is doing more than most in a bid to restore that feeling in her home town.

The Arbroath local and small business owner is the driving force behind the town’s united business community and is aiming to lead a revitalisation of the town’s fortunes.

She spearheaded a movement to bring the town’s businesses together and was the one behind the launch of an app intended to attract visitors to the town.

She said: “I am so tired of people saying Arbroath isn’t a great place.  I love Arbroath.

“I think you could spend weeks and weeks here and never be bored.  I am really passionate about it.  I am passionate about all local business.

When I started my business in August 2023, I didn’t understand where businesses could go for support.  It didn’t seem like there was any network or collaboration opportunities in the town.

“I put a post up and found out there wasn’t but lots and lots of businesses said they felt there was a need for it.

“I created a Facebook page for business owners that had over 200 businesses engaging.”

Lucy’s work with the town’s businesses led her to create the Our Arbroath app, a smartphone app described as being “like tourist information in your pocket”.

The digital town hub features information about more than 60 businesses, community groups and local organisations with the aim of increasing footfall.

The app, which launched in early December, has already attracted more than 3,000 users.

“After creating the better business community, I started researching ways to digitalise Arbroath.  I wanted to make things more centralised and community-focused.

“It has everything related to Arbroath in one place and we think it can be great for businesses who are just bricks and mortar who have not been able to look at diversifying how they sell.”

Lucy added that the app is aimed at attracting more visitors, and subsequently more businesses, to the area, in a bid to rejuvenate the Angus seaside town, which has come under fire for its “rundown” town centre in recent years.

“Whilst I have a business interest in this as an owner, this is massively for the community,” she said.

“We’ve been told the launch of the app is one of the best that’s been seen.  So it has been great so far.

“It is great that I have been able to bring good change, to make sure that businesses can generate more income and as a community we can encourage more people to come to the town.

“The more footfall we have, the more potential there is for the town to flourish.”

Her work is sparked by a deep love of the town, in which she has lived since she was 13.

“On a sunny day, Arbroath is the most magical place in the world.

“I remember going on days out, going to Pleasureland, playing in the sand at the beach and going for a walk along the beach,” she said.

“It is just incredible and I think sometimes we take it for granted.

“I am obviously quite optimistic, but I think Arbroath has the makings of being such an amazing town, and I want to help that happen.”

This article appeared in The Courier on 17 January 2026