The Broadstairs & St. Peter's Chamber of Commerce is the foremost organisation in the community devoted to the promotion and guidance of local commerce and industry. Between them, the members provide a wealth of experience and advice which is available to, or can influence, the Government and Local Authorities.

The work of the Chamber is varied and complex but, broadly speaking, falls into two main categories:

• the formation and expression of the views of the business community

• the day-to-day provision of help and information of all kinds and a platform for its members.

The Chamber has been instrumental in many initiatives over the last two decades. Read about the many achievements of the Chamber

For Membership details click here

Mystery surrounds the date the Broadstairs & St. Peter's Chamber of Commerce was originally formed - old year books indicate it was sometime in 1900. However, according to the Broadstairs & St. Peter's Mail, it came into being on 4th December 1903.

Chambers of Commerce are the direct descendants of the merchant guilds of mediaeval times, and earlier from the forum associations of Roman cities.

The movement has spread throughout the world as an effective medium of communication between business people and the government, and for the assurance of integrity in local and international business transactions.

Our previous Secretary has delved into the Minute books from 1932 onwards and has written a potted history of notable events in the Chamber until the outbreak of war. This interesting look into the past in Broadstairs & St. Peter's will be available to all members within the next few weeks.

At one time the Chamber produced an annual Year Book, which was given to all members. This listed the Officers, Committee a complete membership list, and adverts for local businesses - presumably the cost of printing was covered by these ads.

The 1963-1964 Year Book shows a committee of 21, as well as 6 Officers, and a membership list totalling 263! An advertisement for the China Shop, in the High Street (long since gone) encourages us to buy a Poole Twintone Dinner set for us £11.6s.6d!

Although many of the 263 members no longer trade in the town, there are a handful of names that still feature today.

The Chamber of Commerce has moved with the times and today the organisation is much smaller, run by a small management team, communicates with its members via modern technology, but it still the voice of the business community in the town.