Month: March 2024

If you’re looking for some exciting fun for the children over the Easter holidays, then Our Bury St Edmunds has a brilliant trail to follow around the town centre, and your kids could even win a prize.

Starting Wednesday, March 27, our local Bury St Edmunds businesses are hiding dinosaur eggs in shop windows or around their businesses—there are 46 participating businesses. All you need to do is find 10 dinosaur eggs, numbering 1-10, and list the business name you found them in. Remember that some businesses will share the same number. 

All the correct forms received by midnight Sunday, April 7, will be entered into a draw to win a hamper packed full of Easter goodies from our Bury St Edmunds businesses. There are three prizes to be won: the top hamper up to the value of £100, the second up to the value of £75, and the third up to the value of £50. 

The trail is FREE, and you can pick up the trail forms at participating businesses or cut one out of the Bury Free Press newspaper in the issues of March 29 and April 5. 

If you don’t know where to start the trail, head to our website for a list of participating businesses or follow the Dino Posters in shop windows to guide your search. Or you could start on Abbeygate Street, where businesses like Ada Baby and Quest Gifts are participating, as well as the Cathedral Shop and Lottie’s Waffles on Angel Hill. And if you’re coming in from a different side, why not see what’s hiding around Risbygate Street or St John’ Street, with businesses like Primal 8, 3cats Vintage, Midgar Coffee, Bay Tree Cafe and many others? 

Businesses on Langton Place and Whiting Street are also taking part, with an egg lurking inside Buy the Light, so extra attention must be paid. As you make your way back into town through the Buttermarket and the Cornhill, remember to keep an eye out for the Dino posters. 

Once you have found all the egg locations, you can hand your form in at one of the participating businesses or the Our Bury St Edmunds BID office, located at 2 Woolhall Street, IP33 1LA. Winners will be announced on our social channels on Monday, April 8. 

Meanwhile, we have a special FREE event to end the school holidays, where there’s a chance to meet some baby dinosaurs and other Easter characters, like the Easter Bunny and Charlie the Chick. 

The Dino Adventures takes place on Wednesday, April 10, in the heart of the market, and there will be a Crafty Foxes area where the whole family can get creative. To find out more, visit the event and trail pages at www.ourburystedmunds.com or follow us on social media.

Bury St Edmunds businesses could soon be benefitting from an innovative recycling scheme that offers rewards to those recycling their drinks bottles and cans.  Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID) has teamed up with West Suffolk Council to provide a Reverse Vending Machine at the multi-storey car park in Parkway.  It aims to increase recycling rates and reduce litter – similar machines have already been installed by West Suffolk Council and partners at West Suffolk College and in Newmarket’s Leisure Centre and Guineas shopping centre.

The machines are being trialled for six months and, if successful, more could be installed in suitable locations.  West Suffolk Council is the first local authority to support the initiative promoted by Trovr which uses an app to reward points for every drink container recycled in the machines.  Since the campaign was launched in February more than 2,000 items have been recycled with around 700 of those at West Suffolk College.

Chief Executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID Mark Cordell said: “Some will remember as children collecting up empty pop bottles to take back to the corner shop for a refund on them for some extra pocket money – this is a 21^st Century version of the same idea.  The real benefit though is that as well as encouraging recycling and reducing litter the rewards on the Trovr app can be spent in the town centre which is good news for our businesses.  The BID is delighted to have worked in partnership with West Suffolk Council and Trovr to bring the Reverse Vending Machine to the town centre.”

A national Deposit Return Scheme is to be introduced by the Government from next year.  This means that certain products will have a deposit charged on them which is refunded when the empty container is taken to a designated return point. It aims to keep more containers out of landfill and reduce littering.

Jill Korwin, Strategic Director at West Suffolk Council said: “West Suffolk Council is continually looking at initiatives that can bring about environmental improvements, therefore we were delighted to take the opportunity to work with Trovr and partners on this trailblazing scheme. The reverse vending machines offer a unique way to incentivise people to reduce litter and shop locally, whilst increasing recycling and making it easier and more accessible. By keeping our streets clean and supporting our local high streets, we are helping to ensure West Suffolk remains a great place to live and work.”

Chief Executive Officer of Trovr, Nick Yeatman, commented: “As champions of innovation and environmental responsibility, Trovr is thrilled to partner with Our Bury St Edmunds BID and West Suffolk Council in launching a visionary rewards-for-recycling trial. This initiative serves a dual purpose—preparing the local community for the upcoming national Deposit Return Scheme and pushing the boundaries of recycling of single use drink containers with digital rewards. By combining technology with environmental consciousness, we aim to inspire meaningful change and create a blueprint for the future of recycling. This trial not only reflects our commitment to sustainability but also positions us at the forefront of the digital evolution within the recycling industry.”

The Reverse Vending Machine is located in the ground floor foyer of the Parkway muti-storey car park.  Users need to download the Trovr app and create an account before depositing their empty plastic bottles or cans in the machine. After pressing start on the machine, inserting the containers is simple.  A printed receipt includes a QR code to scan for rewards.  The app has already been downloaded more than 400 times.

 

Hospitality business owners in Bury St Edmunds have been talking about the key issues affecting their sector with the head of a leading trade organisation. UK Hospitality’s Chief Executive Kate Nicholls OBE was visiting the town – known as Suffolk’s foodie capital – alongside Jo Churchill MP for Bury St Edmunds earlier today (Friday 15 March).

Ms Nicholls met those working in pub, hotel and restaurant businesses in the town and also went to the Greene King brewery, which has been a significant part of the Bury St Edmunds economy for more than 200 years. She was also accompanied by UK Hospitality member Roxane Marjoram, who owns The One Bull and other local hospitality businesses with her husband David.

The visit began at the historic Angel Hotel. Owner Robert Gough said: “It was extremely valuable to sit down with Kate Nicholls and our MP to discuss the hotel sector and its current challenges. My family has run boutique destinations in Suffolk for nearly 60 years but that doesn’t mean we can ever take our eye off the ball.”

Joining the group and representing the town centre’s wider hospitality sector was Mark Cordell, Chief Executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID (Business Improvement District). He commented: “We have around 100 hospitality business members of the BID and it is a critical element of our local economy. I’m in regular contact anyway with our MP about issues affecting the town centre but was delighted to have this opportunity talk further with Jo and Kate about why Bury St Edmunds is the foodie capital of Suffolk and discuss some of our members’ concerns such as VAT, staffing and the rising costs all are facing.”

Following the meeting at The Angel, the visitors were taken by Pedalcab to the Greene King brewery. Ms Nicholls was also given a short tour of part of the town centre during which a number of other hospitality businesses were highlighted before Roxane and David Marjoram welcomed her to The One Bull. The group then visited Lark run by award-winning chef-patron James Carn.

The UK Hospitality Chief Executive found her day in Bury St Edmunds extremely valuable and thanked Jo Churchill MP for the invitation. She added: “This has been an opportunity to visit long-established and much newer hospitality businesses here but it’s clear that collectively they all contribute to a sector that is so vital to Bury St Edmunds as a destination. As well as the names above the door at these establishments there are the behind-the-scenes staff who all play their part in making sure they offer the best guest experiences and UK Hospitality is here for all of them. While I have seen a lot of positives today, I know that businesses in Bury St Edmunds will still be looking to us to lobby Government and influence policy to help this sector thrive.”

Jo Churchill MP added: “It was great to welcome Kate Nicholls to Bury St Edmunds and for her to meet some fabulous business owners here. We do food better than just about anybody else in the country and we are definitely the foodie capital of the East. To have the lead voice of UK Hospitality here talking about not only the great foodie offer we have, but also some of the challenges to the industry was quite a marker for Bury St Edmunds and my thanks to Our Bury St Edmunds BID and all the businesses.”

Nationally UK Hospitality represents more than 100,000 venues across the UK. The sector contributes £93 billion to the UK economy, employs 3.5 million people and generates £54 billion in tax for the Treasury.

If you’re looking to choose a Mother’s Day treat for your Mum or mother figure, there’s no better place to do so than Bury St Edmunds. Whether you’re looking for gifts she’ll treasure or a yummy afternoon tea you’ll find it here.  And with our reputation as the foodie capital of Suffolk there’s no end of places for a delicious Mother’s Day Sunday lunch too.

It’s a day of the year when Mum really shouldn’t be cooking lunch and certainly not washing up.  For somewhere really special – that isn’t usually open on a Sunday – try Maison Bleue in Churchgate Street which is open just for this special celebration – do make sure to book.  Meanwhile Mums who dine at Gastrono-Me in Abbeygate Street on March 10 will receive a complimentary ‘Mumosa’ cocktail. Make sure you quote it on your booking so she receives it on her arrival.  Or a little further up the same road, why not treat her to the special Mother’s Day menu at Mowgli.  The three-course menu with a glass of bubbles and yoghurt chat bombs to nibble first is just £35 per person. The Fox in Eastgate Street is also looking forward to welcoming mums across the weekend.

Afternoon tea is another fabulous way to treat your beloved mum on Mother’s Day.  At Lotties Waffles on Angel Hill, Mums can enjoy a special pink afternoon tea from March 8-10 and Mum gets a glass of pink prosecco too.  Or pop along to Procopio’s Pantry in Langton Place where the Mother’s Day tea includes a Lavendar scone and a pistachio and rose loaf – you’ll need to book to make sure your mum doesn’t miss out though.  Meanwhile at Harriets in the Cornhill you could order an afternoon tea to enjoy at home through delivery or takeaway or book to eat in on the Saturday or Sunday.

As well as treating Mum with a delicious lunch or afternoon tea – you might want to buy her a lovely present as well.  Have you seen the gorgeous handbags, purses and even umbrellas in the Leather and Luggage department at Croasdales on the corner of The Traverse in the heart of the town? There are discounts to be had for Mother’s Day including 10% off if you spend £75 or 15% on purchases over £150 but don’t forget to check the full terms of the offer. Buy the Light in Whiting Street is always a popular choice for special gifts and this month’s featured fragrance is called ‘Lighthouse’, as always with the feature there is 20% off.  In addition there are lots of mum-themed gifts and some wonderful crystals to really make Mum sparkle with delight.  At Quest in Abbeygate Street you’ll find some beautiful and colourful scarves as well as plenty of other irresistible gift ideas.

If your Mum has a sweet tooth then head for Mr Simms in the Buttermarket where you’ll find grazing boxes just for Mum and lots of other treats especially designed for Mother’s Day.  And if you are looking to say it with flowers – but you want a bouquet that will last forever then there are a couple of choices.  Find Neptune’s range of flowers that last a lifetime at the branch in St Andrews Street South and create your own unique arrangement or visit Starlings Toys in Charter Square which currently has a special offer on the LEGO Bouquet of Roses at just £40.  Or perhaps there are little ones in the household who want to craft their own special gift or card for Mummy.  In which case Little Wood Worms in Churchgate Street can help – book your youngsters in on Saturday March 9 for a special crafting session where they’ll be able to make their own card.  A pampering or beauty treatment is sure to be a winner on Mother’s Day too and Amanda Janes Beauty salon in St Andrews Street North has a range of experiences or vouchers to give Mum the gift of relaxation.

And we know that some Mums might like to choose their own gift too.  Here at Our Bury St Edmunds we’ve also got that covered.  Pop one of our Gift Cards inside your card and you are sure to make Mum’s day.  With over 70 shops and businesses accepting it she’ll be spoilt for choice.  You can buy them online or pick one up at a number of outlets in town and just download the amount you want to give.