Month: April 2026

The beautiful new mural in Bury St Edmunds town centre, inspired by the town’s floral heritage, is now complete!

A joint project supported by Bury in Bloom, Subversivcollective and Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID), with funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via West Suffolk Council it provides a brightened background to Market Thoroughfare, which connects the town centre to The arc Shopping Centre. The passageway was widened as part of West Suffolk Council’s project to create two retail units at the former Post Office site.

Using techniques which include VR, artist Nathan “Nyces” Murdoch – street artist working as a contracted artist under The Subversiv Collective, has created the stunning mural.

With thanks to Tim & Sam Rowlinson from Rowlinson Commercial & Industrial Services in Haverhill for preparing the wall for the mural. The Market Thoroughfare is now open to the public again.

The Subversiv Collective is committed to making street art more accessible, supporting artists in developing sustainable careers and championing freedom of expression as a vital cultural force. Ian believes art should extend far beyond gallery walls and into the public spaces where people live, work and connect — transforming streets, buildings and everyday urban landscapes into powerful expressions of identity and place.

 

With the transition into British Summertime and the improvement in the weather, there is much to be optimistic about as our town centre continues to thrive, whilst so many others are struggling.

That being said, we should never be complacent or presume that national government decisions or international affairs won’t have a detrimental impact upon our local economy.

Outside of these external pressures I was very disappointed to hear that Suffolk County Council staff swooped into the town centre this week, telling Independent businesses that they needed to remove their A boards. Our members, who are located off of the main areas of the town, feel these are so important in raising awareness of their existence to potential new customers.

This approach is so heavy handed and shows a complete lack of appreciation of the challenges our businesses are currently facing. Surely contacting them and/or the BID seeking a compromise, would have been a much more supportive and sensible approach.

There was considerable interest in the recent Artemis mission to beyond the moon and this was the reason we decided this years early summer trail would be Astronomy focussed. Just visit our website or visit the Cathedral Shop Tourism point to find out more about the trail and the items that need to be found.

The Bury St Edmunds Astronomy Association have been very supportive in the creation of this trail and will have a stall at our free entry Spring Fayre that is taking place over the late May Bank Holiday weekend. The urban beach is returning, as is the Craft Market on Angel Hill, the Vintage market and plant stalls in the Buttermarket and family entertainment in the arc.
I was delighted to see our community come together in supporting our entry into the Government’s Town of Culture competition. I understand that there have been over 200 entries from across the country, so quite a lot of competition!

The long awaited mural in Market Thoroughfare has been created this week and the plan is for it to be completed by this weekend.

Street art is yet another way of raising the profile of a location and this is something our town centre has been lacking and I am hoping that this first piece might kick start the concept here.
Many thanks to the help and support from the County Council, West Suffolk Council, the Town Council, Rowlinsons Commercial but particularly Chris Wiley from Bury in Bloom and Ian Dance from the Subversiv Collective, who have been a joy to work with and have been absolutely key to delivering this exciting project.

Since 2009 the arc shopping centre has been an integral part of our town centre offering and during my tenure I have worked with a number of their managers. I was delighted to recently meet Kirsty Pollard, the newest incumbent, who has moved from Sussex to take up this position.

I am looking forward to working with her as we will continue to raise the profile of Bury as a visitor destination and consequently attract new businesses into our town centre.

 

A much-loved pop-up beach will take centre stage in Bury St Edmunds this late May bank holiday, as the Bury St Edmunds Spring Fayre returns for two days of free family-friendly fun.

Taking place on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 May, from 10am to 4pm each day, the town centre will once again be transformed into a vibrant celebration of spring. At the heart of the FREE entry event is the ever-popular beach, complete with traditional Punch and Judy shows in Cornhill, offering visitors a classic seaside experience right in the middle of the town.

Beyond the beach, the Fayre will feature a wide range of attractions and activities across multiple locations. Visitors can browse colourful flower, plant and craft stalls and a vintage market in Buttermarket, perfect for those in search of unique and nostalgic items.

Families will find plenty to enjoy, with FREE children’s entertainment in The arc Shopping Centre, including big games, face painting, and a children’s magic workshop. There will also be pay per go rides at The arc’s carousel.

Visitors can also enjoy free astronomy activities with the Bury St Edmunds Astronomy Association, including the town’s Out of This World Astronomy Trail —spanning BID member businesses across the town centre. Trail leaflets will be available at the astronomy stand in Cornhill, and completed entries can be returned there for a chance to be entered into the competition.

For those looking for extra excitement, pay-per-go fairground rides will also be in Cornhill near the beach, adding to the lively atmosphere.

There will also be a flower, food and craft market, showcasing local producers on Angel Hill, brought to you by Local Markets East Anglia.

Bury St Edmunds Spring Fayre is brought to you by Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID), with the support of ShopSafe.

Mark Cordell, Chief Executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: “Events like the Bury St Edmunds Spring Fayre play a vital role in bringing people into the town centre, creating a real buzz of activity and the extra footfall benefits our businesses. “We look forward to welcoming residents and visitors alike for a memorable weekend.”

More information is available on our Spring Fayre page.

 

Bury St Edmunds will take centre stage on Sunday 21 June 2026 as the town hosts Suffolk Day, a vibrant celebration showcasing the county’s food culture, heritage and musical talent.

Delivered in partnership with local councils, cultural organisations and Suffolk Community Foundation, this year’s event promises a lively, family-friendly programme across Angel Hill, Abbey Gardens, The Athenaeum and St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

The free afternoon programme, running from 10am to 6pm, will feature a curated farmers’ and craft market on Angel Hill brought to you by  Local Markets East Anglia on behalf of Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District, community performances and heritage displays in Suffolk Community Day Abbey Gardens organised by West Suffolk Council, and the Suffolk Day proclamation, Suffolk Medal presentations and a civic reception hosted by Bury St Edmunds Town Council.

The day will conclude with a cultural crescendo; a special ticketed evening performance that will be a uniquely Suffolk musical and literary anthology, in the Cathedral. This “Suffolk Celebration”, being directed by Nick Hutchison, will bring together music, spoken word, dance and contributions from young people and local community groups, celebrating the county’s creativity and generosity.

With strong community involvement, accessible activities, and a focus on what makes Suffolk unique, Suffolk Day 2026 aims to be an uplifting highlight in the county’s calendar.

For programme updates, visit: burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk/suffolk-day or suffolkday.co.uk

Work starts next week on a beautiful new mural in the town centre, inspired by the town’s floral heritage.

The mural will be completed on Friday 24 April and is a joint project supported by Bury in Bloom, The Subversiv Collective and Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID).

Street artist Nathan Murdoch, of Peterborough, who was recently featured on BBC Look East, working as a contracted artist under the Subversiv Collective, will create the mural on a wall in Market Thoroughfare, which connects the Cornhill with The arc Shopping Centre. The passageway was widened as part of West Suffolk Council’s project to create two retail units at the former Post Office site.

The project has been funded using money allocated to West Suffolk Council by Central Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Mark Cordell, CEO of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: “Street art can be a powerful way to tell the story of a place, and it’s something our town centre has been missing. When Market Thoroughfare reopened and I saw the long blank wall opposite the new shops and apartments, it immediately struck me as a canvas waiting for a fantastic piece of art. I’m delighted that, working with The Subversiv Collective and Nathan, we’ve been able to bring that vision to life.

“We’re very grateful for the financial support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and West Suffolk Council, which has helped make this project possible. I hope the mural becomes another reason for people to visit and enjoy our town centre — and that it’s just the first of many more artworks to come.”

Bury in Bloom enters into Anglia in Bloom annually, and achieved a Gold Award from Britain in Bloom in 2025

Chris Wiley, Coordinator of Bury in Bloom, said: “As we look to further enhance the town, we are incredibly excited to see the floral element of Bury St Edmunds recognised in a large-scale floral mural, connecting two key parts of the town. Included in the design are plants associated with Bury St Edmunds; Oxlip (flower of Suffolk) and St Edmund’s Rose, alongside the words ‘A Jewel in The Crown of Suffolk’. Anything to celebrate the town’s successes should, in my opinion, be showcased like this for residents and tourists alike.”

Ian Dance, the driving force behind The Subversiv Collective, an international community of collaborative street artists united by a shared belief in the transformative power of public art, said:  “We were genuinely delighted to be invited to contribute to such a historic and culturally rich town.

“Partnering with Our Bury St Edmunds BID and Bury in Bloom felt like a natural fit, as both organisations share our passion for creating beautiful, welcoming public spaces that bring communities together.”

The Subversiv Collective is committed to making street art more accessible, supporting artists in developing sustainable careers and championing freedom of expression as a vital cultural force. Ian believes art should extend far beyond gallery walls and into the public spaces where people live, work and connect — transforming streets, buildings and everyday urban landscapes into powerful expressions of identity and place.

Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “Bury St Edmunds is such a great place to live and work. It’s a town of culture, history and heritage, and of beauty. This mural celebrates all of these things. It also celebrates the collaborative community effort behind Bury In Bloom. It celebrates our Western Suffolk identity and of course the central role of St Edmund. As well as doing all this, in a practical way it builds on our own work to widen Market Thoroughfare and encourage footfall between Cornhill and the arc. I am delighted to support this fantastic project.”