Month: July 2026

Food lovers are invited to embark on a culinary journey around the globe as the Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival returns to the town centre on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August 2026.

This year’s festival promises to be one of the most exciting yet, with visitors able to sample authentic flavours from 16 different countries, celebrating the incredible diversity of international cuisine alongside the very best of Suffolk produce.

Taking place across the town centre from 10am to 5pm, the free two-day event in Suffolk’s Foodie Capital will transform Cornhill, the Buttermarket, Angel Hill and Charter Square at The arc Shopping Centre into a vibrant celebration of food, drink and family entertainment.

Visitors can enjoy:

• Live demonstrations from some of the area’s favourite establishments at the popular Chefs on Stage Cookery Theatre
• Food and drink from 16 countries around the world with a wide variety of stalls across Cornhill and the Buttermarket
• A traditional Farmers’ Market on Angel Hill
• Free children’s activities in The arc Shopping Centre, including Big Games, children’s magic workshops and face painting. There will also be pay per go fairground rides.
• Children’s entertainment in Cornhill and the Buttermarket featuring balloon modelling and magic tricks.

The FREE ENTRY festival has become one of the highlights of Bury St Edmunds’ annual events calendar, attracting thousands of visitors to discover new flavours, support local businesses and enjoy everything the historic town has to offer.

This year’s expanded international offering gives visitors the chance to experience cuisines from across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and beyond, making it the perfect opportunity to “taste the world” without leaving Bury St Edmunds.

Mark Cordell, CEO of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: “The Food & Drink Festival is all about bringing people together through great food. This year we are delighted to offer visitors the chance to enjoy dishes from 16 different countries, alongside fantastic local producers, live demonstrations and free family entertainment. Whether you’re looking to discover a new favourite cuisine, or simply enjoy a great day out, there’s something for everyone.”

The demonstrations at The Chefs on Stage Cookery Theatre will soon be announced.

The Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival is FREE to attend and runs from 10am–5pm on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August 2026 in Bury St Edmunds town centre.

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

For more information, visit www.ourburystedmunds.com/events/food-drink-festival

The first whistle has blown! A huge thank you to Town Mayor Cllr Donna Higgins and Deputy Mayor Cllr Diane Hind from Bury St Edmunds Town Council for getting the ball rolling this morning by officially kicking off our Human Table Football in The arc Shopping Centre.

It’s FREE TO PLAY from 10.30am–5.30pm today (Friday 3 July) and tomorrow (Saturday 4 July), so gather your teammates, test your skills and join in the fun!

The action celebrates the launch of our brand new ’66 World Cup Football Trail and the start of Independents Day UK Weekend – the perfect time to champion our amazing independent businesses by shopping local.

This summer, families are invited to step back into one of the most memorable moments in English sporting history with the launch of the new ‘66 World Cup Trail in Bury St Edmunds, running from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 6 September.

The trail marks the 60th anniversary of the historic FIFA World Cup victory by England, still the only time that an England team has lifted football’s biggest prize. Our fingers are crossed that Harry Kane can lead the team in this year’s competition to emulate the success of “the boys of ’66”. The trail offers a fun and educational way to celebrate this landmark moment in the sporting history of England.

Organised by Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID), the trail aims to combine family entertainment, local history and community engagement while encouraging visitors to explore the town centre during the school summer holidays.

Mark Cordell, CEO of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: “This is a wonderful way to celebrate one of the greatest moments in English sporting history while bringing people into our town centre and supporting local businesses, many of which are independent. The trail is completely free, suitable for all ages and packed with fascinating stories that many younger people may never have heard before. ”

Participants will be challenged to find 10 ’66 World Cup-themed items hidden in businesses throughout the town centre. The trail has been designed to encourage visitors to discover local shops, cafés and attractions while learning more about England’s famous 1966 victory.

Adding to the town’s celebrations of the 1966 World Cup anniversary, Bury St Edmunds-based brewer Greene King has teamed up with Sir Geoff Hurst, the last living member of England’s World Cup-winning team, to create 60 Years of Hurst, a special-edition cask ale available exclusively in Greene King’s Pub Partners pubs.

Items to spot include:

•     A pennant featuring World Cup Willie, the tournament’s famous mascot
•     Replica Jules Rimet trophies
•     World Cup Stamps
•     Photo of Sir Alf Ramsey statue
•     66 World Cup newspaper front page
•     Photo of the World Cup winners
•     Football
•     66 tournament programme
•     1966 World Cup book
•     1966 winners’ presentation plaque

The trail also highlights Suffolk’s connection to football history through Sir Alf Ramsey, the England manager who led the national team to glory and who won the league title as Ipswich Manager in 1962.

Organisers hope the trail will introduce a new generation to a story that many grandparents remember vividly but which most parents, aunts and uncles were not yet born to witness. In 1966, millions watched England’s dramatic 4-2 extra-time victory over West Germany on black-and-white televisions, creating memories that have endured for six decades.

Along the way, visitors will uncover some of the fascinating stories behind the tournament, from World Cup Willie becoming the first-ever World Cup mascot to the famous Jules Rimet Trophy, named after the founder of the competition. They may even discover the tale of Pickles the dog, who famously recovered the stolen trophy just weeks before the tournament began.

Participants will have a chance to win a variety of prizes including a year membership of The Apex courtesy of West Suffolk Council, Bury St Edmunds gift cards and world cup memorabilia.

Families can pick up trail sheets from the St Edmundsbury Cathedral tourist information point, Moyse’s Hall Museum, The Apex, Bury St Edmunds Library and the participating businesses who will also display a poster. You can also download the trail leaflet from the Our Bury St Edmunds BID website.

Whether you’re a lifelong football fan, a local history enthusiast or simply looking for a free family activity, the ’66 World Cup Trail promises a summer of discovery, nostalgia and community spirit.

Trail Details

’66 World Cup Trail
Dates: Saturday 4 July – Sunday 6 September 10. 30am – 5. 30pm
Cost: Free
Location: Participating town centre businesses, Bury St Edmunds
Suitable for: All ages

The ’66 World Cup Trail runs throughout Bury St Edmunds town centre from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 6 September. For more information and to download a trail leaflet, visit https: //www. ourburystedmunds. com/the-66-world-cup-trail

Abbeygate Cinema is helping to make Bury St Edmunds a safer place with the installation of a new publicly accessible defibrillator.

The lifesaving equipment was made possible thanks to fundraising by the cinema, the generosity of its loyal patrons, and the support of neighbouring businesses along Hatter Street.

Gareth Boggis, General Manager of Abbeygate Cinema, said: “We’re so fortunate to be part of such a kind and generous community, from our wonderful patrons to our fantastic Hatter Street neighbours. We have a proud history of fundraising for worthwhile causes, so when we had the opportunity to help protect local people by installing a defibrillator, we didn’t hesitate. It has already been used twice, and while we hope it’s never needed, we’re pleased to know it’s there in such a prominent location to provide reassurance and potentially save lives.”

In recognition of its commitment to improving public safety, Abbeygate Cinema has been presented with the Defibrillator Scheme Champion Award 2026.

The award celebrates organisations that have gone above and beyond to help create a safer community by making lifesaving defibrillators more accessible.

Gareth added: “We’re honoured to receive the Defibrillator Scheme Champion Award. Our Bury St Edmunds BID has worked tirelessly to improve access to defibrillators across the town, and we’re proud to support its mission. We hope our installation encourages others to consider how they too can help protect the community.”

Defibrillators in Bury St Edmunds Town Centre

For many years, we’ve worked with local partners and businesses to make lifesaving defibrillators available across the town centre. The first publicly accessible defibrillator was installed at The Apex in 2014, and since then, more public units have been added.

All defibrillator locations are marked on the town map, enabling people to locate the nearest one in an emergency quickly. As part of our support for safety in the town, we also include defibrillator training in our free first aid courses for our BID members.

Click here to find out more about our defibrilators initiative.