Month: August 2026

Wow what a summer we have had and although we have had some recent very welcome rain, I am hoping that we don’t see much of it this coming Sunday and Monday, as it’s our annual Food & Drink Festival. The free entry event runs from 10am to 5pm each day. There is much to do across the town centre with specific attractions on Angel Hill, the Buttermarket and Cornhill and in the arc shopping centre.

One of the most popular attractions is the demonstration kitchen, located outside of Moyes Hall, where local hospitality businesses will be performing for the audience and again attending these presentations are free as well. Full details about the event are on the Ourburystedmunds website.

Talking of warm weather, many town centres are reporting reduced footfall, as a consequence of the very hot weather in July. I am delighted to reported that the opposite is true in our town centre, where last month footfall was very nearly higher than any other July in the past ten years!

Our retail unit vacancy rate remains very low at just over 6% whereas the national average is over 13%. Businesses remain very keen to open in our town centre and the recently opened, Weird Fish, in the arc an the new Escape Rooms in Whiting Street, are an example of this.

Additionally, I am aware of ten new businesses that are hoping to open before the end of the year. The town centre continues to thrive and thank you all for your support which is very much appreciated.

Having said that the pending closure of TG Jones and consequently the Post Office is causing us some concern. Whenever a business closes I am always aware of the impact this has on those working in the business, who are invariably local people. I don’t think, in either business, there is the opportunity for the staff to be relocated to another branch so I do hope those affected are able to find another job as quickly as possible. Town centre job vacancies are collated by us and are listed on our website.
In regards of the Post Office, I am delighted that immediately the news was announced the District and Town Council, our MP and the BID were all on the same page in wanting the Post Office to identify another town centre location for their business.

The Post Office is such an important business for both the local residential and business communities so we can’t afford to lose it. To me the soon to be vacant Halifax bank unit appears to be an ideal solution to this issue but I am very mindful that the Post Office hierarchy will not just be focussing upon the situation in Bury St Edmunds. Nonetheless let’s hope the issue can bee addressed as soon as possible.

It’s still not too late be in with a chance of winning one of our gift cards, which are accepted in over 80 town centre businesses. All you have to do is find ten ’66 World Cup related items that are displayed across the town centre. Entries need to be delivered to our offices and can be accepted up until midnight next Sunday. Entry forms can be picked up at the Cathedral Tourism point, the Apex or downloaded from our website.

Food lovers are invited to taste the world without leaving Suffolk’s Foodie Capital as the Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival returns to the town centre this Bank Holiday weekend.

Taking place on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August, the FREE-entry festival will bring two days of food, drink, entertainment and family fun to Bury St Edmunds, with thousands of visitors expected to enjoy everything the town has to offer.

Running from 10am to 5pm on both days, the festival will transform Cornhill, the Buttermarket, Angel Hill and Charter Square at The arc Shopping Centre into a celebration of flavours from around the world, alongside the very best of Suffolk’s food and drink.

One of the highlights will be the popular Chefs on Stage Cookery Theatre, taking place outside Moyse’s Hall Museum. Visitors can watch some of Bury St Edmunds’ best-loved chefs, food and drink experts and local businesses take to the stage for live demonstrations covering everything from cooking and cocktails to wine and sustainability.

Taking part are independent businesses including 1921, Bellota, Bay Tree Café, PrimaVista, ICE, and Wine and Dine, alongside chefs from award-winning national restaurant brand Giggling Squid. Chef and sustainability champion Rowen Halstead from Waste Not Rowen will also share practical tips on reducing food waste, while drinks and wine experts from The Wine Cellar, Vino Gusto and The Angel will offer demonstrations and expert insights.

The Cookery Theatre is free to watch, with demonstrations taking place throughout both festival days.

Mark Cordell, Chief Executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: “The Food & Drink Festival is all about bringing people together through great food and celebrating the fantastic businesses we have here in Bury St Edmunds. With food and drink from 16 countries, live demonstrations, fantastic local producers and plenty of free family entertainment, there really is something for everyone this Bank Holiday weekend.

“The Chefs on Stage Cookery Theatre is a great opportunity to meet the talented people behind our restaurants, cafés, bars and food businesses, hear their stories and pick up ideas to take home. Whether you’re a keen home cook, a foodie or simply looking for a great day out, we look forward to welcoming you.”

Something for everyone

Alongside the live cookery demonstrations, visitors can enjoy food and drink representing 16 countries, with a wide variety of stalls across Cornhill and the Buttermarket.

There will also be a traditional Farmers’ Market on Angel Hill, while families can enjoy free children’s activities at The arc Shopping Centre, including Big Games, children’s magic workshops and face painting. Pay-per-go fairground rides will also be available.

Children’s entertainment will take place in Cornhill and the Buttermarket, including balloon modelling and magic tricks.

The expanded international offering will give visitors the chance to sample cuisines from across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and beyond, alongside local produce and independent businesses — making it the perfect opportunity to “taste the world” right here in Bury St Edmunds.

The Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival takes place from 10am to 5pm on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August 2026 in Bury St Edmunds town centre.

The festival is FREE to attend and is brought to you by Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID), with the support of ShopSafe.

For the latest programme and information, visit www.ourburystedmunds.com/events/food-drink-festival

What fabulous weather we have had this month, albeit gardens, allotments etc could do with some rain. Unsurprisingly, the good weather has attracted people into our town centre. Consequently, footfall for the month is currently looking very positive when compared with July ’25 and last month. This is obviously a big boost for our businesses and thank you for all the support you provide to our town centre businesses.

The warmer weather in recent years has seen an increase in the number of vineyards in Suffolk and many are within a few miles of Bury. Visit East of England has created a Suffolk Wine Trail, with a focus on 8 specific vineyards many of whom are close to Bury and this is yet another way that we work with others and on our own to promote Bury as a great place to visit.

Speaking of wine, don’t forget that our popular Food & Drink Festival returns over next month’s Bank Holiday weekend. On the 30th and 31st August, Bury St Edmunds town centre will be buzzing with an incredible selection of food and drink, alongside live demonstrations from talented local chefs.

Wine lovers are in for a treat too, with expert tastings and insights from some of our fantastic local wine businesses. This year, Jake from Vino Gusto will be joining us on the Sunday, while Brad from The Wine Cellar will be taking to the stage on the Monday. Best of all, entry is completely free. To find out more and plan your visit, head to the Our Bury St Edmunds website.

There’s a new Sheriff in town and it’s not Woody from Toy Story 5! It seems like there’s a new announcement daily from our new Prime Minister and the most relevant one for our BID members was the reduction on business rates for pubs of £1000 from April.

Although, in reality, this will do very little to offset the increases in operational costs our pubs have had to endure since the 2024 election. Nonetheless, it is a very positive indicator that the PM is aware of the huge financial challenges pub operators are facing and hopefully this is just the first of many actions to redress the balance for all of our town centre businesses.

It was another case of deja vu at the World Cup, with England yet again almost getting to the final and managing to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory!

Therefore, our win in 1966 remains the only time we have won the World Cup and our free to enter town centre trail, commemorating this success continues. All you need to do is find ten ’66 World Cup related items in businesses across the town centre to be in with a chance of winning, one of three, town centre gift cards.

Entry forms are available online, at the Our Bury St Edmunds website, at The Apex and Cathedral tourism point and previous editions of the Bury Free Press. The main purpose of this trail is to provide free entertainment for families during the school holidays and also encourage people to visit parts of the town that they might not ordinarily do and visit businesses they haven’t been into previously.

Some of Bury St Edmunds’ best-loved chefs, food and drink experts and local businesses will be stepping into the spotlight this August Bank Holiday as the full programme for the Chefs on Stage Cookery Theatre is unveiled.

The live demonstration theatre is one of the highlights of the FREE-entry Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival, organised by Our Bury St Edmunds BID, and will showcase the talent, creativity and expertise of businesses from across the town on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August.

While visitors can expect plenty of culinary inspiration from leading local chefs, this year’s programme also celebrates the wider hospitality sector, with demonstrations spanning cooking, cocktails, wine and sustainability, reflecting the breadth of Bury St Edmunds’ thriving food and drink scene in Suffolk’s Foodie Capital.

Among those taking part are independent businesses including 1921, Bellota, Bay Tree Café, PrimaVista and ICE. Chefs from the award-winning national restaurant brand Giggling Squid will also be appearing, while chef and sustainability champion Rowen Halstead from Waste Not Rowen will share practical tips on reducing food waste. Wine and drinks experts from The Wine Cellar, Vino Gusto and The Angel will also take to the stage, offering demonstrations and expert insights.

Mark Cordell, Chief Executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: “One of the things that makes our Food & Drink Festival so special is the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the fantastic businesses we have here in Bury St Edmunds. The Cookery Theatre isn’t just about recipes – it’s about meeting the talented people behind our restaurants, cafés, bars and food businesses, hearing their stories and picking up ideas to take home. Whether you’re a keen home cook, a foodie or simply looking for an entertaining 45 minutes during your visit, there’s something for everyone.”

The demonstrations will take place throughout both festival days outside Moyse’s Hall Museum and are free to watch. Visit the BID website for times nearer to the event at www.ourburystedmunds.com

The Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival takes place from 10am to 5pm on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August. Alongside the live demonstrations, visitors can enjoy food and drink representing 16 countries, a Farmers’ Market on Angel Hill, children’s entertainment and activities at The arc Shopping Centre, and a host of stalls across the town centre.

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