Author: Sue Warren

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.

I am writing this column shortly after England’s second game in this years World Cup competition, with us still on track to remaining in the competition well into next month. We are all probably aware of the “60 years of hurt” that certainly I have lived through in it’s entirety, referring to the only time England have won the World Cup, which was at Wembley on the 30th July 1966. To celebrate or commemorate (depending on your point of view) this achievement we, at the BID, are launching our summer town centre trail next Saturday in recognition of this tremendous achievement back in 1966, which remains one of the greatest days in this country’s sporting history.

My colleague Jackie, our Events Manager, who organises our trails, felt this diamond jubilee was worthy of recognition and hence our ’66 World Cup trail.

As in previous trails the challenge is to find ten separate items, these are all 1966 world cup related, which will be displayed across the town centre. Three people who find all of the items and submit their entry will win one of three town centre gift cards.

The trail runs until 6th September and so provides free entertainment and an opportunity to visit many of our businesses and runs throughout the school summer holidays.

Pardon the pun but we are kicking off the trail with a human football table being located in Charter Square next Friday and Saturday which is free to use throughout both days and looks like great fun, so please pop along and have a go.

The other thing we are currently celebrating, are our fabulous array of fantastic Independent businesses in the town. As you will no doubt be aware we are promoting the fact that the town is home to so many wonderful high quality and diverse Independent businesses throughout the year but this week and next we are doing so particularly to remind people of what the town has to offer and encouraging people to take stroll down the streets that are off of Abbeygate Street, the Buttermarket and Cornhill.

There are approaching 300 Independent businesses, in our town centre, the vast majority owned by local people and they are so varied in regards of what goods and services they offer. It is a proven fact that a greater proportion of money spent with Independent businesses remains within their respective local economies, than is the case with money spent with national chains.

If every adult who lives in Bury St Edmunds spent just £5 a week with Independent businesses this would total an overall spend of around £10m a year and what a boost this would be for our local economy.

Despite current economic challenges facing our businesses our town centre remains vibrant and I see there is some published analysis stating that the longer England stay in the World Cup, the more money will be spent in hospitality businesses. So come on Harry & Co, for the sake of Bury St Edmunds BID members, keep progressing in the World Cup and bring Football home!

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.

To mark the launch and the start of Independents Day Weekend, a giant Human Table Football will be set up in Charter Square at The arc Shopping Centre on Friday 3 July and Saturday 4 July from 10. 30am-5. 30pm, giving members of the public the chance to take part free of charge. Bury St Edmunds Town Mayor Cllr Donna Higgins and Deputy Mayor Cllr Diane Hind will referee the opening game on the Human Table Football.

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

Wow what a wonderful weekend we have just enjoyed. The weather at our Spring Fayre, was baking hot and even too hot in the afternoon for some on our beach but many enjoyed the Punch & Judy shows. The family entertainment activities in the arc shopping centre were a big hit too. The stalls on Angel Hill and in the Buttermarket were busy and there was a fabulous array of flowers and shrubs.

This two day event is a tremendous way to promote our town and attract additional visitors, for the benefit of our town centre businesses and the traders at the event. Full speed ahead now for our Food and Drink Festival at the end of August!

There are just a few more days left to complete our town centre Out of this World Astronomy Trail, which finishes on Sunday. It has proven to be very popular with both businesses and participants alike.

Due to its success and that of the two trails we organised last year, to commemorate VE & VJ Day, we will be organising a summer trail, which will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of England winning the World Cup in 1966, so watch this space for more details about this trail which starts in early July.

This year the County Suffolk Day celebrations will be focussed upon our town, where there will be activities, during the day on Angel Hill and in the Abbey Gardens on Sunday 21st June. In the late afternoon there will be some formalities outside the Athenaeum plus the recipients of Suffolk medals will be presented with this recognition of their contribution to the County. In the evening there is a celebration concert in the Cathedral. For further information please visit https://burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk/suffolk-day

The 21st June is also Fathers’ Day and if you are stuck for a gift for your Dad, don’t forget that the Our Bury St Edmunds Gift card is a great way to show your appreciation and is accepted in over 80 town centre businesses. The physical card and e-card can be ordered online or picked up from one of a number of local businesses. Just visit the Our Bury St Edmunds website for all the information you require.

You may have seen some new businesses springing up around town such as Toast, in the Cornhill and the Burnt Mill Brewery tap room at the bottom of St John’s Street but be assured there will be others appearing soon and this demonstrates how positively outside businesses see our town centre and want to have a presence here. This is the reason why the level of vacant retail units is so low, currently it sits at just over 5%, whereas the national average is over 12%. One of the many reasons that Bury continues to thrive, as a town centre, is the level of support provided by local residents and long may this continue.

What we do as an organisation is to raise the profile of the town nationally, as a visitor destination, therefore attracting tourism visitors to the town to supplement the local trade. Tourists visit places with a positive mindset regarding spending money and this additional spend contributes to the survival of our local businesses, thereby ensuring that the town centre offering in Bury St Edmunds continues to be one of high quality and diversity.

A much-loved pop-up beach will take centre stage in Bury St Edmunds in just two weeks’ time 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 one of your last chances to take part in 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.

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 are an important part of the town’s calendar, helping to draw people into the centre and create a real sense of energy and atmosphere. “The increased footfall is a real boost for local businesses. We’re looking forward to welcoming residents and visitors for what promises to be a fantastic weekend.”

Bury St Edmunds BID members are featured in a new book celebrating the very best of Suffolk’s independent food and drink scene — reinforcing the town’s reputation as Suffolk’s foodie capital.

Suffolk: A Story Told Through Food, Drink & People by Adam Tully and Hannah Dewar is the result of a year spent travelling across the county, meeting the people behind its kitchens, bakeries, vineyards, cafés and pubs. Rather than a conventional guide or cookbook, the project focuses on storytelling — capturing the lives, values and craft of those who quietly shape Suffolk’s food and drink culture.

Suffolk’s food scene has always rewarded curiosity. From coast to countryside, it is not defined by trends or noise, but by people consistently doing things well. This book reflects that ethos, bringing together 30 businesses through conversations and photography that highlight early mornings, late nights, ambition, resilience, and above all, community.

At the heart of the publication is a strong representation of Bury St Edmunds BID member businesses, showcasing the strength and depth of the town’s independent hospitality and foodie retail sector. We are delighted to see so many members included:

1921
The One Bull
Wooster’s
Maison Bleue
Bellota
Pea Porridge
The Angel Hotel
Rustico
Lark
Alema
Midgar

With such strong representation from BID members, the book serves as further recognition of what locals and visitors alike already know — Bury St Edmunds stands firmly as Suffolk’s foodie capital.

Read more about the book at Suffolk Story.

Discover more Food and Drink businesses in our town centre Food & Drink Directory.

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.