Bury Free Press BID Column March 2025

Now that the brighter weather has finally arrived and British Summer Time begins this weekend, I almost feel guilty mentioning Christmas. But, as you may have seen in the news recently, Our Bury St Edmunds BID is organising a free to use synthetic ice-rink at arc Shopping Centre this year for the school Christmas holidays. We are very grateful to Bury St Edmunds Town Council for funding this and a number of other activities that will form part of the Christmas In Bury St Edmunds Experience. We, and the partners we work with to generate these activities, hope this will encourage plenty of visitors to the town centre at this very important trading time for businesses.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as there is so much going on in the town in the coming weeks. We are just days away from the launch of our trail to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day. It involves businesses across the town displaying special commemorative items in their windows. Find all ten and you could be in with a chance of winning a prize. Entry forms are available from tourism points at The Apex and Cathedral, in the Bury Free Press next week and the ourburystedmunds.com website. We are very grateful to all those supporting this free fun activity for all the family – our history-themed trails have always been popular, but this is one of our best supported ever.

This weekend it’s Mothers’ Day so if you haven’t booked somewhere to celebrate on Sunday you don’t have much time. As the foodie capital of Suffolk we have plenty of choice here in Bury St Edmunds. Our hospitality establishments continue to be recognised nationally with recent success for Alex and Lisa Rotherham at Bay Tree Café who’ve had their Kedgeree featured in National Geographic Traveller Food magazine.

And if you are looking for a last-minute gift idea then why not pick up an Our Bury St Edmunds Gift Card which will allow Mum to choose from more than 70 different businesses that accept it in the town centre. Visit ourburystedmunds.com to purchase it as an e-card or find out where you can pick up a card in town and load it with the amount you want to give straight away.

It’s pleasing to see new businesses opening in the town. Anagram Audio is moving into Churchgate Street offering all aspects of hi-fi equipment. And while they are finalising the shop premises you can browse all they offer online.

Finally, next week Our Bury St Edmunds BID officially starts its fourth term of serving the town centre and our 16th year of operating. We are here to support our business members and work with you so, as ever, if there is something that we can help with do please get in touch. If we can’t help directly, we can usually signpost to somewhere that can.