Bury Free Press BID Column March 2026
There’s a real sense of anticipation buzzing around our town centre just now, as local businesses shake off the winter blues and start looking ahead to brighter, busier days.
Shop windows are being refreshed with pops of colour, cafés are planning lighter spring menus, and outdoor seating areas are being prepared — all in hopeful anticipation of an end to the relentless rain and the arrival of a glorious, sunny spring.
With English Tourism Week this month, it is a fantastic opportunity for our tourism brand Bury St Edmunds and Beyond to showcase everything that makes our town special. The brand’s website www.burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk is a great resource for not only visitors but for our residents with lots of great content on our town’s history, itineraries and events that extend to beyond the town.
Our businesses are ready to roll out the welcome mat, so fingers firmly crossed for blue skies and a season full of visitors eager to explore, shop, dine and soak up the atmosphere.
To bring visitors and residents to the town centre this spring we have created something out of this world. An astronomy trail which launches (pardon the pun) on Saturday 28 March and runs for nine weeks through both the Easter and May Half Term School Holidays. The FREE entry trail coincides with the Artemis II Moon Rocket Mission, scheduled to launch in spring, which will be the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years. It is a subject close to my heart as Chairman of Bury St Edmunds Astronomy Association, and I hope that it will not only bring families to the town centre to take part (there are some great prizes to be won) but also spark further interest in our young people curious about the universe we live in. Trail leaflets will be available to pick up at the St Edmundsbury Cathedral tourist information point, Moyse’s Hall museum, The Apex, Bury St Edmunds Library and will be featured in the Bury Free Press. You can also download the trail leaflet from the Our Bury St Edmunds BID website www.ourburystedmunds.com.
It’s a great time to remind you of the dates of our forthcoming events. The annual Spring Fayre takes place on 24 & 25 May 10am-4pm, Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival on 30 & 31 August 10am-5pm, and the date for our Christmas Lights Event for your diaries is Thursday 19 November 3pm-8pm.
Another date for your diaries is Suffolk Day on June 21, a day to celebrate our beautiful county. Bury St Edmunds has been chosen to host this year and there are several events being planned in the town centre with more details coming soon!
Spring is also a great time to get do our Bury St Edmunds Ale Trail. From award-winning public houses to unique bars, there is a great choice of real ale and craft beer. To take part in the Bury St Edmunds Ale Trail pick up a map at The Apex, Moyse’s Hall Museum, or St Edmundsbury Cathedral Visitor Information Point when you are in town. Or download the map on our website.
Finally, thank you to everyone who visits and supports our town centre businesses!
