Supporting Bury St Edmunds' retail market this Christmas

In a time when many high streets are struggling, Bury St Edmunds is proving to be an exception. The town remains lively and inviting, especially as the festive season approaches. Bury St Edmunds has a thriving retail market and footfall in the town centre continues to be very strong, even stronger in the lead up to Christmas. Despite the general downward trend of the retail market nationally and the decline of the High Street, Bury St Edmunds continues to thrive, attracting a good mix of national, regional and local independent retailers.

Unlike many places, Bury St Edmunds is doing well with its mix of well-known national brands and beloved local shops. Merrifields has proudly let 13 town centre shops in the past two years including properties on Abbeygate Street, Angel Hill and in St Johns Street, with smaller and medium-sized spaces being particularly good demand. Some recent lettings include; 33 Abbeygate Street let to Ada Baby, 7 Guildhall Street let to Only Love Tattoos and 9 St Johns Street let to Bimbos Hair. 

The town’s success is supported by its diverse economy, which includes industries like manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and technology. Bury St Edmunds is also home to several multinational companies and business parks.

Another important factor that drives footfall to the town is its wide range of restaurants and other eateries. Merrifields have let a number of reatail units to independent eateries over recent years including; Blue Fig, Wrights Cafe, Peck and The Olive Grove.

Landmarks such as The Theatre Royal, the only surviving Regency playhouse in Britain and The Angel Hotel, featured in Charles Dickens' novels, add to the town's charm. The cobbled streets and medieval buildings further enhance the town’s historic character.

Surrounded by the beautiful Suffolk countryside, including historic villages like Lavenham and Long Melford, Bury also provides a scenic escape from urban life. The town is very dog-friendly, with businesses displaying a blue paw print logo to show they welcome pets.

As Christmas draws near, at Merrifields we believe its important to support our town's retailers. They play an important role in the community, offering unique products and a personalised service. Merrifields has been based in Bury St Edmunds since 1989, supporting the lettings and sales of dozens of Bury St Edmunds businesses and will be Christmas shopping in Town again this year!