Love Christmas? Love food? Then yule love the Christmas Fayre

If you are hosting for Christmas this year and want some ideas or you simply love food, The Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre is the place to be.

The award winning Christmas Fayre returns from Thursday to Sunday, November 21 to 24 and there is something to suit all tastes.

As well as more than 300 stalls selling gift ideas, arts and crafts, tasty food and winter warming drinks, there will be a farmers and cookware market on the Thursday and Sunday.

The Cathedral Courtyard will host the ICE Cookery Theatre with renowned chefs giving live cookery demonstrations throughout the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, passing on some of their skills so you can go home and wow with some great tasting dishes.

Suffolk Young Chef of the Year Moraine Pepper, from The Northgate, in Bury St Edmunds, who will be in the cookery theatre on the Saturday with James Carn, of the All Saints Hotel, and Scott Taylor, of The Angel, also among the chefs featuring that day.

The day before sees both Justin Newton, from The Weeping Willow, Lee Cooper, from The Ickworth, and Julien Bisbal, of The Grazing Sheep, among those showcasing their talents and sharing tips for making some great food.

Sunday visitors meanwhile will get the chance to learn from one of the UK’s leading pastry chefs as Michelle Gillott makes her return with Lewis Dowling, from The Northgate, giving a cocktail demonstration.

There’s lots more taking place in the ICE Cookery Theatre on all three days while The Courtyard is also where you can buy everything from fudges and cakes to artisan Christmas puddings, chilli jams, fruit vinegars, traditional preserves, pork pies, sausage rolls, halloumi cheese and more.

If that isn’t enough to whet your appetite it will also feature stalls selling craft beers, spirits and liqueurs, ciders including mulled cider, taster boxes of wine and luxury chocolate wine.

For more on what’s on when visit www.burystedmundschristmasfayre.co.uk

John Griffiths, leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “Christmas is a time for bringing people together and the fayre also does this. We know lots of people will want to come along to learn from the renowned chefs and, if they have a relative, friend or neighbour who is likely to be alone this Christmas, it may inspire them to invite them over to share some great food and company. We also welcome guests who are visiting West Suffolk perhaps for the first time. The fayre provides a taster of beautiful Bury St Edmunds to thousands of visitors, bringing a boost to the economy not just during the four days of the fayre but throughout the rest of the year when people return to further explore and enjoy all the wonderful things West Suffolk has to offer.”

A Park and Ride service will be in operation from 11am on the Thursday through to the Sunday evening.

Park and Walk from the Council’s car park in Olding Road is only 15 minutes from the fayre and will be available on the Saturday and Sunday. Greene King and West Suffolk College’s car parks will also be available during the weekend of the fayre.

Family saver tickets are available for those coming by train. Bus services will also be in operation throughout the fayre. For more visit https://www.burystedmundschristmasfayre.co.uk/

Police will once again be providing a vigilant eye over the fayre.

Coouncillor Griffiths added: “The police work closely with us and we are thankful for their continuing support. We encourage visitors to say hello to officers and give them your support as they support our communities and help people enjoy this great family friendly event.”

Inspector Matt Paisley, from Suffolk Police, said: “As always, we are looking forward to policing the Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre once again this year. As we did last year we will have uniformed, plain clothed patrols and police dogs on site, who will be working to keep everyone safe and make sure they have a great time. We will be deploying a range of highly skilled and specially trained officers who will be working close with security staff to keep an eye on the site to maintain a crime-free event. We also ask you the public to remember you also have key role to play in help keeping yourself and the event safe. If you see anything unusual, trust your instincts and immediately call security on 01284 758008 or 01284 758009, the police on 101 or 999 depending on urgency.”