Our Bury St Edmunds has announced that it will extend it’s Independents week celebrations to help support and promote businesses who will be allowed to reopen their doors this weekend including hospitality traders and hairdressers.

Speaking on RWSfm 103.3 Mark Cordell, Chief Executive of the Business Improvement District Our Bury St Edmunds made the announcement saying that “We are now going to extend it (Independents Week) to another week because tomorrow, as well hospitality traders, we have got hairdressers and barbers reopening.

We will be highlighting particularly those businesses and those sectors encouraging people to support them where they can.”

The initiative, which is in its 10th year and started off as independents day before moving to the week, will now run until Sunday 12th July.

Mike Kirkham, who is the BID’s Marketing and Business Support Officer said: “This year, although we can’t celebrate our independents in the way we have done previously, due to social distancing rules, we feel it’s even more important to acknowledge the contribution these businesses make to our town centre. By extending to a fortnight we will be able to champion all those who are re-opening for the first time since March on July 4 as they start to welcome back their customers.”

Among the independent businesses re-opening on Saturday is No 4 Restaurant at Abbeygate Cinema, with the cinema re-opening the following week. Marketing Manager Andrea Holmes said: “We are so looking forward to re-opening on Saturday and have spent the last two days finalising our safety procedures and ensuring staff are up to date with our new way of working. It’s great to still be able to celebrate Bury’s independent businesses and see people returning to the town centre.“

Usually we would run special activities to coincide with Our Bury St Edmunds Independents Week but this year it just hasn’t been possible. However, extending it to a fortnight to continue promoting our independents, especially on social media, will be so appreciated by smaller businesses who’ve experienced such a difficult time recently.”

There are nearly 300 independent businesses in the town centre selling everything from jewellery to home furnishings and bespoke tailoring to crafted beers.

Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, certain hospitality and leisure businesses are being allowed to welcome customers back from Saturday, July 4 following the go ahead from the Government.