averilburystedmunds: Glorious Idiosynchronicities

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds.

Bury St Edmunds turns out to be a lovely place to live; pretty and spacious; a wide sweep of historical buildings and Georgian squares; the wonderful Abbey Gardens combining historical and aesthetic appeal; a Regency theatre plus the Apex for plays, appearances, concerts, ‘conversations’ and the Athenaeum which seems to be a public space for various events like talks and discussions. And, there is an abundance of bars, cafes, coffee shops, restaurants covering a wide range of tastes and purses plus two market days each week.

But my title points to the shops and businesses. I am frequently entertained when I walk to the shops to notice not one, but two sweet shops. When did sweet shops exist? When I was a girl I think. But here we have Mr Simms’ Olde Sweet Shoppe on the Butter Market and nearby, the tiny Auntie Pam’s Sweet Shop, both of which seem to dabble in nostalgia, selling a thousand sugary treats mostly from a bygone era, such as Sherbet Fountains, Flying Saucers, Midget Gems, Sherbet Lemons [my childhood favourite though rarely allowed]. It is true that there are modern and more sophisticated establishments which could not be described as sweet shops, more posh chocolate shops. There are the Marimba Chocolatier and Hotel Chocolat, either of which would gain my adult vote. But I DO enjoy that there is space and appetite for the others.

In a similar but slightly different vein are the number of places which similarly advertise clothes

One of several available but a very
individual and stylish logo!

alterations and dress-making. I am not at all sure that I have seen them all but it is faintly astonishing that there is a market for so many! I have seen May Alterations; Magic Stitching; Amma Alterations & Boutique; Fast Stitch; A J’s Alteration; Sylwia Style plus Farthing’s Dry Cleaners which also offers clothes re-modelling. What can there be in the area of Bury St Edmunds to keep so many outlets going? Is it poverty? Is it thrift? Is it necessity? Is it modishly ‘green’? Is there a conduit for designer clothes so precious that the owners choose revisions and re-designs of the originals to extend the lives of expensive garments? No one knows, surely, but it is a welcome eccentricity which adds to the appeal of this ancient little market town.

Lounge and Garden Cafe,
Hatter Street.

I have also discovered an unexpected facet of cafe life in the Lounge and Garden, Hatter Street, a large cafe with a lovely outside sitting area. They not only tolerate, but actively welcome, customers who play games like cards I am now in two small groups which are learning to play Mah Jong; every Monday and Friday afternoon; the staff reserve a perfect corner where four or five of us can play and no doubt, as expertise is gained and we grow in size as a group, the cafe ‘girls’ will be pleased to reserve two neighbouring tables for our two hour session. What could be more companionable and importantly, effortless?

In the Butter Market there is a shop called Luna House Boutique with what, a casual passer-by might register as assorted junk in the windows. There are lots of clothes and other interesting old items advertised in the modern parlance as ‘pre-loved’! But it was chiefly clothes which I registered as I passed by in a faintly disinterested way, until last week when I stopped for an idle glance and was riveted by the sight of a vintage watering can in the window. Its appearance of faded pewter with touches of authentic rust enchanted me and in no time at all, I was the proud owner of this pre-loved beauty, placing it carefully on my longer terrace where it adds lustre and style! Bury St Edmunds scores again!

Luna House, Butter Market.

But possibly, la piece de resistance, is an actual BAKERY!! In Europe, these are not cause for comment but in England, local bakeries are rare now. And here we have Wooster’s in Langton Place, tiny, open four days a week and also hedging its bets by selling a small range of fresh vegetables and dairy items. The bread I buy is dark and filled with multi grains and seeds, and is totally delicious and confers on the consumer a ‘greener-than-green’ aura which is very satisfying indeed!