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In the mid 90's, Pokémania took the world by storm, starting in Japan as a game for the Nintendo Game Boy and slowly making it's way internationally over the next few years into more games, an anime series, merchandise and a trading card game. Who would have thought that 30 years later, it would still have such popularity, a loyal following and the residents of Sudbury, Suffolk, would be treated to their very own Pokémon shop? Back in September last year, Myles Morley decided to take his love and knowledge of all things Pokémon, especially trading cards, to Sudbury Market and Sudbury immediately showed that their interest and passion matched his. As his business, Catch n Collect, gained popularity, Myles began trading every Saturday and alternative Thursdays, eventually taking a step down from his Manager role at Waitrose, to give his Pokémon business the attention it needed. Fast forward to March and Catch n Collect have now moved just down the road to their first shop at 48 Gaol Lane, and it is already as much as a hit as the stall was, with customers queueing an hour before opening. We popped down to speak to Myles on a quieter, although still busy, week day, to ask him about his Catch n Collect experience. Myles explained that he was travelling 45 minutes to get to his nearest Pokémon card shop so, decided that Sudbury needed something similar of it's own. He continued, "So I contacted the Council to find out if they had any space on their market. I kind of wanted to test the waters there before I went fully into a shop and they welcomed me with open arms, were really helpful with getting me started and 6 months later, here we are!" When asked about the support the people of Sudbury have given to his endeavour, Myles said, "The people of Sudbury are definitely into their Pokémon! Everyone's been so supportive. I've got regulars that come down every week and I've got new people from Sudbury that are coming down. I've got a seating area in here, so people are playing the game with each other, people are making friends with each other. It's really nice to just see people bonding over something that they all like, which is Pokémon" When telling us about the first day madness, Myles recalled "That was not what I expected! I think the first people started queuing about quarter past nine and we had that long queue until about 3 o'clock and then it was still busy in here. There was a queue out the door, it was crazy". This is another welcome addition to our high percentage of independent businesses in Sudbury and we wish Myles all the best with Catch n Collect. To see it grow from a stall on our Market to a bright, welcoming shop for Pokémon fans to meet, play and enjoy has been a pleasure. Pop in and see for yourself Wednesday and Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 12pm-8pm and Saturday 10am-5pm at 48 Gaol Lane, Sudbury. Thinking of trading on Sudbury Market? Follow this link to apply: Sudbury Market | Sudbury Town Council

For many years, Sudbury Town Council has produced it's own in-house calendar, with the help from the Sudbury community. Last year, we had a calendar hiatus but this year it is back! We are now asking for your photos, which are what gives it that true, unique Sudbury feel! This year the theme, chosen by followers on Facebook, is all things Sudbury - Nature, architecture, people, Sudbury related creations, local walks and everything else related. If you would to enter your photo, please send to catriona.coote@sudbury-tc.gov.uk referring to the terms and conditions below: *A maximum of 3 photos per person. *You must own the photos you are entering. *The photo must be of, or related to, Sudbury - e.g - if it is something made in a workshop, it will need to be of something Sudbury related, not just made in Sudbury. *Please provide a title of each photo. *If there are people in your photo, you must have their permission to enter it and for it to be used in the calendar. *The photo must be recent (in the last past 12 months) *By entering, you confirm that you are happy for us to hold your name and e-mail address for the purpose of the calendar. Please can we get some photos from different times of the year/seasons where possible. Entries need to be in by 30th June 2026 where they will then be collated and voted on by Sudbury Town Council Councillors and Officers. The calendars will be available by our Heritage Open Day event in September. We cannot wait to see all your fantastic entries!

March (and the sun! hooray!) is here and it brings a host of exciting Sudbury Town Council events to Sudbury. On the 17th March, Mayor, Andy Welsh, hosts his second fundraising event in order to raise money for his chosen charities - Sudbury Defibrillators & Prostate Cancer UK. Following the success of his first event in October, the second fundraiser will be held in the Town Hall Assembly Room and will consist of a wine tasting evening, paired cheeses and a raffle full of fantastic prizes donated by a range of generous local businesses and residents. Event tickets are priced at £25 and include your wines, cheeses and a donation to the charities. These can be purchased from the Tourist Information Centre on Gaol Lane, along with raffle tickets (raffle tickets can be purchased with cash only). Raffle tickets can also be bought on the night. The following week, on Wednesday 25th, we see Sudbury take part in The Great British Spring Clean - a nationwide litter picking campaign by Keep Britain Tidy. All are invited to join The Mayor, Councillors, Council Officers, local schools and more, as we clean the streets of Sudbury, one piece of litter at a time. All equipment will be provided and you can join by simply meeting outside of Sudbury Town Hall between 10-10:15am, for a 10:15am start. Just 3 days later, on Saturday 28th March, over 50 local charities and not-for-profit organisations come together over two iconic Sudbury venues, Sudbury Arts Centre and the Town Hall, as we see the return of Sudbury on Show. Here you will be able to find out about an array of different organisations and groups including art classes, sports clubs, crafting groups, gardening clubs, baby groups, local charities plus many more and find out how you can get involved, whether it's joining as a member or donating your time as a volunteer. There will also be a new addition to the event this year, with free arts and crafts activities for children being held in the Town Hall. The event is free of charge and hot drinks and snacks are available to purchase in the café in Sudbury Arts Centre. Give your March a real community feel and come along to what you can.

Following the success of Mayor, Andy Welsh's, last charity fundraiser at Ballingdon Valley, where £850 was raised for his chosen charities, he is now looking forward to hosting his next event. Ballingdon Valley present a cheque for £850 for the Mayor's charities, raised at their restaurant when they hosted the Mayor's last charity event in October last year. On Tuesday 17th March at 6:30, the Mayor invites you to join him in a wine tasting and cheese evening, in the Town Hall Assembly Room. Here you will test a variety of 6 different wines, all carefully paired with some beautiful cheeses. Not only that, you will also be able to buy tickets for the charity raffle, full of amazing donated prizes from both local businesses and residents. Tickets for the event are just £25 and include not only your wines and cheese, but also a donation to Prostate Cancer UK and Sudbury Defibrillators, of at least £5. So join the Mayor to eat, drink, donate and hopefully win! Tickets for the event, as well as raffle tickets, are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Gaol Lane. Raffle tickets are £1 each or 5 for £4 - please note that these are cash only . Your event tickets can be paid by card. We would like to say a big thank you to all who have generously donated prizes so far, including, Sudbury Tesco, Lumen Hire, Roy's of Sudbury, Lipstick & Locks, Sudbury Learning Centre, Painters @ The Angel, Gainsborough House, Clarkes Bakery & Sudbury AFC. If you would like to donate a prize to the charity raffle, please e-mail info@sudbury-tc.gov.uk or drop into the Tourist Information Centre on Gaol Lane.

Sudbury Town Council Releases 2025 Gift Guide featuring the town’s Independent Business community For the first time, Sudbury Town Council is proud to unveil their Christmas Gift Guide 2025 – a beautifully designed and comprehensive booklet which aims to help residents and visitors alike discover the best of Sudbury’s independent shops and festive events this festive season. Available for free from the Tourist Information Centre on Gaol Lane, from a number of Sudbury’s independent businesses and viewable online at sudbury-tc.gov.uk/christmas ; the guide shines a spotlight on Sudbury’s independent businesses and is packed full of festive inspiration – from unique gift ideas and party venues to beauty and wellness spots to help you look and feel your best, plus a full line-up of community events to get everyone in the Christmas spirit – all whilst supporting the incredible diversity of businesses on our doorstep. Sudbury’s town centre comprises over 75% independent businesses, complimented by our much-loved market traders - many are family owned and run, all offering high quality items and experiences with something out there for everyone. The gift guide celebrates our vibrant town economy and aims to encourage residents and visitors to to explore Sudbury’s businesses. Spending locally really makes a difference - for every £1 spent at a local business, 63p stays in Sudbury’s economy, versus only 40p when shopping at multi-national retailers, so it’s important that we all prioritise shopping local if we want to keep Sudbury’s town centre unique. The Mayor of Sudbury, Cllr Andy Welsh Comments: “As Christmas approaches, we’re proud to celebrate the incredible variety of independent shops and traders that make Sudbury special, this catalogue is a brilliant guide to one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting the local businesses that are the heart of the community. By shopping locally, you’ll be helping Sudbury and its businesses thrive this Christmas and beyond!” In addition to gift inspiration, the guide features a full schedule of exciting events to get you in the Christmas spirit, including: The Sudbury Christmas Fair and Light Switch On – 28 th November 5pm – 9pm, Market Hill. Dickensian Christmas Guided Tour of Sudbury – 13 th December 11am-12:30pm, Tourist Information Centre. Sudbury Christmas Window Display Trail & Competition 2025. Copies will be available from the Tourist Information Centre, located in Gaol Lane, in participating shops across Sudbury and online. Pick up a copy and support the businesses that make Sudbury so special! Businesses featured: Sudbury Arts Centre, Imarri Kenattie's Crystals Catch N Collect Rewind Records The Wine Boutique

If you're heading into town on Saturday 11th October, be prepared to see more than your usual familiar faces, as we are being joined by some very special guests. To celebrate the 5th anniversary of Ray's Retro Classic Toys and Collectibles, Synergy Cosplay will be invading Sudbury with their range of fantastic characters and donation buckets, raising money for Autism Anglia. Will it be a Spidey Saturday? In addition to this, there will be a huge range of discounted items in Ray's Retro's, with anything priced £5 or over being discounted. 75 North Street Tony Byfield, who owns Ray's Retro with his brother, Steve, has said: Steve and I are so grateful for everyone's support over the past 5 years and we hope you will join us on the 11th. Donning your own costume in encouraged but whether you're in your Superman and Batman capes or Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne attire, pop down to Ray's Retro at 75 North Street, Sudbury, and get yourself a bargain - and a photo or two with a Superhero! Synergy Cosplay in some of their amazing outfits.

Friday 15th August 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of VJ day, when Imperial Japan surrendered in WWII, in effect bringing the war to an end. On this landmark anniversary, Sudbury Town Council, Sudbury Arts Centre and The Royal British Legion will be coming together to remember all of those who fought and lost their lives for our country, but also celebrating their memory. There will be a historical re-enactment, music in the form of a ukulele band and a sing-a-long, an informative talk at Sudbury Arts Centre and 1940's style snacks in the Mayor's parlour. The day will finish with a memorial service and the lighting of the beacon. All are welcome, and encouraged, to wear 40's themed clothes and the first 100 children to do so will receive a flag goody bag. The programme of events is as follows: 12:00pm - 2 minutes silence. 2:00pm - Opening announcements. 2:05pm - Chasin' Rainbows - Ukulele band. 2:30pm - Civic Party & Re-enactors arrive. 2:35pm - Deputy Mayor's speech and the Re-enactment begins. 2:55pm - National Anthem's, both UK & US. 3:00pm - Final announcements & introductions. 3:05pm - Chasin' Rainbows - Ukulele band. 3:30pm - Jaclyn Byham leads the sing-a-long. 4:00pm - Mayors Parlour open to the public for 40's style snacks. 6:00pm - David Williams talk & presentation at Sudbury Arts Centre. 8:00pm - VJ Day 80 memorial service at St Gregory's Church. 9:00pm - Lighting of the beacon. Timings are approximate. The 6pm talk is free but does need to be booked - scan the QR code on the poster to secure your spot.

Today's the day. Whether you wait for this day all year with plans already in place, or you're facing a long 6 week's ahead with no idea what you're going to do, the school Summer holiday's have officially started. Panic not! Along with our historic water meadows, the beautiful Belle Vue Park and our fab and free Talbot Trail, there is plenty to do right here in Sudbury. We have selected a few of our favourites that we have seen to inspire you and channel your inner Mary Poppins! Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! 1: Located on North Street, Finnegans Whiskers is home to 7 friendly felines: Peanut, Bootsy, Ziggy, Olive, Sinbad, Biscuit and Pip! Finnegan's general admission requirements are that you are aged 8 and above but after trialling a few under 8's Family Sessions recently with success, they are opening their doors to their younger guests again several times over the holidays. At just £8.50 a session and the options of many delicious drinks and snacks, including Vegan and Gluten Free options, this is a great way to spend an hour. Booking is essential so head over to finneganswhiskers.co.uk 2: One of the most well-known locations in Sudbury, The Quay Theatre is kicking off the Summer Holidays with a family friendly show - Robin Hood. Presented by DOT Productions, the show is filled with memorable characters, songs, silliness and smiles. Fun for all at just £11 a ticket. Book at quaysudbury.com 3: Making good use of Sudbury Sports Centre on Tudor Road, Skate Happy is bringing roller skating fun to the town. Hosting not one but two holiday fun skates, they are also offering buy one get one free on tickets and we all love a BOGOF! So head over to their website to book either the Sunday 27th July or the Sunday 10th August session, both 2:30pm-5pm, for just £7.50 for two. Bring your own skates or hire them from Skate Happy for £1. Skates also need to be reserved. Skatehappy.co.uk 4: Rainbow Fun have teamed up with Sudbury Market favourite, Add A Bit Of Jazz Personalisation. This dream team are bringing not just entry to the play frames but a Croc charm bracelet party where your little ones can pick their own bracelet and decorate it with 4 charms of their choosing. The price of £8 per child includes all of this plus a free fruit shoot. Visit the Facebook page to book - facebook.com/rainbowfunsudbury 5: Sudbury's artistic Son, Thomas Gainsborough, is sharing his love for art with the children of Sudbury every Tuesday. Tom's Tuesday's run throughout the summer holidays and offer a different workshop each time. There are 2 sessions per day that last 2 hours each and cost just £5 per child with up to 2 accompanying adults. Not only that, but collect a voucher on your visit and your child eats for free in The Watering Place cafe when purchased alongside an adult's meal. What's not to like? Booking essential at gainsborough.org 6: When you just want a little time to sit back with a coffee or a bite to eat and watch your kids play, head to Painters at The Angel. Not only do they do a lovely array of hot and cold food including Vegan and GF options but you can now enjoy this in the garden while your children release some energy on the outside play frame. If the weather's not allowing outside fun, there is an activity table inside with games, books and colouring. There is also a build your own breakfast option just for children but if your child is a fussy eater, Painters at The Angel are more than happy for you to bring your own food for them. To view their menu head to paintersattheangel.co.uk 7: Have a child aged 9 or above that loves art? Lia Sconcia of Lia's Art For Wellbeing is holding workshops on several dates over the summer holidays at Esquire's coffee on Market Hill. These will be in groups of no more than 8 and all materials are included for £12 per session. No experience is necessary and it's a great excuse to grab yourself a coffee while your budding Gainsborough let's out their creative side. Head over to facebook.com/liasartforwellbeing for more information. 8: This year we commemorate VJ Day on it's 80th anniversary. The Town Council are working alongside Sudbury Arts Centre to bring you a way to remember, commemorate and celebrate. From 1940's sing-alongs, a ukulele band, commemorative talks and even 1940's theme snacks in the Mayor's Parlour, this will be a great family-friendly day out, ending with the lighting of the Beacon at The Croft. There is an extra little treat for the first 100 children dressed up in their best 40's attire - a bag with a flag and other small goodies. sudbury-tc.gov.uk/vjday80 Make it a Sudbury Summer.

If you've found yourself standing outside Greggs on your lunch break this week only to remember it's closed for refurbishment, don't panic! This is the perfect time to discover, or re-discover, the incredible local cafés on your doorstep. We've listed some of our favourite spots to satiate our sweet and savoury cravings in Sudbury below: Sudbury Arts Centre – St Peter’s Church, Market Hill Enjoy hot drinks and cake in a beautiful 12 th  Century former church, with seating inside and out and a lovely view over the market place. Gainsborough Coffee House – 3 Gainsborough Street Serves locally roasted coffee, breakfasts, sandwiches and more, to eat in or take away. The Watering Place – 47 Gainsborough Street Sandwiches, scones and more with a lovely outdoor area at Gainsborough’s House. David’s – 51-52 Gainsborough Street Provides relaxation and daily news over a great coffee, breakfast or lunch, for those seeking peace and quiet. Painters @ The Angel – 43 Friars Street Breakfast, cream teas and home baked cakes with locally sourced ingredients. Vegan and GF choices. Aunty Ree’s – Unit 3, 101 East Street A delicious range of home baked cookies and cakes as well as some tempting desserts and shakes. Bishops Coffee – Unit 5, 101 East Street Not just great coffee, but hand made bagels fresh from the oven as well as paninis, toasties and pastries, in a lovely botanical themed setting. Twenteaone – 21 North Street A cosy and comfortable café with indoor and outdoor seating, offering hot and iced drinks, breakfasts, lunches and more, with the added bonus of a lovely deli on site. The Barista’s Shed – 83 North Street Coffee to die for, delicious cake and custard tarts with a warm and friendly welcome and atmosphere. Their selection of delicious coffee can also be bought to brew at home. Joe’s Sandwich Shop – 86 North Street Home made cakes as well as sandwiches and French baguettes filled with the freshest ingredients alongside a selection of hot drinks.   Dinky Treats – 3 King Street Serving hot sausage rolls and pasties alongside their selection of delicious desserts and pick n' mix. Huffers Café Restaurant – 32 King Street Family friendly café/restaurant offering hot breakfasts and lunches alongside a selection of sandwiches, omelettes and the biggest jacket potatoes around. Additionally, Clarkes Bakery will be opening their doors soon as a newcomer to the Sudbury highstreet. Keep your eyes peeled for their shop at 84 North Street when they open!

Starting off as a mobile coffee trailer that visited local markets and events, including Sudbury’s own market, The Barista's Shed expanded into a small unit on Gaol Lane in April 2023 , before settling in at 83 North Street earlier this year. Jos é and Joana have truly transformed the space into a cosy coffee lover’s haven. Writing to Sudbury Town Council, Jos é reflects on the physical evolution of his business: " In June 2021 we've launched our mobile coffee business in Sudbury Market, bringing quality coffee and looking to foster a relationship with the local community . This helped us to build a loyal customer base and gather insights into customer preferences.  By April 2023, the demand for our coffee drinks and beans led us to open a small coffee shop in Gaol Lane. This location allowed us to create a cosy atmosphere and strengthen the relationship with customers whilst expanding our coffee beans offerings which we've started roasting onsite.   Now in March 2025, our dream culminated in a bigger coffee shop & roastery on the high street. This vibrant new space aims at not only showcasing our dedication and passion to quality with freshly roasted coffee but also to serve as a community hub where locals (and non locals) can gather, socialise and enjoy a great cup of coffee. " From Latte to Americano, Cappucino to Cortado, The Barista's Shed is the perfect spot for your caffeine fix. Sit back and relax to the soundtrack of carefully curated vinyl records as you sip on your freshly prepared coffee – and that’s not all you can experience here! The Barista's Shed also roast their coffee beans in house, and you can pick up a bag in store, or subscribe online to get 2 bags (227g) of freshly roasted coffee delivered to your doorstep every month. Fancy yourself a coffee expert? You can expand your knowledge with The Barista Shed’s coffee roasting experience. You’ll receive a tasting flight of coffee with different roasting methods, learn about how the beans are roasted, and leave with a free bag of coffee! As part of this spotlight feature, we reached out to The Barista's Shed with some questions to provide further insight into their business. How has your business evolved since you first opened? Since moving to a bigger space on the high street, our business has experienced great evolution. This prime location has attracted more customers, expanding our reach and introducing our products to a wider audience. This larger space allowed us to create a more inviting atmosphere with more seating and a cosy ambiance that encourages customers to linger and socialise. Our presence on the high street has helped strengthened ties with the local community   How would you describe your business in 3 words?  Welcoming. Passionate. Community Do you have any particularly memorable moments you’ve experienced whilst working in Sudbury? Some of the most memorable moments we've experienced come from trading at Sudbury Market. From the very beginning we've experienced first hand the spirit of community and support the other traders and the locals extended to us by welcoming us with warmth and creating an atmosphere of collaboration. All the meaningful experiences and the genuine connections forged at Sudbury Market have made it not just a trading place, but  a vibrant community hub that we still feel part of and that we will always cherish as a pivotal part of our journey. Finally, do you have any exciting news or events coming up? Coffee & Live Music Morning with Tim Hackford on the 10th of July 11am-1pm (Free entry). More Coffee & Music mornings coming up, dates TBC.  Coffee Roasting Experience (Tickets for sale. More info available on the website) on the 19th of October and 23rd November 10am-1pm.  Have you tried the coffee from The Barista's Shed? Why not leave a review on Google to share your feedback? Or support them by dropping them a follow on social media using the links below.