Suffolk &amp; Cambs


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magic-playground">Magic playground </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2315" height="1019" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Sketch-of-The-Ember-Den-area-at-Guildenacre-at-Helmingham-Hall.png" alt="Helmingham Hall new playground" class="wp-image-47199" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Sketch-of-The-Ember-Den-area-at-Guildenacre-at-Helmingham-Hall.png 2315w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Sketch-of-The-Ember-Den-area-at-Guildenacre-at-Helmingham-Hall-800x352.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Sketch-of-The-Ember-Den-area-at-Guildenacre-at-Helmingham-Hall-1000x440.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Sketch-of-The-Ember-Den-area-at-Guildenacre-at-Helmingham-Hall-400x176.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Sketch-of-The-Ember-Den-area-at-Guildenacre-at-Helmingham-Hall-1536x676.png 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Sketch-of-The-Ember-Den-area-at-Guildenacre-at-Helmingham-Hall-2048x901.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2315px) 100vw, 2315px" /></figure>



<p>Big woodland magic coming to <a href="https://guildenacre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helmingham Hall</a>. This summer sees the arrival of Guildenacre, a brand-new adventure playground tucked into four acres of estate woodland near Stowmarket. Designed by the seriously impressive CAP.CO, it’s an immersive, story-led play space where children follow whispers of gold, meet four guardian animals and explore their habitats, from forest floor to treetop. There’s proper hands-on fun built in, plus thoughtful learning touches like trail sheets and stamp stations, all anchored by the mythical Whispering Oak Tree. Expect mud on knees, imaginations running riot and parents secretly wanting a go too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-the-room">Read the room</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/05/red-lion-1-1000x667.png" alt="The Debenham Lion" class="wp-image-44473" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/05/red-lion-1-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/05/red-lion-1-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/05/red-lion-1-400x267.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/05/red-lion-1.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Over in Debenham, The Lion is leaning hard into its literary roots. The village has long punched above its weight on the bookish front and now the pub is launching a new series of intimate author conversations in its Great Hall. First up in March, local writer <a href="https://www.debenhamlion.com/event-details/literary-conversation-with-susan-owens" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Susan Owens</a> talks Constable’s Year. April brings Wainwright Prize winner James Aldred with A Wagon in the Forest, followed in May by historian Peter Caddick-Adams on Winston Churchill. Talks start at 6pm, questions encouraged, supper optional, books on sale courtesy of The Aldeburgh Book Shop and signatures very much part of the plan. Tickets are £5, which feels like a bit of a steal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-top-local-nosh">Top local nosh</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/02/lark-bury-st-edmunds.jpg" alt="Lark Bury St Edmunds" class="wp-image-38708" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/02/lark-bury-st-edmunds.jpg 1080w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/02/lark-bury-st-edmunds-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/02/lark-bury-st-edmunds-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/02/lark-bury-st-edmunds-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/02/lark-bury-st-edmunds-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></figure>



<p>And finally, the clink of glasses across Suffolk and Cambs as four local restaurants land places in <a href="https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/best/uk-top-100-restaurants_238" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SquareMeal’s UK Top 100</a> for 2026. Restaurant 22 in Cambridge, Lark in Bury St Edmunds, The Greyhound Inn at Pettistree and The Suffolk in Aldeburgh all made the cut, with two breaking into the top 30. The guide excludes London entirely, so this really is the spotlight swinging our way. Bookings about to get even trickier.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-classic-collections">Classic collections</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="2560" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/The-Saturday-Sale-scaled.jpg" alt="Cheffins sale event" class="wp-image-47200" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/The-Saturday-Sale-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/The-Saturday-Sale-640x800.jpg 640w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/The-Saturday-Sale-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/The-Saturday-Sale-320x400.jpg 320w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/The-Saturday-Sale-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/The-Saturday-Sale-1638x2048.jpg 1638w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure>



<p>One for the rummagers, collectors and quietly competitive bidders. <a href="https://www.cheffins.co.uk/saturday-interiors-sale-information.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cheffins</a> is taking its much-loved Interiors Sale into the weekend for the first time, with a Saturday auction landing on <strong>7 February</strong> at its Cambridge salerooms. Expect a broad, tempting mix of art, antiques, furniture, silver, ceramics, jewellery and decorative pieces, with estimates starting at £50 and topping out around £3,000. Founded back in 1825, the firm has been running fine art and antiques auctions for decades, but this shift from the traditional Thursday slot is all about opening the doors to a newer, younger crowd who can’t slip out midweek.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-have-your-say">Have your say</h2>



<p>Fancy opera between the shelves, dance by the returns desk or a bit of theatre tucked in beside the fiction? Cambridgeshire libraries are asking what you want to see next, as <a href="https://www.library.live/the-library-presents" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Library Presents</a> opens its annual public choosing process. Backed by Arts Council England and now eight years strong, the programme brings high-quality live music, theatre and dance into libraries across the county, with local people firmly in the driving seat. Until <strong>Monday 16 February</strong>, you can browse a menu of more than 50 possible performances online or in participating libraries and pick up to six you’d love to see land locally. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boutique-opening">Boutique opening</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Feb-Guide-Suffolk-8.png" alt="Ivy Bone Bridal, Ely" class="wp-image-47202" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Feb-Guide-Suffolk-8.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Feb-Guide-Suffolk-8-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Feb-Guide-Suffolk-8-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Feb-Guide-Suffolk-8-400x267.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>And one for the engaged diaries. <a href="https://www.bensyard.co.uk/ivy-bone-bridal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ivy Bone Bridal</a> is heading to Ben’s Yard, bringing a new luxury bridal boutique to the region. Opening early 2026, it promises a calm, beautifully considered space dedicated to contemporary, elegant wedding dresses and a genuinely personal experience. Think less pressure, more intuition, with a welcoming studio designed to make choosing your gown feel unhurried and special. If you’re getting hitched this year, this is one to bookmark now.</p>


Superflash! Have you heard the news from near you this week?

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