Visitors to a bustling market town bursting with food and drink establishments will be encouraged to enjoy the eateries during the traditionally quieter month of February.

Bury St Edmunds’ business group Ourburystedmunds is launching an initiative called Fab Feb Food Fest to raise the profile of the town’s food and drink businesses during next month.

Bury town centre boasts some 80 dedicated food and drink firms, with recent editions to the scene including Ben’s restaurant in Churchgate Street, 1921 on Angel Hill and Saints cafe and restaurant in Abbeygate Street now has new ownership and an oriental flavour.

Mark Cordell, chief executive of the Ourburystedmunds Business Improvement District (BID), said the group is liaising with businesses over what the festival should include, but the hashtag #FFFF would be used on Twitter and Instagram to promote the outlets.

He said the initiative was inspired by Tennerfest in Jersey during which diners can eat out for as little as £10.

Mr Cordell said: “Feedback from our businesses is February – with the exception of Valentine’s Day – is one of the quietest months of the year so we have done something to make sure 2015 gets off to a great start. More details will follow.”

Richard Bird, who runs Street Level cafe in Abbeygate Street with wife Jacqueline, supports the idea for Fab Feb Food Fest, and said February was traditionally quiet as people had “spent up” by then due to the festive period.

Mr Cordell said the festival would be very much about what individual businesses wanted to offer, rather than a prescriptive approach from the BID.

He is hoping there will be interaction with the public, and added people can submit restaurant reviews through the Ourburystedmunds website.

Last year, the EADT reported on Bury making its mark as a food and drink destination, with these establishments now accounting for almost 20% of town centre businesses.

As well as the Ourburystedmunds food and drink festival in August, the Whitsun Fayre, also run by Ourburystedmunds, also has a strong food and drink flavour, as does Greene King’s Summer Fest.

Previously, Mr Cordell said: “Thriving high streets are not just about shops – shops are an important part of it – but there’s got to be another attraction.”