UK’s Smallest Pub Goes to Japan

The UK’s smallest pub, The Nutshell in Bury St Edmunds, will be recreated inside Hankyu, the Hankyu Japanese department store in Osaka as part of the two-week British Fair which runs from 7 to 19 October.

The initiative came about after Hankyu approached Bury St Edmunds and Beyond, the town’s official tourism brand, operated by Our Bury St Edmunds BID. The BID then coordinated with The Nutshell Pub, The Angel Hotel and Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides to showcase the town at the British Fair.

Measuring just 15ft x 7ft (4.5m x 2.5m) the historic pub is home to curiosities dating back some 400 years. Searching for something very different to offer their customers, it appealed to the Japanese during a visit to the town because of its uniqueness and bizarre stories associated with its past.

The Nutshell is being recreated to the exact same size including many of its iconic memorabilia. Landlord Jason Mealey will be flying out to Japan to welcome visitors at the pub throughout the first week.

The Japanese organisers also wanted to offer British Fair visitors a taste of the traditional British Afternoon Tea. During the Fair’s second week, Bury St Edmunds town centre’s Angel Hotel will be working Hankyu Department Store to offer sweet treats associated with Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. The Angel serves a year-round Pickwick Afternoon Tea and a festive A Christmas Carol Tea, created in honour of Charles Dickens, who stayed at The Angel and featured both the hotel and the town in The Pickwick Papers.

Bury St Edmunds tour guide, John Saunders, will be hosting The Angel’s pop-up stand, where he will be on hand talking about Bury St Edmunds and encouraging British Fair visitors to discover the town for themselves.

John will also join Tamao Sako, owner of The British Pudding Company, on stage at the Fair’s ‘Talk Show’. An adviser to the Hankyu British Fair, Tamao is often referred to as the Julia Child of Japan and regularly visits the UK in search of the best local, traditionally made products and the stories behind them. Together, they will showcase The Angel’s cakes and puddings – a fitting taste of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk’s Foodie Capital.

In addition, John will give his own presentation on Bury St Edmunds as a visitor destination, highlighting its rich history, heritage, food and attractions.

Sue Warren Head of Marketing, Our Bury St Edmunds and Bury St Edmunds and Beyond brands said: “This is a fantastic opportunity and a great honour for us to work with a leading brand in Japan placing our small town on the international stage. We anticipate it will encourage more visitors to Bury St Edmunds and Hankyu Travel International are currently planning a new tour to Suffolk and the town which will be announced at the Fair.”

Yukiya Matsunaga, Event Planning Manager at Hankyu Department Store, said: “It is a genuine pleasure to have the opportunity to showcase the charm and character of Bury St Edmunds at this year’s Hankyu British Fair. Few towns capture the spirit of English heritage as vividly as Bury St Edmunds, and sharing its stories with visitors in Japan feels both meaningful and exciting. Among its many treasures, two places stood out as essential to feature: The Nutshell and The Angel. The Nutshell, celebrated as one of the smallest pubs in Britain, embodies the warmth, intimacy, and quirky humour that define so much of English pub culture. The Angel, with its rich literary history and elegant Georgian architecture, offers a contrasting yet complementary perspective—one that reflects the town’s sophistication, creativity, and long-standing cultural significance.

“My visit to Bury St Edmunds left a lasting impression. Walking through its historic streets, I was struck by the harmony between past and present: medieval abbey ruins beside lively markets, traditional shops alongside modern cafés, and a community that clearly cherishes its heritage while embracing new ideas. The town’s atmosphere is welcoming and quietly proud, inviting visitors to slow down, explore, and appreciate the details that make it unique. Whether enjoying a moment inside The Nutshell, wandering through the Abbey Gardens, or stepping into The Angel’s storied lounge, I felt a deep sense of connection to the place and its people.

“By presenting Bury St Edmunds at the Hankyu British Fair, I hope to convey not only its beauty but also the spirit that makes it unforgettable. It is a town of character, history, and heart—and sharing it with a new audience is truly an honour.”

Diogo Abreu, General Manager Gough Hotels said: “We’re delighted that Bury St Edmunds will be represented at the British Fair in Japan, giving us a wonderful opportunity to share a little of our town’s rich history and hospitality with visitors on the other side of the world. At The Angel Hotel, we’re especially pleased to be bringing our Pickwick Afternoon Tea sweet treats to the fair, in partnership with The British Pudding Co. Named in honour of Charles Dickens, who was a frequent visitor to Bury St Edmunds and The Angel, the hotel itself is also mentioned in The Pickwick Papers, making this a particularly special connection to celebrate.

“We hope our Pickwick sweet treats will offer visitors a delicious taste of Bury St Edmunds, while sharing a small piece of The Angel’s fascinating literary heritage and story with Japan,” concluded Diogo.

John Saunders tour guide and marketing officer, Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides said:

“It is a real privilege for me to be able to talk to people at the Fair about Bury St Edmunds and explain the guided tours that they can take if they visit.  It will be nice to be there when The Nutshell and Angel Hotel are featured and I will do my best to support them and our local economy.  Having always wanted to visit Japan, I thought that I had left it too late but sometimes dreams do come true!”

Geoff Page, Landlord of The Nutshell (along with Jason Mealey), said: “As the landlords and custodians of Britain’s smallest pub we’re immensely proud to represent Bury St Edmunds. The great British pub is a pillar of British culture and we look forward to introducing this to Japan.”

Around a quarter of a million visitors are expected to attend the British Fair which runs from 7 to 19 October (closed Tuesdays) including various dignitaries from Japan and the UK.

More information about Bury St Edmunds things to see and do and where to stay can be found on www.burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk. For more details about Hankyu and the British Fair visit https://website.hankyu-dept.co.jp/honten/h/britishfair/.

With a bar that measures just 15ft by 7ft, The Nutshell proudly holds the title of smallest pub in Britain as confirmed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Located in the heart of the historic Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, The Nutshell has been proud to serve customers jostling for a place at the bar since it first started serving beer as a beerhouse in 1867.

Now a major tourist attraction for local and worldwide visitors, The Nutshell continues the tradition of serving some of the region's finest ales, and providing a bar not just full of customers, but interesting historical items, photos and memorabilia. From a mummified cat and currency notes on the ceiling to historical photos, military items and a plane propeller on the walls there is much to view and talk about while you enjoy a drink.

This Georgian ivy clad AA Red Star* boutique hotel and restaurant in Suffolk surprises with a twist of urban chic. Our Suffolk hotel is right in the centre of Bury St Edmunds town centre and everything is just a step from here.

Explore winding, cobbled, shop filled streets and a plethora of ancient architecture on the doorstep. Once inside, the Angel Hotel is a curious contrast of comfy contemporary design with touches of exotic grandeur.

Warm leather sofas vie for your company in the lounge, which is filled with curiosities, pop art, eccentric oddities and cool vintage furniture.

It is a hotel of many different aspects all artfully blended together into an exciting package and the bedrooms are no exception. The Angel Eaterie restaurant has a great reputation and dining here is a culinary treat.