Tributes paid to Maria Broadbent, 56, who owned former Bury St Edmunds restaurant Casa

Tributes have been paid to a former Bury St Edmunds restaurateur and Bury Free Press food columnist who died suddenly last week.

Maria Broadbent, 56, was on holiday in Norway with her long-term partner Andy along with her eldest daughter and family when she was taken ill and died on January 2.

Maria owned Mediterranean restaurant Casa for many years, based first in St John’s Street before the eaterie moved to Risbygate Street in 2016. She was also former chairman of Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID).

After closing Casa in January 2023 Maria moved to the Midlands to be nearer her mother Gillian and eldest daughter Kristina, and adored grandchildren Fred, five, and Aurelia, two.

Maria’s younger daughter Anabelle Marison said one of her mum’s favourite pastimes was skiing.

“It seems right that she was on the mountain with the most beautiful view when she was taken ill. She had no idea it was happening and no pain and she fell asleep in the snow. She didn’t know and she was happy,” said Anabelle.

Maria grew up in Burton Joyce, near Nottingham. After leaving school, with the help of her mother she opened a haberdashery shop in the village. The shop later became a children’s wear store – with her daughters modelling during fashion shows – and then became a ladieswear shop called ‘Fatale...’.

In 2010 Maria moved to Gedding, first working for a member of the European Parliament and then MP Andrew Lansley. During this time she started doing some outside catering.

“Her dream was always to have a restaurant,” said Anabelle. “In 2013 mum and I were walking down St John’s Street when we saw an empty property. She said ‘shall we do it?’. Within weeks we had the keys and then we opened as Café Del Mar within another four weeks.”

The restaurant – an immediate success – later changed its name to Casa Del Mar before becoming Casa and moving to Risbygate Street in 2016.

“It was bursting at the seams because it was so popular,” said Anabelle. “Her food was incredible. She wrote all her recipes and spent hours tweaking them.”

After closing Casa Maria moved back to the Midlands.

Anabelle said: “Her family meant everything to her. She was sad to leave Bury but moving back to the Midlands meant she could spend more time with her grandchildren, her mother and sister Kathryn.”

Maria also opened a restaurant within a pub close to her new home, quickly becoming a part of the community.

“She was the happiest I have seen her for a long time. This past year, her face was always lit up,” said Anabelle.

As well as being a skilled chef, Maria was a talented seamstress and enjoyed playing tennis.

“Her determination was like nothing I have ever seen. Anything she set her mind to she achieved. She was a force to be reckoned with,” said Anabelle. “Mum was unique – one of a kind. She had so much energy and the kindest soul. She was the kindest of friends and warmest of mothers, lighting up any room she walked into with her smile.”

Describing her mum as a feminist, Anabelle said her mum brought her and Kristina up to be independent women.

“It was very important to her that we had all the tools in life to do what we wanted and she taught us from a young age that we could do anything. We believed that, we are both successful and we have her to thank.”

Mark Cordell, Our Bury St Edmunds chief executive, said he had the pleasure of knowing Maria for more than 10 years.

“She was one of the most entrepreneurial, enthusiastic, creative, innovative and hard-working business owners I have had the pleasure to work with,” he said. “She left Bury to start a new business and be nearer to her family and the fact she passed away while enjoying a family holiday seems to me to be appropriate.”