Here at thebestof Bury we're committed not only to promoting the best of local business but also making sure the spirits of local people are high and while we're not massive fans of the cold winter either we can still come up with a few reasons to smile over the next few months. So instead of letting the weather get you down, embrace it! Wrap yourselves up and wish for snow, at least that way you can have a few cheeky snowball fights, bust out your sledge before everything turns to ice and everyone's terrified of stepping outside and build a snowman, before the rain comes and inevitably washes the poor guy away.

Father Christmas is coming! Whether you've been naughty or nice this year we're sure someone will pop a present under your tree, maybe a nice new pair of socks to brave the winter in, or if you're lucky a nice knitted jumper with a questionable reindeer print.

While a lot of people tend to wish the winter months away we find a good way to run down the time until the sun comes back (for a few days!) is a big old fashioned party! We're sure you're planning a big meal for the 25th, a turkey with all the trimmings, Christmas pudding with a healthy serving of brandy and enough trivial pursuit to make you glad you won't play it again for another year. However, office Christmas parties are very popular excuses for a knees up with workmates.

A lot of people choose to have a fancy dress party and if that's the case then we have just the thing for you! Here at the bestof we work closely with not one but 2 fancy dress shops.

UKCostumes4u.com have a fantastic range of fancy dress to buy from the comfort of your own home - with a huge range of quality costumes, for outfits for kids to adults. Anything from a popular film character to a traditional school girl, or boy!

But it's their range of Christmas outfits that are really going to fit the theme. With over 100 Christmas themed fancy dress ideas for kids and adults. Everything from Father Christmas to South Park's very own Mr. Hankey. So you can be as safe or as daring as you like!

And as a bonus you don't even have to leave your home to shop, everything you see on UKCostume's website is available to purchase there and then, meaning you get away with staying inside and avoiding the cold while you shop.

The other business we have is the well-established Jackie’s Fancy Dress who have been providing fancy dress to the people of Bury since as far back as 1989. The family-run business set up by Jackie is now owned by her daughter Andrina. And you can guarantee that they’ll go the extra mile to ensure you look as good as possible at that party!

Based in Radcliffe, a trip to Jackie’s will mean leaving your house this winter, but don’t worry it will be worth it as Andrina is always on hand to help you pick out the perfect costume and advise you on current trends so you don’t turn up at the party with 5 others Grinches!

And don’t worry about what you’re going to do with the costume after the party because all Jackie’s outfits are only available to hire, meaning they’re returned and laundered after every use. And with over 1000 costumes to hire you can be sure you’ll find the right one for you!

We hope that’s made the winter blues a little more bearable and that you’ve found some fantastic costume ideas to make sure your fancy dress party goes down a storm!