Crafts are back at Blackthorpe Barn in 2021!
After a difficult year in 2020 when we were all affected by Covid-19, we had to take the crafts online, but it just wasn’t anywhere near the same amazing experience as usual. So, I am delighted to say that the Craft event is back at Blackthorpe Barn this year, as part of the Christmas at Blackthorpe Barn event in all its glory, and just in time to celebrate our 30th anniversary too!
We have assessed the barn and all its public spaces, made some sensible modifications and are now all set to go. We have relocated our lovely café, which was often so crowded, into the courtyard, using our old stockroom barn and a large heated marquee. We have transformed the stockroom barn into a really lovely café space that is suitable for all weathers, I am pleased to say that it is now open at weekends through much of the year. Next year we will be building a new larger café which will incorporate the current space, bringing together old and new in a charming way.
So, the Crafts… Moving the café means there is more space for the Crafts, perfect to give everyone more space as we have created more distance between the stalls. We believe this will help make stall holders and visitors more comfortable and confident. Many of our wonderful makers are back again and there are some new faces too – 2021 will be a vintage year at Blackthorpe Barn.
A further safety measure will be the control of visitor numbers. This will be achieved through the new option to book craft tickets and time of arrival online in advance (Season Tickets available now CLICK HERE). We will be encouraging all payments to be by card and there will be hand sanitiser available around the Barn complex too.
This is our 30th birthday and we plan to celebrate in style. We have commissioned a fantastic sculptural piece, made out of Rougham Estate oak. A magnificent old oak tree that we, unfortunately, had to fell to keep everyone safe, so we have decided to give it a new life as the centrepiece of our 30th birthday celebrations. We plan to formally unveil it during the first Craft weekend. Details are a secret at the moment, but I’m very excited about it, it will create a legacy sculpture for the Barn. Watch this space for more details!
So, Christmas at Blackthorpe Barn, alongside the wonderful Crafts 2021 will be a vintage year full of hope and joy as we celebrate 30 amazing and creativity-filled years and look forward to our next 30 years. We really hope that you will join us for what promises to be quite a party!
Can’t wait to see you there.
George Agnew, Owner Rougham Estate and Blackthorpe Barn
