Art and Craft at Blackthorpe Barn
Centre for showing and learning art and craft near Bury St Edmunds
Be Inspired
Blackthorpe Barn on Rougham Estate is a thriving centre for art and craft enthusiasts, providing a vibrant platform for local and regional talent. The Barn hosts inspiring exhibitions, transforming its space into a dynamic gallery to showcase a diverse range of artistic expressions.
Commitment to the arts extends beyond exhibitions, encompassing hands-on workshops taught by experienced tutors as well as the renowned Arts and Crafts Fair in November and December, attracting talented makers from around the country.
Craft Workshops
Come and discover the art of a traditional craft, perhaps for pure pleasure or to satisfy your creative aspirations. Take part in our in-person workshops in the Meadow Room at Blackthorpe Barn, where learning a new craft is a perfect stress-relieving remedy.
Led by skilled and artistic professionals, each workshop offers a delightful and relaxing learning experience in our rural Suffolk setting.
Upcoming Workshops
Art Exhibitions
The exhibitions at Blackthorpe Barn showcase a range of artistic disciplines, from contemporary pieces to traditional art forms, creating an inspirational and enriching experience for visitors.
The old thatched barn provides a unique location for both established and emerging artists, fostering a vibrant artistic community. The carefully curated exhibitions not only celebrate the beauty of art but also contribute to the cultural enrichment of the community, making Blackthorpe Barn a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts.
Forthcoming Exhibitions
There are currently no events to show. We’re working on adding some soon.
Arts and Crafts Fair
For over 30 years the Arts and Crafts Fair has been held at Blackthorpe Barn
- featuring textiles, ceramics, glassware, metalware, woodwork, beauty products, leather items, jewellery, basketry, food and much more
- held over 5 weekends during November and December
- showcasing some of the country’s most talented artists and craft-makers
- makers specifically chosen to ensure quality and a wide range of crafts
- each weekend features a new mix of creators and artists
Where to find us
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Plenty of free parking on site.
Please keep to the 20mph speed limit.
Disabled access available
This is a rural location and paths can be muddy.
The car parks close when Roots Café closes and the entrance gates are locked after this time.
Blackthorpe Barn is situated just south of Junction 45 of the A14, three miles east of Bury St Edmunds, in the village of Rougham.
Look out for the entrance gates to a long tree-lined avenue at the White House junction.
The Barn is down the avenue, on the right.
The Rougham Post
NEVER MISS A THING
Follow us on Instagram
What a lovely surprise to see Rougham Estate featured across three pages of @suffolkmag
The feature explores everything you can enjoy at Rougham over the Christmas season, from the Christmas shop at Blackthorpe Barn and our Arts & Crafts Fair to festive workshops and plenty of opportunities to make a day of your visit.
If you’d like to find out more, you can pick up a copy of Suffolk Magazine at Roots Café next time you visit.
It’s a lovely way to discover what’s happening across the Estate this Christmas. We look forward to welcoming you!
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #SuffolkMagazine #ChristmasAtRougham
From pumpkin picking and Halloween celebrations to welcoming our VIP guests and press for an exclusive first look at the Christmas shop at Blackthorpe Barn, October has certainly kept us busy.
We’ve enjoyed autumn in all its glory, celebrated some special milestones and now, with the Christmas shop open for another year, we’re ready to embrace the festive season.
There’s plenty more to look forward to, with our 35th Arts & Crafts Fair beginning on 14 November, alongside all the Christmas magic that makes this time of year so special at Rougham Estate.
Thank you to everyone who has visited us this month – we look forward to seeing you in November. Now, let the countdown to Christmas begin!
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #ChristmasInSuffolk
Just two weeks to go until our Arts & Crafts Fair returns to Blackthorpe Barn!
There’s something lovely about taking your time to wander around the Barn, discovering things you hadn’t expected to find and chatting to the people who have made them.
Whether you’re looking for a thoughtful Christmas gift, something beautiful for your home or simply a little inspiration, you’ll find plenty to explore.
Every maker has their own story, and with different exhibitors joining us each weekend, there’s always something new to discover so you may be tempted to visit more than once, our season ticket is just £10 online, giving you entry to all 10 days. Day tickets are £2.50 online, and children aged 15 and under go free.
We open on Saturday 14 November, 10am–4pm, with five weekends of makers and handmade treasures running through to 13 December.
Take a look at our website to explore the fair and book your tickets. We’d love to see you there.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #ArtsAndCrafts
UPDATE: And that’s a wrap for Rougham Pumpkins 2026!
It’s been such a great season, thanks in a great part to all our wonderful visitors. Thank you to everyone who has come and enjoyed their time here. 🎃🧡🎃
See you at Blackthorpe Barn for Christmas!🎄
It’s the last days of Rougham Pumpkins 2026 and there are still plenty of pumpkins left to be picked, so come along for one last visit!
We are open 9am-5pm on Thursday, Friday and the last day, Saturday 31st October, with gates closing at 4pm each day.
Come and pick your pumpkins from the patch right where they’ve been growing, with space to run and play games, climb bale pyramids, ride pedal tractors, play in sand pits, make memories and take lots of fabulous photos.
Face painting is available every day from @faceitfaceart
There are plenty of picnic benches and these wonderful food trucks are with us each day:
Roots&Co – burgers and toasties, crumble, cakes, drinks including a bar
@geegeebakes – cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@kiernanscoffee – coffees, drinks & snacks
@thecreperieshack – sweet & savoury crepes (Saturday 31st only)
Or bring your own picnic if you like.
We’ve had a great season despite the long dry summer, and it’s been excellent to welcome so many lovely visitors this year. Thank you for coming, for sharing your gorgeous photos and for all the kind comments. We love that you love coming here.
Don’t forget that Christmas is really getting into the swing over at Blackthorpe Barn half a mile away, with the Christmas Shop open every day already, Arts&Crafts open every weekend between 14th Nov-13th Dec in the glorious thatched barn, and our very own Christmas trees on sale from 20 Nov.
But now, for one last time:
🎃The pumpkins are just south of J45, A14 on Elderstub Lane. SatNav: IP30 9HZ
🎃Free entry, free parking, no booking needed
🎃Open 9am-5pm every day until 31st
🎃Find the golden pumpkin and win 1 barrow of pumpkins
🎃Well-behaved dogs welcome on a short lead in the picnic area and in a small area of the patch
All the details from our website.
See you at the patch for one last visit🧡🎃👋
#roughamestate #burystedmunds #suffolkevents #pickyourownpumpkin
Some Christmas presents are bought in a hurry. Others are discovered when you least expect them.
That’s part of the pleasure of visiting the Christmas shop at Blackthorpe Barn. You might arrive looking for a wreath or a few decorations and leave with a gift for someone special, a new addition to your own Christmas collection or an idea you hadn’t even considered.
With 25 years of Christmas shopping at Blackthorpe Barn behind us, we’ve had plenty of time to make this a seasonal tradition worth returning to.
So, if your Christmas list still has a few gaps, come and see what catches your eye. You never know what you might find.
Open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am–5pm, at Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #ChristmasShopping
New week, new dish…
Even better, new menu!
If you haven’t been in to try our new menu then you should! Try our pulled chicken – a beautiful combination of sweet and savoury together.
It’s different, but it’s delicious and one to look out for on the Roots Café menu. A delicious option for a relaxed brunch or a leisurely bite while visiting Rougham Estate.
Pair it with your favourite drink and enjoy a little time out at Blackthorpe Barn.
#RootsCafe #BrunchInSuffolk #RoughamEstate
Just 3 weeks to go until our Arts & Crafts Fair returns to Rougham Estate, at Blackthorpe Barn!
This year is extra special as we celebrate the 35th year of the fair, welcoming a wonderful selection of independent designer-makers from across the country for five weekends of beautiful handmade crafts.
Discover ceramics, jewellery, textiles, glassware, woodwork, baskets and so much more. Every maker is carefully selected, and you’ll have the chance to meet them in person and buy directly from the people who create their work.
Planning to visit more than once? Our season ticket offers fantastic value at just £10 online, giving you entry for all 10 days of the fair. Day tickets are £2.50 online, and children aged 15 and under go free.
Join us from Saturday 14 November, open 10am–4pm, across five weekends through to 13 December.
Find all the details, explore the makers and book your tickets on our website.
We can’t wait to welcome you!
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #ArtsAndCrafts
Not one, not two, but three!
On Thursday evening, Simon and Matt from our farming team collected three awards at the 2026 Suffolk Farm Business Competition at the Suffolk Agricultural Association Awards.
We were delighted to receive:
Third prize for Roots Café in Class 1: Best Farm Shop and Café.
Third prize for Rougham Estate Farms in Class 5: Farms of 50 hectares and over.
The Special Award for Best Farm Diversification, recognising the wider business at Rougham Estate.
These awards recognise the breadth of what we do here at Rougham against some very tough competition in the county – from our farming operations to the visitor experiences and businesses that sit alongside them.
We were also thrilled to see Rougham Primary School win the Schools Show Garden Competition who we proudly support by providing essential supplies, including compost, tools and wheelbarrows, helping pupils get hands-on with gardening and learn more about the natural world.
All in all, a very proud night and a fantastic team who deserve the recognition 🙌
#RoughamEstate #SuffolkFarming #RoughamPrimarySchool
Tag us @RoughamEstate
