Arts and Crafts Fair
Come and buy directly from some of the best designer-makers in the UK at Blackthorpe Barn, listed in the “10 Christmas crafts fairs to get you in the festive spirit” by the Crafts Council UK.
Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
14th – 15th Nov
10:00 – 16:00
21st – 22nd Nov
10:00 – 16:00
28th – 29th Nov
10:00 – 16:00
5th – 6th Dec
10:00 – 16:00
12th – 13th Dec
10:00 – 16:00
Where:
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Entrance from the main car park, opposite the walkway to the overflow car parks.
MapPricing:
Day tickets:
Advance (Online) £2.50
On the door £3.00
Age 15 and under free
Season ticket (entry for all 10 days):
Advance (Online) £10
On the door £12
Age 15 and under free
Quality craftsmanship in a charming medieval barn
** The 2026 Application Form is now available.
This event is an amazing five weekends celebrating some of the best artisan crafts from across the country. The festive, unspoilt 16th century Barn is filled with talented, independent makers selling their own handcrafted work directly to visitors.
We are proud to have been showcasing art and craft as part of Christmas on Rougham Estate for over 30 years, starting in 1991.
Each designer-maker is carefully selected to ensure quality and to provide the ultimate eclectic mix of pieces to enjoy.
This year there are many new makers alongside some popular regulars, each with intriguing pieces for sale. The mix of makers changes each weekend, so there is always something new to see each time you visit.
The Art and Craft Fair is only open at the weekends to allow the makers time during the week to practise their craft and make their wares.
The modest entrance price, compared to similar craft shows, distributes the costs of maintaining the ancient barn and hosting the event here, directly benefiting the makers by ensuring reasonable stall-holder fees. Children aged 15 and under are admitted free of charge.
Only assistance dogs are allowed in the Arts and Crafts Fair.
Here are some clips from Arts&Crafts in 2024:
Tickets bought on the door cost more than tickets bought online
Tickets and Details for each weekend
MEET THE MAKERS
Every independent designer-maker is thoughtfully selected, ensuring both the quality of their work and a wide range of pieces crafted for your enjoyment. All the makers will be personally present, ready to meet visitors and engage in conversations about the inspiration behind their wonderful creations.
Discover an array of crafts ranging from weaving, ceramics, glassware and metalwork, wood creations, natural beauty products, leather items, jewellery, books, foods, baskets and much more. These beautiful items for home and garden are perfect for gifting or perfect for keeping yourself.
Makers’ Grid 2026
- See which makers are coming to Arts and Crafts at Blackthorpe Barn this year by using the grid below. Makers are still being added as the application process proceeds.
- Sort the makers by the Week that they are at the Barn, or by Craft, or search by Name in the Search box, by using the controls at the top of the grid.
- Find out more about Featured Makers, marked with the tag “Featured”, by clicking on their name or picture.
Makers’ Grid for 2026
Gallery
Rougham Estate really understand Art & Crafts”
– JH
We bought a season ticket and attended each and every arts and crafts weekend. Well worth the money and a fantastic event. Thank you to everyone for all the hard work.”
– KM
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.
What others say
2026 ARTS & CRAFTS APPLICATION
If you want to apply for the 2026 Arts&Crafts at Rougham Estate, held in Blackthorpe Barn, please fill in the online application form.
NEVER MISS A THING
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For these glorious late summer days you can find some fabulous brunch specials at Roots Café this week.
Choose from the venison burger or the salad:
Rougham Estate venison burger with brie, smoked aioli and salad in a ciabatta bun served with coleslaw and fries.
Maple-roasted pumpkin, flame-grilled sumac, red pepper, radichio leaves, rocket, feta and pumpkin seeds topped with a spiced plum and orange dressing.
Don’t miss them – they’re only available this week.
Good food, good location, good weather… and the full menu is available every day.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you!
#roughamestate #burystedmunds #rootscaferougham #suffolkfoodie
Last chance to book your place on our Wild Weave Workshop…
If you’ve been thinking about trying something new, this could be the perfect opportunity to spend a day working with natural materials and learning a new skill.
Join textile artist Caroline Hyde-Brown at Blackthorpe Barn and create your own unique piece of wild art using woven grasses and freshly grown flowers. You’ll work with a mini hand-held loom and take your finished creation home with you.
It’s suitable for complete beginners as well as those who already enjoy crafting.
When:
Saturday 26 September
10am–4pm
£70 per person
The Meadow Room, Blackthorpe Barn
Places are limited, so if you’ve been meaning to book, now’s the time!
You can find out more on the link in our bio #WildWeave #WildWeaveWorkshop
ArtWorks @artworkseast is entering its second weekend, and then there’s just one more week to visit.
If you haven’t been yet, now is the time. Over 300 original works by 28 established East Anglian artists are on show at Blackthorpe Barn, including paintings, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media and more. All of it available to buy and all of it made by artists who know their craft.
Come and browse at your own pace, meet the artists in person, watch them at work and find something that speaks to you. You can find the list of which artists are demonstrating each day on the @artworkseast website.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply someone who loves great art, there’s plenty here to discover and inspire you.
Open daily until Sunday 27th September
10am – 4pm
Blackthorpe Barn on Rougham Estate – SatNav IP30 9HZ
Free entry and free parking
Roots Café next door and the Rougham Estate Lifestyle Shop
Walks around the Estate (see the Rougham Estate website for details)
See you soon!
#EastAnglianArtists #SuffolkArt #BuryStEdmunds #OriginalArt #RoughamEstate
Throwback Thursday to the beginning of one of the biggest projects we’ve undertaken at Blackthorpe Barn.
Back in February, the scaffolding and hoarding started going up as we began the full rethatching of this incredible 16th-century building.
It was quite a sight to see the work get underway, with around 12 highly skilled thatchers spending around 40 days carefully renewing the roof using traditional techniques.
Blackthorpe Barn has been part of Rougham Estate for more than 500 years and remains a real icon of the Estate. Today, it continues to be at the heart of what we do, currently hosting the Artworks East exhibition and in November, transforming into one of our biggest Christmas events, with our much loved Christmas Shop and Arts & Crafts Fair.
So while the thatching may be a traditional craft, the Barn certainly has plenty of life left in it now.
Here’s a little look back at where the rethatching journey began.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #Rethatching
Today is exactly 100 days until Christmas!
Although here at Rougham Estate, Christmas arrives a little sooner…
Our Christmas Shop opens on Monday 19 October, bringing plenty of festive treats, beautiful decorations and special finds to help make your home feel magical this Christmas.
And before the doors open to everyone, we’ll be hosting an exclusive afternoon shopping event on Friday 16 October for a limited number of Rougham Estate newsletter subscribers. It’s a chance to explore the Christmas Shop and buy before anyone else.
Want to be among the first to see what’s coming? Make sure you’re subscribed (on the bottom of our website pages) to hear the latest news and be in with a chance of joining us.
Christmas might be 100 days away, but the countdown at Rougham Estate has already begun!
#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #ChristmasShop #100DaysToChristmas
The recent rain has certainly been welcomed by the cattle on the Estate!
After a long, dry summer, the grass is getting a much needed boost and is starting to green up again, giving the cattle plenty to enjoy.
It’s always good to see the Estate responding to a change in the weather and nature getting back to doing what it does best.
#RoughamEstate #EstateLife #SuffolkFarming
Still clinging on to summer? We’ve got a special for you.
Our salad of the week is a fresh green bean salad with pecans, feta, spinach, red onion, sumac and micro coriander, all finished with a honey mustard dressing.
Or perhaps you’re already feeling a little more autumnal?
Our brunch special is a little more comforting, with crispy potatoes coated in caramelised onion jam, topped with fried halloumi, a poached egg, chilli flakes and parsley.
Whichever season you’re in, we’ve got something for you at Roots Café this week.
#RoughamEstate #RootsCafe #WeeklySpecials
Rougham Pumpkins opens again in 3 weeks! Yes, it’s that time again. 🎃🎉
The pumpkins are already looking great and the gates will be swinging open on Saturday 3rd Oct.
Save the date to come and wander amongst 100,000s of pumpkins, squashes and gourds in over 15 varieties.
You’ll find a whole autumn festival with the big bale pyramids, sandpits, pedal tractors, football goals, space to run and play and face painting by @faceitfaceart
These fabulous food trucks will be here every weekend:
🌮🌯🥞☕️🍰🥘🍦🥂🍗
Roots&Co – coffee, cakes, snacks, drinks (soft & alcoholic)
@whatthe_peck – Suffolk-reared fried chicken
@badboiburritos – toasted burritos
@Pigs_In – all your pork favourites
@GeeGeeBakes – coffee, cheesecakes, milkshakes
@KiernansCoffee – coffees, drinks & snacks at the Pitch in the Patch
@FullThrottleCoffeeCo – coffees & snacks
On selected days:
@Tikka_Tonic – New Delhi style street food
@TheCreperieShack – sweet & savoury crepes
@itsotisbreading – sourdough toasties & salads
@greyscoffee_ – coffees & homemade bakes
Bring your own picnic if you like.
🔦 Pumpkins by Torchlight & Silent Disco
On two spooky Saturday evenings, 17th & 24th October, 6pm–9pm, bring your torches, wear your wellies and enjoy the pumpkin patch after dark with a silent disco.
Disco headsets need to be booked – tickets coming soon.
🧡 SEN-Friendly Sessions
9am-10am on Tues 27th & Thurs 29th October, entry to the patch will be ticketed to give a quieter time for those who benefit from a calmer, more relaxed visit.
Free tickets to be booked in advance – tickets coming soon.
📅 Open on the following dates in October
9am–5pm
Sat 3 – Sun 4
Sat 10 – Sun 11
Sat 17 – Sun 18
Daily Sat 24 – Sat 31 (10am-5pm on 27th & 29th)
‼️The pumpkins are in the NEW Sunflower and Pumpkin Field, south of J45, A14, Elderstub Lane, SatNav: IP30 9HX
📣 We’re looking for seasonal staff aged over 18. Apply through the advert on Indeed.
🐕 Dogs welcome in the picnic area and the small doggy patch, but not in the main patch.
All the details from our website – link in bio.
#roughamestate #burystedmunds #pickyourownpumpkin
Tag us @RoughamEstate
