ROOTS CAFÉ
Nestled within the Estate’s picturesque surroundings, this comfortable café brings Suffolk’s finest to your table with a menu of locally-sourced dishes and refreshments.
TODAY’S OPENING TIMES
- Roots Café 09:00 – 16:00
Address
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham,
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
What3Words: ///newly.sofas.debating
ABOUT ROOTS CAFÉ
Welcome to our café, Roots, nestled in the heart of the Blackthorpe Barn complex on Rougham Estate.
With a storied history spanning decades, this location is a convenient out-of-town chill-out spot to meet up, a cosy gathering place for the community, now open throughout the year. For breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake, we hope Roots will become your go-to destination. Everyone is welcome: walkers, cyclists, families and dogs.
Open every day, including Bank Holidays
Reservations for groups of 8 or more only
Blackthorpe Barn is a step-free location with dedicated accessible parking near the entrance and two accessible toilets, one of which is in the cafe, and one in the courtyard.
Important Info
First come, First served
We operate on a first come, first served basis and only take reservations for groups of 8 or more.
Children
Come and visit as a family; there is a section on the menu specifically for children. Highchairs are available as well as a baby-changing unit.
Take-Away Available
Teas, coffees and cakes are available to take with you – perfect when taking the dog for a walk. Order at the front counter.
Dogs Welcome
Dogs are welcome in the café with a paws-on-the-floor policy and they will be welcomed with their own bowl of water.
Dietary Requirements
Vegans and vegetarians are catered for, and, whilst we do our utmost to accommodate dietary and allergy requirements, gluten, nuts and animal products are used in the kitchen.
We do stock gluten-free bread and serve some gluten-free dishes. Please ask if you have any queries when ordering.
Parking
There is plenty of free parking available, including accessible parking.
Reservations
Table reservations are only taken for groups of 8 or more. Please email rootscafe@roughamestate.com to make your booking. Your reservation is only confirmed once you receive a confirmation email.
For groups of over 10 people, we will ask you to pre-order, to help the kitchen.
Unfortunately we can’t take same-day bookings.
Download our Menus
Allergen Information
Please inform our waiting staff of any food allergies before ordering.
Our menu gives general guidance about ingredients which may affect those with food intolerance and allergies.
Please note, however, that our kitchen handles many types of food and drink each day and although we do our very best to avoid cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee this does not happen. Ultimately, the final choice about what to eat rests with you.
USING LOCALLY-SOURCED PRODUCE
The ambiance of Roots Café beautifully blends the rich history of Rougham Estate with a touch of modern, quirky elegance. Our eclectic decor echoes local stories, with pieces reflecting a unique chapter of the Estate’s tale.
But the attraction is not just visual; we bring Suffolk’s finest to your table with a menu of locally-sourced dishes and refreshments, showcasing the best seasonal ingredients as far as possible. Here’s a map of our lovely suppliers, with many products also available in the Roots Pantry Shop.
Food locality map
Roots Pantry Shop
A curated selection of locally-sourced food and drink, available to buy at the café, makes it easy for you to take the essence of Suffolk home with you.
From homemade preserves and honeys that capture the flavours of the region to handcrafted beers, locally-made cookies, doggie treats and much more, this little Pantry Shop provides a delicious touch of indulgence.
Discover our local honey
Gently made by bees gathering pollen from the lush meadows and vibrant blossoms of Rougham Estate, each jar encapsulates the harmony of the surrounding landscape.
Locally-brewed beer and distilled spirits
Buying local produce reduces the carbon-footprint, and these award-winning beers, ales and spirits are made right here in Suffolk.
Chocolates and sweets
If you’re looking for a little indulgence to take with you, we have chocolates, sweets, cookies and much more.
GALLERY
Comments
Where to find us
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Plenty of free parking on site
Please keep to the 5mph 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, with the Barn on the right of the avenue.
Blackthorpe Barn’s black and white signs direct visitors from local roads.
Keep your eyes peeled
Throughout the café there are surprises to be found, from wooden crows in the rafters to doves on the dovecote (yes, you can take your tea in the dovecote) to old photographs of Rougham Estate and other wonderful and poignant items. Many are old and from the Estate and others have been handcrafted especially for Roots Café.
Can you guess which is which? Can you work out how certain items relate to the Estate? You might like to look at the history of the Estate to get some clues. Enjoy looking around and seeing what you can spot – it’s great for a game of I-spy! Why not tag us in your photos (@roughamestate) when you find them – we love to see your pictures.
Questions?
Yes, dogs are welcome in Roots Café, with paws on the floor.
Yes, wheelchairs are welcome in Roots Café as well as everywhere else at Blackthorpe Barn. There is plenty of accessible parking near the entrance, as well as accessible toilets.
Have a look at the Ground Plan to see their locations
The tables are assigned on a first come, first served basis. If you are a group of 8 or more people, we can reserve a table for you. Please email rootscafe@roughamestate.com to make your booking. Your reservation is only confirmed once you receive a confirmation email.
Unfortunately we can’t take same-day bookings.
Yes, we accept both cards and cash at Roots.
Yes, we have the menus listed on this page.
We try to offer a range of dishes and foods that cover various dietary requirements including some dairy-free, gluten-free and nut-free items. Vegans and vegetarians are catered for, and, whilst we do our utmost to accommodate dietary and allergy requirements, gluten, nuts and animal products are used in the kitchen.
If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, please let us know before ordering so we can do our best to accommodate you.
We’re more than happy to answer any questions about our ingredients.
Yes, we have highchairs at Roots and children have their own menu too. You can find a baby-changing unit in café toilets.
These lovely pictures are of Rougham Estate in days gone by and wonderfully, some of the people pictured have even been to visit Roots since it opened. Rougham Estate has a very interesting history which you can read about on the Timeline page.
But of course!
The Potting Shed, Maintenance Shed and Dovecote are a real treat to sit in and enjoy your lunch or a spot of coffee and cake. It’s almost like taking a little holiday – you feel like you have been transported somewhere else.
Many of the items in or on the sheds have something to do with the history of Rougham Estate, such as the WWII plane over the dovecote which links directly to the bombing of Rougham Hall in 1940. You can read more about this in the history timeline.
While you’re here…
… why not enjoy one of the lovely walks around Rougham Estate? We have over 20 kilometres of public rights of way and an additional 5.5 kilometres of permissive rights of way granted by the Estate for further enjoyment, as well as some of our favourite routes mapped out for you. You can always start your walk with a coffee and end with a cake!
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If you’ve been to the Estate you will know we have lots of woodland with a remarkable collection of ancient and veteran oak and lime trees.
Many of these trees are hollow, with branches reaching down to the ground, showcasing their impressive age. They play a crucial role as habitats for thousands of species.
Currently, we’re conducting a survey to explore the diverse wildlife that inhabits these trees, including those near Blackthorpe Barn. We look forward to sharing the results with you this autumn! So watch this space!
#RoughamEstate #AncientTrees #WildlifeSurvey #NatureConservation #Ecology #Biodiversity #Oaks #LimeTrees #ExploreNature #AutumnDiscoveries #ProtectOurPlanet
If you’ve been to the Estate you will know we have lots of woodland with a remarkable collection of ancient and veteran oak and lime trees.
Many of these trees are hollow, with branches reaching down to the ground, showcasing their impressive age. They play a crucial role as habitats for thousands of species.
Currently, we’re conducting a survey to explore the diverse wildlife that inhabits these trees, including those near Blackthorpe Barn. We look forward to sharing the results with you this autumn! So watch this space!
#RoughamEstate #AncientTrees #WildlifeSurvey #NatureConservation #Ecology #Biodiversity #Oaks #LimeTrees #ExploreNature #AutumnDiscoveries #ProtectOurPlanet
Our brunch special for this week is…
Salted caramel apple churros, with almond crumble.
We anticipate this to be a sweet success! So why not treat yourself this bank holiday Monday??
#BrunchSpecial #SaltedCaramel #AppleChurros #AlmondCrumble #SweetSuccess #Foodie #BrunchLovers #GourmetTreat #Yummy #Foodstagram #RootsCafe #RoughamEstate
Our brunch special for this week is…
Salted caramel apple churros, with almond crumble.
We anticipate this to be a sweet success! So why not treat yourself this bank holiday Monday??
#BrunchSpecial #SaltedCaramel #AppleChurros #AlmondCrumble #SweetSuccess #Foodie #BrunchLovers #GourmetTreat #Yummy #Foodstagram #RootsCafe #RoughamEstate
Looking for something to do this half term?
Rougham Estate is the perfect spot whether you’re here for a gentle wander or to spend time with the family.
Roots Café has a great kids` menu, with a tempting range of ice creams from saffronicecreamco, and a sandpit to keep them entertained.
There’s plenty of space to enjoy the Suffolk countryside with our walks which are ideal for all ages and abilities – whether it’s a short distance or something more challenging.
Dogs are more than welcome too but we ask that they are on a lead, with paws on the floor – in both the café and on the trails.
Come for a catch-up, a coffee, a stroll or just a bit of breathing space. Everyone is welcome.
#RoughamEstate #HalfTermFun #FamilyDaysOut #SuffolkDaysOut #RootsCafe #KidsActivities #DogFriendly #WalksForAll #SandpitFun #IceCreamLover #CountrysideEscape #FreshAirAndFun
Looking for something to do this half term?
Rougham Estate is the perfect spot whether you’re here for a gentle wander or to spend time with the family.
Roots Café has a great kids` menu, with a tempting range of ice creams from saffronicecreamco, and a sandpit to keep them entertained.
There’s plenty of space to enjoy the Suffolk countryside with our walks which are ideal for all ages and abilities – whether it’s a short distance or something more challenging.
Dogs are more than welcome too but we ask that they are on a lead, with paws on the floor – in both the café and on the trails.
Come for a catch-up, a coffee, a stroll or just a bit of breathing space. Everyone is welcome.
#RoughamEstate #HalfTermFun #FamilyDaysOut #SuffolkDaysOut #RootsCafe #KidsActivities #DogFriendly #WalksForAll #SandpitFun #IceCreamLover #CountrysideEscape #FreshAirAndFun
Well, that didn’t take too long… we said the pumpkins could do with a drink, and overnight we had 5mm of rain! Not quite a soaking, but after such a dry stretch, we’ll take what we can get.
It’s come at just the right time to help the freshly planted pumpkins settle in. A bit more over the next week or so wouldn’t go amiss – fingers crossed the raindance keeps working (and only at night 😊).
Meanwhile, the rest of the crops on the estate will be soaking up the rain and moving along nicely now, including the Sunken Garden.
Let’s keep doing the raindance for a little bit longer!
#RoughamEstate #FarmingLife #Pumpkins2025 #RaindanceSuccess #GratefulForRain #UKFarming #SunkenGarden #SpringAtRougham #FromFieldToGarden
Well, that didn’t take too long… we said the pumpkins could do with a drink, and overnight we had 5mm of rain! Not quite a soaking, but after such a dry stretch, we’ll take what we can get.
It’s come at just the right time to help the freshly planted pumpkins settle in. A bit more over the next week or so wouldn’t go amiss – fingers crossed the raindance keeps working (and only at night 😊).
Meanwhile, the rest of the crops on the estate will be soaking up the rain and moving along nicely now, including the Sunken Garden.
Let’s keep doing the raindance for a little bit longer!
#RoughamEstate #FarmingLife #Pumpkins2025 #RaindanceSuccess #GratefulForRain #UKFarming #SunkenGarden #SpringAtRougham #FromFieldToGarden
Just a little reminder that our Pop-Up Plant Stall with Watsons Plants kicks off tomorrow for the Bank Holiday weekend!
If you’re into gardening or just fancy adding a bit of green to your space, come along to the courtyard from 10am-2pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Chris Watson will be there with a great mix of plants and plenty of advice to help you get your garden looking its best this summer.
See you there!
#BankHoliday #Gardening #PopUpPlantStall #WatsonsPlants #rootsandherbs
Just a little reminder that our Pop-Up Plant Stall with Watsons Plants kicks off tomorrow for the Bank Holiday weekend!
If you’re into gardening or just fancy adding a bit of green to your space, come along to the courtyard from 10am-2pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Chris Watson will be there with a great mix of plants and plenty of advice to help you get your garden looking its best this summer.
See you there!
#BankHoliday #Gardening #PopUpPlantStall #WatsonsPlants #rootsandherbs
Pumpkin season prep has officially begun!
We’ve just started planting the pumpkin seeds for our ever-popular October patch, and we’re already looking forward to seeing the field full of colour later this year to welcome families for a pumpkin extravaganza!
As much as we hate to say it, but fingers crossed for a bit of rain to help them establish.
We’ll keep you posted on their progress, but for now it’s all about patience, sunshine… and a few well-timed showers.
Roll on autumn!
#RoughamEstate #PumpkinPatch #PumpkinSeason #SuffolkDaysOut #OctoberFun
Pumpkin season prep has officially begun!
We’ve just started planting the pumpkin seeds for our ever-popular October patch, and we’re already looking forward to seeing the field full of colour later this year to welcome families for a pumpkin extravaganza!
As much as we hate to say it, but fingers crossed for a bit of rain to help them establish.
We’ll keep you posted on their progress, but for now it’s all about patience, sunshine… and a few well-timed showers.
Roll on autumn!
#RoughamEstate #PumpkinPatch #PumpkinSeason #SuffolkDaysOut #OctoberFun
It`s definitely time for a brew!
Sometimes, a cup of tea is exactly what you need. Whether you`re taking a breather, catching up with a friend, or just enjoying a moment to yourself – it has that magic way of making things feel a bit better. That`s why it`s important to celebrate it!
To celebrate International Tea Day, we’ve got a whole line-up of feel-good favourites, from bold Black Teas to calming Herbal blends and creamy Matcha Lattes.
And there’s something special for today… Our new Assistant Manager at Roots Cafe has been getting creative and come up with a Strawberry Iced Tea special. It’s made with fresh homemade strawberrry syrup and is light and fruity for a warm day.
If you fancy upgrading your tea break, pop into the Garden Room Shop – we’ve got a lovely range of mugs and cups, whether you’re into minimal style or fun prints.
#internationalteaday #timeforatea #strawberryicedtea #matchalove #herbalmoments #teabreaksorted #creativityinacup #roughamestate #roughamestateshop #gardenroomshop #rootscafe
It`s definitely time for a brew!
Sometimes, a cup of tea is exactly what you need. Whether you`re taking a breather, catching up with a friend, or just enjoying a moment to yourself – it has that magic way of making things feel a bit better. That`s why it`s important to celebrate it!
To celebrate International Tea Day, we’ve got a whole line-up of feel-good favourites, from bold Black Teas to calming Herbal blends and creamy Matcha Lattes.
And there’s something special for today… Our new Assistant Manager at Roots Cafe has been getting creative and come up with a Strawberry Iced Tea special. It’s made with fresh homemade strawberrry syrup and is light and fruity for a warm day.
If you fancy upgrading your tea break, pop into the Garden Room Shop – we’ve got a lovely range of mugs and cups, whether you’re into minimal style or fun prints.
#internationalteaday #timeforatea #strawberryicedtea #matchalove #herbalmoments #teabreaksorted #creativityinacup #roughamestate #roughamestateshop #gardenroomshop #rootscafe
Bee Proud!
It’s World Bee Day, and here on the Rougham Estate, we’ve got plenty to celebrate.
Dotted across the Estate are 48 honeybee colonies, all doing vital work pollinating our wildflower fields, crops and hedgerows – and giving us something rather special in return.
Our bees produce local honey that’s used in the Roots Café and sold in the Pantry Shop and other local outlets, including Blackthorpe Barn. It’s a true taste of the Estate.
Our first crop of honey arrives around late May, just after the oilseed rape petals drop. This one sets quickly – making it perfect for toast or stirred into your morning coffee (no sticky drips). By mid-August, the main crop is ready, thanks to foraging on blackberries, sweet chestnut, limes and our vibrant pollinator strips full of borage, phacelia and sunflowers. This one stays runny for longer – ideal for porridge, Greek yoghurt or even a simple dessert.
Every jar is a reflection of the season – sunshine, rain and the flowers in bloom all shape the flavour and colour. No two harvests are the same, which is exactly what makes it so special.
We also stock a lovely selection of bee-themed gifts, including a Bee Revivor kit – perfect for helping tired bees get back on their feet.
Supporting pollinators is something we care deeply about, and we’re proud to be doing our bit – from flower-rich fields to happy hives.
Pop into the Pantry Shop or Roots Café to try our Estate honey – or pick up a bee-friendly gift while you’re here.
#WorldBeeDay #RoughamEstate #SupportTheBees #LocalHoney #BeeRevivor #RootsCafe #PantryShop
Bee Proud!
It’s World Bee Day, and here on the Rougham Estate, we’ve got plenty to celebrate.
Dotted across the Estate are 48 honeybee colonies, all doing vital work pollinating our wildflower fields, crops and hedgerows – and giving us something rather special in return.
Our bees produce local honey that’s used in the Roots Café and sold in the Pantry Shop and other local outlets, including Blackthorpe Barn. It’s a true taste of the Estate.
Our first crop of honey arrives around late May, just after the oilseed rape petals drop. This one sets quickly – making it perfect for toast or stirred into your morning coffee (no sticky drips). By mid-August, the main crop is ready, thanks to foraging on blackberries, sweet chestnut, limes and our vibrant pollinator strips full of borage, phacelia and sunflowers. This one stays runny for longer – ideal for porridge, Greek yoghurt or even a simple dessert.
Every jar is a reflection of the season – sunshine, rain and the flowers in bloom all shape the flavour and colour. No two harvests are the same, which is exactly what makes it so special.
We also stock a lovely selection of bee-themed gifts, including a Bee Revivor kit – perfect for helping tired bees get back on their feet.
Supporting pollinators is something we care deeply about, and we’re proud to be doing our bit – from flower-rich fields to happy hives.
Pop into the Pantry Shop or Roots Café to try our Estate honey – or pick up a bee-friendly gift while you’re here.
#WorldBeeDay #RoughamEstate #SupportTheBees #LocalHoney #BeeRevivor #RootsCafe #PantryShop
Tag us @RoughamEstate
