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
- Open daily, including bank holidays
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.
Closed on 24th, 25th and 26th December.
Email [email protected] and please include a number we can call you on.
Reservations are only confirmed when you receive a confirmation call/email from us.
More information lower down this page.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the café with a paws-on-the-floor policy.
Please do keep your dog under control and ensure that your dog does not disturb other people’s enjoyment of the premises or block passageways.
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.
Find out more and buy Rougham Estate gift vouchers by clicking here. (Opens in new tab)
How it Works
First Come, First Served
We operate on a first come, first served basis.
Reservations are taken for groups of 6 or more on weekdays only.
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.
Well-behaved Dogs Welcome
Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the café with a paws-on-the-floor policy; they will be welcomed with their own bowl of water.
- Please keep your dog under control and ensure that your dog does not disturb other people’s enjoyment of the premises or block passageways.
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 stock gluten-free bread and serve some gluten-free dishes. Dishes that have gluten-free options or vegan options are shown on the menu. Please ask if you have any queries when ordering.
- For details of allergens in each dish, please see the downloadable pdf menus below
Parking
There is plenty of free parking available, including accessible parking.
Openings and Bookings
The café is open every day including Bank Holidays.
- To book for a group of 6 or more on a weekday, email [email protected]
Bookings are only confirmed when you hear back from us. See below for more details. - Over the Christmas period, we are closed on 24th, 25th, 26th December.
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.
Reservations
Reservations at Roots are only taken for groups of 6 or more people on weekdays.
To reserve a table, email [email protected] and please include a number we can call you on.
- Unfortunately we can’t take same-day bookings.
- No bookings at the weekend or on Bank Holidays
- Please include a mobile number; reservations are only confirmed when you receive a call/email from us. Kindly allow 1-2 days for us to respond. Enquiries received over weekends or on bank holidays will be responded to on the next working day.
- For groups of 10 or more, we will ask you to pre-order to help the kitchen.
- Please arrive on time for your booking. For groups with pre-ordered food, it will be ready 15 minutes after your booking time.
- If you know that you no longer require your reservation or if your party is significantly different in size to what was booked, please let us know as soon possible.
- No bookings are taken for bank holiday weekends, Easter weekend, Mother’s or Father’s Days and during the Christmas Festival (specific 2026 dates to be confirmed; mid-October to mid-December).
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.
Rougham Estate Gift Vouchers
Treat someone special to a memorable visit to Rougham Estate with a gift voucher that can be used in both Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Shop.
Whether it’s coffee and a tasty brunch at Roots Café, a unique find from the Lifestyle and Garden Shop, something beautiful for Christmas (mid-October to December, including Christmas trees) or a luxury treat from the Pantry Shop, your gift voucher is valid for 1 year from the time of purchase and can be used over multiple visits.
GALLERY
Comments
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.
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, well-behaved dogs are welcome in Roots Café, with paws on the floor.
- Please keep your dog under control at all times and ensure that your dog does not disturb other people’s enjoyment of the premises or block any passageways.
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 generally assigned on a first come, first served basis; if we are busy there is a pager/buzzer system to let you know when a table becomes free.
If you are a group of 6 or more people, we can reserve a table for you on Monday to Friday.
Please email [email protected] to make your booking.
Your reservation is only confirmed once you receive a confirmation email. More information about reservations here.
Unfortunately we can’t take same-day bookings, bookings at the weekend or on bank holidays or during the Christmas Festival.
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.
Please see our PDF menus for the allergen details of each dish.
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 items too.
You can find a baby-changing unit in café toilets.
Yes we do! Gift vouchers are available to buy from £25 upwards and can be used in Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Shop, including the Christmas Shop, Roots Pantry Shop and towards buying Rougham Estate Christmas trees.
Gift vouchers last for 1 year from the date of purchase and can be used over multiple visits. They make great gifts, with a wide range of items to spend them on.
You can find out more and buy Rougham Estate gift vouchers by clicking here (opens in new tab).
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!
The Rougham Post
Latest stories from the Estate
Never miss a thing
Follow us on social
Ok, so you may remember a post not so long ago where we told you owner, George Agnew, was nominated for business person of the year at the @eadt24 Business Awards 2026?
Well, last night…
He WON!! 🍾🎉
He was up against some very tough competition which makes the award even more special. 🏆
We are very proud of him and pleased the judges have recognised not only his business acumen but also his integrity and strong values in developing the Estate.
Well done to all the finalists and winners. We do have some exceptional businesses in our county.
You can find more on the evening on stories 👆
#awards #businessperson #eadtbusinessawards2026
Harvest time at Rougham Estate captured recently…
Months of hard work goes in to growing the crops ready for harvest time. So it’s fantastic to see the scale of it from this view.
#harvesttime #roughamestate #farmlife
We`re set for a beautiful week ahead so why not take a wander around the Estate and capture some pics for the photo competition?
You never know, you could win yourself £100 and also have a nice day at the Estate discovering it`s natural beauty…
Then have a well deserved refreshment at Roots Cafe – we have a fantastic selection of iced drinks with homemade syrups on the specials. Definitely one not to miss!
#RoughamEstate #photocompetition
A hot week ahead calls for light summer dishes.
We have the perfect one – roasted vegetables and mint served with lemon couscous, feta, salad leaves and a house dressing.
Available all week in Roots Cafe.
Don’t miss out. #summerspecial #specialbrunchmenu #roughamestate
We’re running a photography competition and we want to see Rougham Estate through your eyes.
Whether it’s the barn, the meadows, the woodland, a quiet corner you’ve discovered on a walk or something you’ve spotted that made you stop, we want to see it.
The winning photograph will win a £100 gift voucher to spend at Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Shop including the Christmas Shop and Christmas trees.
The deadline to submit your photo has been extended to 12th July.
Here’s how to enter:
📸 Take your photo at Rougham Estate or choose one you’ve taken here in the past.
📲 Post it on Instagram; tag us @roughamestate and mention the Rougham Estate Through Your Lens competition in the caption
🏆 The winner will be chosen by our judging panel as well as by our visitors and followers, and will be announced on 5th August. The winner will receive £100 voucher to spend as they wish here, in either the café or the shop, with the voucher valid for 1 year.
There are no rules about style or subject. The picture just needs to be from Rougham Estate.
We can’t wait to see what you come up with.
🔗 Full details of the competiton from our website – link in profile.
As per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered or associated with Instagram. By entering, entrants confirm they are 18+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.
#photographycompetiton #suffolklife #takeapicture #burystedmunds
Yes – Rougham Sunflowers are back for 2026! 🌻
The seeds have been drilled and the little plants are growing well in this lovely weather.
You’ll find all your favourites back again: the maze through the flowers, space to run and play, the big bale pyramid will be back, ready to be climbed on, lots of props for photo-ops and there will be the ever-popular face painting too.
We’ll have food, drink and ice cream available at the field and yes, you are welcome to bring your own picnic as well.
When will the sunflower fun start? Well, we’re watching the flowers very carefully. At the moment we think they will be bursting open around the end of July, but as you know, this could change. We’ll keep you updated here, and on our website, as to when the actual opening date will be.
As always, it will be free to park and free to enter. Just pay for any flowers you pick and any food or drink you want.
Once the field is open, we’ll be open every day until the flowers start fading, which is usually about 3 weeks after opening.
Well-behaved dogs will be welcome in the picnic area on a short lead and in the special dog-path through the sunflowers, but not in the main sunflower maze due to problems with fouling in previous years.
New for this year, we’ve got some special one-off events planned; more about those when we get closer to the time.
But where are the sunflowers this year? They have moved from north of the A14, Junction 45 (just east of Bury St Edmunds) to a field about the same driving distance south of the same junction. The old field needs a bit of a rest from growing the sunflowers and pumpkins for a while.
This reel includes some of our favourite memories from previous years.
Tell us – what are your favourite memories of the sunflowers? Show us your best pics!
And what are you most looking forward to? For us – we can’t wait to welcome you back!!
See you soon! 🌻🌻
#roughamsunflowers #suffolksunflowers #sunflowers #burystedmunds
How is it July already!?
June was an incredible month with the heatwave and days reaching record temperatures – the Estate was buzzing with life (and bees 😁) and al fresco dining.
Thank you all for supporting us through another great month and goodbye June!
Let’s see what July has in store for us…
#roughamestate #rootscafe #suffolk
Don’t like wasting food? This fermentation workshop is for you…
Fermentation is a natural, low-energy way to preserve seasonal produce. The friendly microbes turn sugars into delicious tangy, long-lasting foods, helping you save surplus veg and cut waste.
Great served as a condiment, in sandwiches or with a bit of cheese 😋
In this workshop you’ll learn to make kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles and more using fresh produce.
The session includes guided fermentation, tastings, safe-storage tips and take-home jars so you can keep fermenting at home.
Spaces are limited — details and tickets can be found on our website.
#workshop #roughamestate #whattodoinbury
Tag us @RoughamEstate
