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 – 17:00
- Open daily, including bank holidays
- No reservations taken until Christmas.
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, open throughout the year. For breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake, we hope Roots will become your go-to destination where everyone is welcome.
Open every day, including Bank Holidays.
Closed on 24th, 25th and 26th December.
Rest of the year, from January to mid-October:
Reservations only for groups of 6 or more on weekdays
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.
No reservations are taken during the Christmas period, from mid-October to Christmas.
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.
- Unfortunately we do not take any bookings during the Christmas Festival from 19th October to mid-December.
- Over the Christmas period, we are closed on 24th, 25th, 26th December.
- Bookings can be made from around 20th December onwards again.
Eggs used at Roots Cafe
The eggs we use at Roots Café are sourced from Rymer Farm, located less than 20 miles from the café. All of their hens are vaccinated against Salmonella and the eggs carry the British Lion mark, providing reassurance that they meet strict food safety and quality standards.
We are aware of the recent concerns surrounding Salmonella and eggs reported in the media. However, the concerns relate to imported eggs, which we do not use or serve at Roots Café. Our customers can therefore enjoy the eggs we serve at Roots Café with confidence, knowing that they are locally sourced and produced to high food safety standards.
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
Unfortunately we are not able to take any bookings during the Christmas Festival from 19th October to mid-December.
During the rest of the year, 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 (19 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
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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
