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!
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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
Ready for this week’s tasty new arrivals at Roots Cafe? Pop in today, we’re open daily 9–4 and pouring a refreshing Lemon & Elderflower Fizz special.
Or dishing up brunch of toasted sourdough topped with avocado, grilled Halloumi, pesto and dukkah spice.
If you fancy something a bit lighter we have pesto pasta salad with courgette, corn and cucumber trips topped with feta chunks and lemon and mint dressing.
Swing by this week and give them a try, see you at Roots!
#roughamestate #specials #summerdishes
Want to win £100 to spend at Rougham Estate? Tag us in your photo taken on the Estate and mention this competition in your caption.
Do you have some lovely pictures you’ve taken around here on the Estate? We’d love to see them and we’re offering a prize for the best one as voted for by our judging panel, and our visitors and followers.
If your photo is picked as the favourite, you will win a £100 gift voucher to spend at Roots Café or at the Rougham Estate Shop, which includes the Christmas Shop and Christmas trees. The voucher is valid for 1 year and can be spent over multiple visits. What would you spend your £100 on?
To enter, post your picture on Instagram, tag us @roughamestate and mention Rougham Estate Through Your Lens Competition in the caption.
Here are some example pictures we’ve taken around the Barn. Why not visit the Estate this weekend and see what pictures you can take. It’s free to visit with free parking.
All the details about the competition can be found on our website.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by 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.
#burystedmunds #suffolkphotography #photographycompetition #suffolkcountryside
It’s set to be one of the warmest days on record, followed by a rather warm weekend too!
Please note: To help look after the welfare of our team, the Shop and Roots Café will be closing at 2pm today (Friday). Thank you for your understanding.
So why not stay cool and hydrated with one of our iced drinks?
Each week we feature a special made from our homemade seasonal syrups. A very popular refreshing choice is the lemon & mint spritz, which is still on special it’s that popular!
There’s no better excuse to visit Rougham Estate to cool down and enjoy a delicious iced drink in the beautiful Suffolk countryside.
#drinkspecial #iceddrink #roughamestate
We are seeking a new Barista! So if you have an interest in coffee and enjoy making people smile, we would love to hear from you.
Roots is a reputable café set in a beautiful, scenic location, and we pride ourselves on creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for both our customers and our staff. This role is perfect if you are looking for a reliable, lovely place to work where your day-to-day efforts are genuinely valued.
You will get to work with a fantastic team in a gorgeous setting, doing what you do best. If this sounds like the right fit for you, please tap the link in our profile to view the full details and apply.
#vacancy #roughamestate #jobadvert
Our courtyard planters have had a refresh thanks to the green fingered Chris Watson from Watson Plants.
They have really brightened up the courtyard and make a real treat for those eating al fresco. 🌷
If you would like any plant or gardening advice, Chris will be back with us on the 3-4th July from 10am-4pm.
#courtyardreferesh #roughamestate #gardeninglove
Learn how to turn your kitchen into a flavour lab by joining the Fermentation Workshop, here at Rougham Estate!
On Saturday 25 July from 11:00–12:30 – at Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate, Bury St Edmunds (IP30 9HZ)
You’ll get hands‑on tuition from fermentation experts with two delicious ferments to take home that you will have made yourself.

All ingredients and equipment provided.
Spaces are limited and selling fast.
Secure your spot now by booking via our website – link in our bio.
Bring your curiosity, leave with tasty jars and new skills. This is perfect for beginners or anyone who loves bold flavours.
#fermentation #workshop #handsonlearning #roughamestate
This weeks specials are summer on a plate!
Bold and fresh, packed with goodness and bursting with taste. Only available this week we have:
Brunch – heirloom tomato, burrata, toast, lemon, basil, pepper with balsamic glaze.
Salad – mixed leaf, ricotta peach, golden beetroot, pine nuts with pickled reds.
Only at Roots Cafe! Open 9am-4pm daily.
#roughamestate #rootscafe #specialsmenu
Tag us @RoughamEstate
