Christmas Will Be Back At Blackthorpe Barn

Snuggled in the heart of Rougham Estate just outside Bury St Edmunds, historic Blackthorpe Barn is home to a Christmas event that ignites the Christmas spirit for thousands every year, and this year the craft event is 30 years old.    

The huge oak doors open to start the Christmas festival in late October at Blackthorpe Barn. From the outside it is a beautiful medieval thatched barn, on the inside you are transported into a world of festive delights within the Country Christmas shop.  There are also craft weekends and famous Rougham Estate Christmas Trees, which have been pride of place outside 10 Downing Street in recent years. 

The Country Christmas shop has everything needed to make your Christmas extra special, from decorations, wreaths, aromatics and wrap to wonderful gifts for all. Many items are handmade, which contributes to the air of unique splendour you feel as your eyes are lit up by absorbing the Christmassy loveliness that surrounds you. With everything beautifully displayed you cannot help but imagine how you could transform your home with amazing decorations and put a glorious smile on the faces of your friends and family through amazing gifts this Christmas. 

Celebrating 30 years this year, the Christmas craft weekends are always much anticipated. They showcase some of the country’s most talented artists and craft-makers. One strict rule is that the craft makers must be present at the event to chat with the visitors to share their inspiration and this year the talent and creativity is bubbling over with the excitement of the return to a face-to-face love of crafts. There are woven and knitwear designs and textiles, ceramics, glassware, metalware, wood creations, natural beauty products, leather items, jewellery, books, baskets and so much more. Many exhibitors change each weekend so there are new crafts to be explored each visit.

The craft weekend starts on 6 November at 10am and continues each weekend until 12 December.

For the icing on the cake this Christmas a famous Rougham Estate Christmas Tree could be a perfect festive centrepiece. Renowned for quality and longevity, each tree has been lovingly nurtured in plantations close to Blackthorpe Barn. Available in many shapes and sizes, freshly cut or pot grown, each tree comes with a care guide created by Simon Eddell the Rougham Estate Manager, this is to ensure continued care to for longevity over the festive period. 

To enjoy a break from all the festivities, Liz Furness of Karat Catering is also running the ever-popular and extended Courtyard Café. Open daily from 25 October in a magnificent, heated marquee, the Café is serving tasty treats and refreshments. It’s perfect for a little pre-Christmas indulgence and there is plenty of choice for vegetarians, vegans and those with food intolerances. 

George Agnew, Joint owner of Blackthorpe Barn and Rougham Estate adds, “I am so pleased that we are getting back to a face-to-face event again, it’s going to be fantastic. I can’t believe how quickly 30 years have flown by. There has been a lot of changes, we always try to evolve things and this year we have created more space for the crafts, to allow everyone to feel comfortable, and we have extended the Courtyard Café with more covered areas for all to enjoy. I look forward to welcoming our visitors again and seeing the smiles on their faces, it really does mean a lot to me.”

Blackthorpe Barn is just three miles east of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, off the A14 at junction 45 (Sat Nav IP30 9HZ). For more information and opening times for the various events see www.blackthorpebarn.com.