Emily Portsmouth is the Events Manager at Old Hall Southwold. Ahead of the first ever Art in the Barn event, on Sunday, Emily explains how the dedicated fine-art event will welcome more than 50 East Anglian artists
For those who are yet to visit, how would you describe Old Hall Southwold?
Old Hall, Southwold is a beautiful family‑run farm set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, long cared for by the lovely Hall family. Once a working dairy farm, it diversified in 2005 with the creation of the much‑loved Southwold Maize Maze.
The onsite café, built on the footprint of the old calf shed, looks out across the marshes to the River Blyth. A full wall of south‑facing glass frames sweeping views of wild, previously inaccessible coastline. Inside, it’s a welcoming space serving freshly prepared, locally inspired food – perfect for a peaceful pit‑stop, a family walk followed by brunch, or a relaxed drink with local beers and wines.
Old Hall works closely with Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Natural England, creating scrapes and wildflower meadows that support wintering birds, bees and other wildlife. Visitors can wander from the farm to the SWT Hen Reedbeds or follow footpaths all the way to Southwold Harbour.
Alongside the café and the Maze, our Big Barn has become a vibrant home for makers’ markets, live music and community celebrations – a place where creativity, nature and good Suffolk hospitality come together.
How has the first Art in the Barn event come about? What is the thinking behind it?
Art in the Barn grew very naturally from what we were already doing. Four years ago, we started running makers’ markets in the Big Barn – a simple idea to give local craftspeople a lovely, weather‑proof space to show and sell their work. We never expected it to snowball into one of the region’s biggest creative events, with thousands of people wandering through the doors each year.
As the markets got busier, more fine artists began asking us for space too. Because the events are mixed‑discipline, we’re only able to offer a few spots for each medium, and we were having to sadly turn more and more artists away. One of the artists who did manage to exhibit with us suggested a dedicated fine‑art event… and that little suggestion turned into something much bigger. The response has been fantastic!
Art in the Barn was created to give all that local talent the platform it deserves: a space in beautiful surroundings for artists to show their work, meet each other, and reach a wider audience. It feels like the perfect next step for a place that’s become known for creativity, community, and bringing people together.
What can people expect, come June 14?
More than 50 East Anglian artists will transform our Big Barn into a vibrant, undercover gallery overlooking the Blyth Estuary. It’ll be a one‑day celebration of the region’s creativity – colourful, eclectic, and full of the character that makes our corner of the world so special.
Visitors can explore an inspiring mix of disciplines: watercolour, printmaking, sculpture, textile art, collage and many more imaginative forms. And this isn’t just a chance to browse: every piece on display is original art for sale, with work available for all tastes and budgets. Whether you’re looking to add something meaningful to your home, buy a gift or simply fall in love with a piece that speaks to you, this is the place to find it.
Even better, the artists themselves will be there throughout the day, ready to chat, share their process, and bring their work to life. It’s a rare opportunity to meet the makers behind the art and connect with the creative community that thrives here in East Anglia.
With a stunning rural setting, a welcoming onsite café, live music, easy parking, and free entry, it’s the perfect day out, so pop the date in your diary, grab your partners, friends, family and the dogs, and join us for a relaxed and inspiring event rooted in local talent!
How can any local artists get involved?
Although the 14th of June exhibition is now fully booked, the team would love to hear from artists who’d like to be part of future events as this is just the beginning of what we hope will become a regular celebration of fine art at Old Hall. Anyone interested can get in touch with Emily at enquiries@oldhallsouthwold.co.uk
Where can people find out more about Old Hall in general?
Visit our website: oldhallsouthwold.co.uk, where you can find details of our site, upcoming events and links to our socials.
Will it be the first of many such events, do you hope?
We certainly hope so!
Art in the Barn, a celebration of East Anglian artists, takes place at Old Hall Cafe and Walks, Halesworth Road, Reydon, Southwold, (on the site of the Southwold Maize Maze) on Sunday June 14, 2026, from 10am to 3pm. Visit oldhallsouthwold.co.uk
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