Food and shopping

Local shopping

Suffolk has a rich heritage of locally produced food and drinks. East Anglia is famously known as the breadbasket of England. Experience the vibrant artisan food community of Suffolk, which is represented across the county with award-winning local food and drinks at the host of local deli's, shops and roadside honesty boxes you will find around.

In Debenham, you will find a fantastic delicatessen at River Green Café and an artisan butcher, Palfrey & Hall. There are also a couple of great local farm shops to check out; the Hog & Hen Farmshop and Alder Carr Farm.

The nearest supermarket is the East of England Co-op in Debenham, which stocks all the usual as well as lots of local and fresh food. Right next door is the hardware shop, Henry Abbotts Hardware, for any bits and pieces you might need. The shop has been in the same family for over 300 years!

Not far from here is also the market town of Eye; grab some treats from the local bakery and if you are a lover of fish, visit on a Friday morning when the traveling fishmonger is in town selling fresh fish and crab from Cromer.

On Sundays, whilst most local shops close at 4 pm, the Co-op in Eye stays open until 10 pm.

You will also find in both Debenham and Eye, some other delightful independent shops, like the Swan House and Garden, for Antiques and 20th century decoration, the florist Lucy Jane Flowers and Cocoa Mama for a selection of handcrafted chocolates.

And right here at Beyond the Barn, we have a selection of homegrown plants and a number of items for the home and garden that you can browse and purchase during your stay.

Eating out

There are a number of options for eating out and we suggest you book in advance during this time. Most are also offering takeaway. Our recommendations include

Cafes & Restaurants

  • The Queens Head pub at Eye – for hearty pub food

  • The Walnut Tree in Thwaite – a lovely vegetarian restaurant

  • The Bull Auberge at Yaxely – for local cuisine, French/European

  • River Green Café – for breakfast and lunches

  • The Barn Café at Alder Carr Farm – Another great spot for a good breakfast or lunch

Three recommendations slightly further afield (the first two take you under the stunning Orwell bridge) all sit in beautiful locations.

If you want a night off, but don’t want to eat out, then here are some good local takeaways (mostly they won't be able to deliver, with the exception of Zeera)