Five Acre Barn | A contemporary B&B in Suffolk
We love Suffolk. We have friends who live there and we’ve visited quite a few times over the past couple of years. So when we heard about Five Acre Barn (thanks to the recommendation of Emily at Aerende) and discovered that it was also dog friendly, it sounded like the perfect place to head for a last minute short break.
You could describe Five Acre Barn as a contemporary B&B, but that would almost be to do the place a disservice, because this is nothing like a stereotypical British bed and breakfast… quite the opposite in fact. Five light filled and thoughtfully considered rooms decorated with Scandi and mid-century style pieces are attached to a recently modernised barn, where guests are free to come and go, lounge and talk, or just admire the beautiful artworks and contemporary crafts that line the walls. Breakfast is a relaxed affair – we had ours out on the terrace and the hosts Bruce and David are warm, friendly and welcoming, as well as being great cooks.
Situated in one of our favourite parts of the country just a few miles from the pretty Suffolk coastal towns of Thorpeness and Aldeburgh, the ultra-cool zig-zag roofed shingle clad accommodation was designed by architects Blee Halligan. It’s very much at home in its natural setting and surrounded by an abundance of plants and trees. Although it had only been open for a few weeks when we visited and the gardens were still quite newly planted, already they were shaping up beautifully and they really will be stunning when they’ve had a little longer to establish.
Out & About
With a fabulous network of footpaths there is no shortage of places to explore nearby. We headed through the lovely woods that surround the barn to the picturesque and slightly quirky town of Thorpeness – about 45 minutes away by foot. From there you can walk for miles along the shingle beach to Sizewell (perfect for dog walking) or to Aldeburgh. A few miles further afield heading north you’ll find the historic and beautiful village of Walsberswick with its weathered black beach huts and the secluded sandy beach at Covehithe (also great for dogs). To the south the sleepy harbour town of Orford is very much worth a visit too – do make sure you call in at Pump Street Bakery to pick up some extra special treats for your journey home.
With rooms priced at from £100 per night Five Acre Barn offers a level of comfort and style you would usually only find in a much higher price bracket. We stayed in the largest room (Room 5) which has two bathrooms, including one with a freestanding tub overlooking the gardens, and a comfortable sitting area with an ercol studio couch and chairs (from £120 per night). For bed, breakfast and great design in a beautiful part of the country we’d wholeheartedly recommend it – but you might want to be quick, because once the word gets out we think it’s going to be pretty popular!
All images by Design Hunter.
