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ARTS & CULTURE · EVENTS · HERITAGE · ALDEBURGH · 20 OCTOBER 2026

Mabel & Co brings its woven textiles to Aldeburgh for the first time

Mabel & Co is presenting an exhibition of its textile, ceramic and letterpress work at The Aldeburgh Gallery on Aldeburgh High Street from 22 to 29 October 2026. The Sudbourne Park–based studio and shop, just outside Orford on the Suffolk Coast, is using the autumn run to launch a "How to Make a Blanket" newsletter series beginning with sheep and fleece and to invite visitors into the making process; the studio is open Thursday–Sunday 10am–4pm and the shop daily 9am–5pm. Mabel & Co has joined the Heritage Craft Association (which lists the King as patron) and will be selling blankets and scarves at the end‑of‑month market in Orford and at the Selvedge Winter Fair in Westminster.

Front facade of Pump Street Chocolate: a two-storey red-brick building with two upper sash windows and a white-painted shopfront. The glazed door and windows reveal shelves of chocolate and a hand-lettered 'Pump Street Chocolate' logo; a stone lintel above the entrance reads 'CHOCOLATE MAKERS'. Two black metal benches sit on the pavement and a bicycle with a wicker basket leans against the right-hand wall. A large pink banner across the top displays the words 'PUMP STREET CHOCOLATE WEEKENDER' in white type.

EVENTS · FOOD & DRINK · WOODBRIDGE · 27 SEPTEMBER 2026

A weekend inside the flavour of Pump Street Chocolate

Pump Street Chocolate is running a two-day Pump Street Chocolate Weekender at its workshop in Units 5&6, Richmond Old Dairy, Gedgrave, Woodbridge IP12 2BU and at Pump Street Bakery & Factory, 1 Pump Street, Orford, Woodbridge IP12 2LZ on 27–28 June 2026. The weekend pairs a full-day Taste, Flavour & Chocolate Masterclass developed with Cocoa Runners and led by experts including Spencer Hyman, Kate Cavallin (Cacao Latitudes) and Master of Wine Peter McCombie, with a second day of behind-the-scenes factory tours, guided tastings, a make-your-own inclusion bar workshop and special brunch and early bakery access. Tickets are available via Cocoa Runners.

Suffolk Wine Trail

EVENTS · FOOD & DRINK · NATURE & OUTDOORS · HALESWORTH · 27 SEPTEMBER 2026

Suffolk’s new Wine Trail links vineyard visits across the county

Visit Suffolk launched the Suffolk Wine Trail in Suffolk in June, timed to English Wine Week, to showcase the county’s growing collection of vineyards. Funded by Visitor Economy teams at Mid Suffolk, Babergh and West Suffolk councils, the trail is hosted on the Visit Suffolk website with an interactive map and profiles of eight leading vineyards (including ARK Wines, Giffords Hall and Valley Farm just outside Halesworth) out of more than 13 producing across the county. The sites offer tours, tastings, fine-dining and wines from Bacchus and Pinot Noir to sparkling; Visit Suffolk also promotes ready-made itineraries such as a 'Girls Weekend' to help visitors plan a wine-filled weekend and stay longer.

Britten Pears concerts

ARTS & CULTURE · EVENTS · HERITAGE · ALDEBURGH · 27 SEPTEMBER 2026

Britten’s legacy takes centre stage in a season of new music at Snape and Aldeburgh

On 30 July 2026 Britten Pears Arts announced its Autumn–Winter 2026 season of concerts, premieres and exhibitions at Snape Maltings, The Red House and venues around Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast. The season marks the 50th anniversary of Benjamin Britten’s death with a Britten Weekend (4–6 December) and related performances, and features world premieres including Errollyn Wallen’s new opera A Christmas Miracle (20–21 November) alongside an expanded programme of Friday lunchtime concerts, Open Sessions revealing artists’ work-in-progress, family performances and Heritage Open Days in September; tickets go on general sale from 22 August.

Home of the Harvest campaign

ARTS & CULTURE · EVENTS · FOOD & DRINK · NATURE & OUTDOORS · 27 SEPTEMBER 2026

Suffolk and Norfolk launch £120,000 autumn campaign inviting visitors to Come Hungry

The Suffolk and Norfolk Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) is investing £120,000 to launch 'Home of the Harvest' — a 'Come Hungry' marketing and PR campaign across Suffolk and Norfolk this autumn. The campaign, progressing the 'Naturally – A Welcome for All' placemaking brand, places food and drink at its heart to draw 22–44‑year‑old pre‑nesters to book staying visits, with creative by Studio AntiGravity, digital delivery from MP&Co on TikTok, YouTube and Meta, and PR and influencer activity from Luya including press trips, a Long Table food and drink experience and a 'Home of the Harvest' trail, all aimed at getting visitors to stay longer and spreading demand seasonally and geographically.

A wooden table filled with a variety of dairy products in the foreground: two glass bottles of milk, a bowl of yogurt, a small yogurt pot, cottage cheese in a glass bowl, blocks and wedges of cheeses (including a wheel of brie and Swiss-style cheese), a slab of butter with a curl on top, grated cheese, and a silver foil pouch with a white scoop. In the background left are black-and-white dairy cows grazing on a field with farm buildings; background right shows stainless-steel dairy processing equipment and a person in white sanitary clothing working. A black logo reading “DAIRY NEWS. TODAY” appears in the upper left corner.

EVENTS · FOOD & DRINK · ALDEBURGH · BUNGAY · 27 SEPTEMBER 2026

Fen Farm Dairy opens A12 farm shop stocked with Suffolk produce

On 4 June 2026 Fen Farm Dairy opened a new 'mini farm shop' on the A12 beside Two Magpies Bakeries in Suffolk. The third retail outlet from Fen Farm, the A12 shop was created with about £80,000 investment to sell local produce—Fen Farm cheeses (including Baron Bigod), butter, yoghurt, raw milk and vegetables, meats and baked goods from nearby suppliers—aimed at passing trade. Fen Farm has grown cheese production from six tonnes in its first year to about 160 tonnes, exports Baron Bigod internationally, and the opening, promoted by Jonny Crickmore (chairman of the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival), coincided with International Cheese Day.

A large red-brick house set back from the road, seen through an open white picket gate. A leafless deciduous tree stands on a circular lawn at the center of a gravel driveway that curves around it; a low brick outbuilding and double garage are visible to the right. Mature green trees and shrubs frame the property under a pale blue sky, with small signs attached to the gate posts.

ARTS & CULTURE · EVENTS · HERITAGE · NATURE & OUTDOORS · WELLNESS · ALDEBURGH · 27 SEPTEMBER 2026

The Red House reopens in Aldeburgh, inviting visitors back into Britten and Pears’ world

Britten Pears Arts' The Red House in Aldeburgh reopens to visitors on 2 April 2026. The Grade II 17th‑century former home of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears offers five acres of gardens and an intact domestic interior filled with their art and belongings, alongside two season exhibitions: Spiritual Britten (2 April–1 November), curated by Paul Edmondson, and a new display, Before Life and After (2 April–30 June), marking the 50th anniversary of Britten’s death by celebrating those who supported his final years. Programming includes Place Weekend (10–12 April), guided, art and garden tours, family sessions and events timed for the Aldeburgh Festival in June.