Holiday and leisure venue shapes up for major role in Suffolk’s future tourism landscape

Stonham Barns Park – one of Suffolk’s premier leisure, retail and holiday destinations – has upgraded its front visitor entrance to reflect the multi-million pound improvement programme being implemented at the 140-acre venue for roll out this autumn and during Spring 2023.

The mid-Suffolk visitor attraction best-known for its award-winning Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, Teapot Pottery, holiday park and campsite also features a café restaurant, golf centre, sports bar, soft play facility, fishing lakes, 40-outlet retail village including antique centre, garden centre, events showground and soon to be constructed leisure lake and Adventure Footgolf course. The site has recently become a part of the village of its namesake – Stonham Aspal – because of a village boundary change.  The new monochrome frontage presents a more contemporary and upgraded welcome to the many people who visit the venue throughout the year.

It has been serving the community of Suffolk since it first opened in 1987 and is still as much a family destination as it was when it first opened, and it is now becoming a more prominent part of Suffolk tourism which is growing exponentially year on year.  Stonham Barns Park itself welcomes many visitors from all over the UK – particularly from London, the South-East and from as far away as The North and Scotland.

Starglade Leisure – which also owns Pisces Country Park and Acorn Holiday Park at Welney on the Cambridge/Norfolk border – has owned the complex for over 10 years and has invested heavily in its infrastructure.  Says Director Keith Forward, ‘Stonham Barns Park is emerging as a destination of choice for visitors from all over the UK and Europe.  As a venue we are very well regarded for our hugely successful Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, but the venue offers so much more.  It is now a vibrant yet relaxing holiday destination in the heart of Suffolk and as a direct result of tourism expanding, we are welcoming an increasing number of visitors.’

‘We are developing some new facilities that work in synergy with our surroundings to enhance the visitor experience and will be unveiling some of these in the months ahead.’

‘Our mission is to be a place for locals to visit to relax, for visitors to stay and play, and for businesses to come for corporate events and activities.  We have something for everyone and facilities like the newly refurbished Café 24 which we are confident will appeal to a whole new set of visitors.  We are also drawing in new business start-ups which are bringing added creativity to the venue.  It’s all very exciting moving forwards.  We hope people who have not visited recently will come to see what has changed.  We think they will be excited by the new facilities on offer.’

Recent additions to the venue include Café 24 and the recently opened Legends Sports Bar – a bar developed in honour of a variety of sporting legends – for the use of the community and those visiting for holidays and short breaks. Darts legend Keith Deller is helping to fly the flag for British darts by staging some demo events at the bar. He said, ‘Sport is so good for people’s wellbeing and darts is a social sport and so perfect for the cooler months.’ The new bar will also be the setting for some celebrity sports events covering a multitude of sports including football, rugby, cricket, cycling, horse racing, and motorsport.

Footgolf has also been a big hit with locals and visitors alike and due to its success, another facility entitled ‘Adventure’ Footgolf is being developed and will open during Easter 2023.  The course will add a creative theme to the standard game and by the time of opening, nearly 1,000 trees will have been added to help landscape the course.

Adds Marketing Manager, Toni Forward: ‘We are a family business – with three generations all working together – that understand what people are looking for in a retail, leisure and holiday destination.  We have already made some major changes here in Suffolk in order that we appeal, not only to visiting families but, to the local community.  It is only with their support that we can be successful.  We already work with local sports teams, charities, clubs, musicians, artists and schools to bring together a facility that works for everyone. And we have plans to do so much more.’

The venue has two fishing lakes currently that are fished by lodge owners and day ticket visitors.  World champion angler Bob Nudd has recently joined in a number of fishing events there providing his expertise as an ambassador for the sport in the UK. A third lake is being added during the autumn which will be used for non-motorised sports including stand up paddleboarding.  This is expected to be launched during Easter 2023.

Events are a major part of the annual programme of activities at Stonham Barns Park.  The venue stages car and truck shows, vintage transport, history, country shows and music events.  A new Events Manager – Fraser Carson – has joined the business to further expand and develop the number of shows and events staged at the venue.

A free-to-enter Family Fun Day is being planned for 2023 to bring together members of the local community for a fun day of activities.

The new frontage was designed by Keith Suffling of idesign4 with the corporate marketing signage being provided by Suffolk-based suppliers Red Dragon.

For more information about Stonham Barns Park please contact 01449 711901 or visit www.stonhambarns.co.uk