Snape Maltings

Samphire brings in the colour for Spring

Alesha — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:28:19 +0000

It has been a pleasure seeing the new Spring collections arriving in Samphire Clothes and Accessories this week. It is so refreshing seeing the new colours and designs which you will not find on every high street and the dreaded experience of wearing something the same as someone else!

I particularly love this mustard tunic which can improve a pair of denim trousers in an instant and don’t get me started on the pieces by The Barn. Well worth a gentle browse…

Guardian piece worthy recognition for a Suffolk producer

Alesha — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:31:50 +0000

We continue to receive a high number of approaches for stalls at our farmers market from delicious homemade beef pies to apple cyder.

Whilst we welcome new producers it is the quality of our established producers that makes the farmers market such a success. What is particularly pleasing is when they receive recognition for their superb products, like the attached link about Artisan Smokehouse Ltd in The Guardian. I thought I best share it with you. Well done to Tim and Gill.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/jan/30/rise-of-smoking-food

Come and taste their products at our next Farmers Market on Saturday 3rd March. In our Food Hall we have their smoked garlic and their scrumptious spice kits.

Half term treats for the children

Alesha — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:47:52 +0000

Yesterday we hosted a fantastic soap making workshop for youngsters, I have never known The Workshop on the Quay to smell so good!

This Thursday our Pizza and Pasta workshop is almost full so if your children love a hands-on experience, the taste of delicious food and plenty of fun, I suggest you call very quickly as places on this 2 hour workshop are nearly all gone.

ps: We provide the ingredients and you take home a homemade pizza and pasta – what could be better!

Children’s menu all set & gadgets galore

Alesha — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:52:16 +0000

Johnny and I have just finished the layout of the children’s menu for Café 1885. All of our children have had input and tonight our middle daughters were busy choosing their favourite meal whilst our eldest was eager to create the quiz questions.

On the shop floor today I saw some of the latest kitchen gadgets for House & Garden. This new spoon has been designed for no mess on the bench nor does it allow the spoon to touch something you don’t wish it to. Dishwasher safe and heat resistant I suspect this will be very popular for home bakers.

Snow and new stock!

Alesha — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:37:13 +0000

The snow settled into the Maltings and our fantastic team of staff arrived for work and it was ‘business as usual’. The children along with a number of other visitors to the Maltings enjoyed the snow, we even met up with a snow boarder returning from Iken carpark! Like many others we finally retreated to the warmth and comfort of the shops and Cafes.

Our buyers meanwhile spent the day travelling the length of the country to meet suppliers. This week we have extensive deliveries of our new Spring collections and then the fun begins as it is unveiled onto the shop floor – look forward to plenty of bright colours…..

Perfect winter walking weather

Alesha — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:56:17 +0000

I took this photo early this morning and whilst the weather was chilly it was stunning walking along the River at Snape Maltings. Wearing full winter woolies Ava and I headed out and it was simply stunning. The beauty of walking at Snape is the knowledge you can find a warm retreat in either Café 1885 or the Granary Tea Shop.

As Café 1885 does a “babyccino” of warm milk sprinkled with real chocolate Ava was all smiles!

Special offers at this Saturday’s Farmers Market

Alesha — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:09:32 +0000

Whilst the shop floor is undergoing in House & Garden a massive change with wonderful new stock arriving, I am concentrating on this Saturday’s Farmers Market. Here are some of the great offers for you…

Emmerdale Farm: Red Poll beef & pork sausages £1.99 for 450g
Emmerdale Farm: Lean Red Poll Mince beef £1.99 for 450g
Simply Delicious: Great Taste Award Winning Piccallili can be promoted as 3 for £10, usual rrp £3.50
Sutton Hoo Chicken: 20% off all frozen pieces
Newbourne Farm Shop: Buy 2 portabello mushrooms and get 1 free – 50p Each
Not Just Tarts : Last chance for partridge and pheasant pies this season
Suffolk Smokehouse & Deli: 3 pates for £10
Home Meadow Nursery : Single coloured primroses 50p each or 3 for a £1
Two pheasants for £7 from the Wild Meat Compan

and much more…

Bright colours and warm soup for a chilly day

Alesha — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:44:06 +0000

Across our shops we are in the midst of preparing for the arrival of our new stock across the Maltings. One of the first to arrive is the Pip Studio collection which we sell in store and on-line. Jasmine has done a great display which is so welcoming to see all these bright colours with the grey skies outside.

With the weather turning chilly it was so pleasing to see Sweet Potato and Thyme soup alongside homemade bread on the menu, it smelt simply delicious wafting through the shop today.

Thoughts now turn to our farmers market on Saturday when I hope to see many familiar faces and with offers like 20% off Sutton Hoo frozen chicken, there are some great offers to be had!

Roast Beef and a stroll along the river….

Alesha — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:15:47 +0000

I walked into House & Garden kitchen department to buy birthday candles and saw this stunning cutlery! The colours are vibrant and the weight and feel is really substantial – they ooze quality and style.

After the candles I headed to Cafe 1885 for our fortnightly meeting and I have to say it is always one of my favourites as the team are always brimming with good ideas. One of my favourites is the affordable and delectable treat of Afternoon Tea – perfect for Mother’s Day! So we will be producing some gift voucher cards specifically for Afternoon Tea. Our Sunday roast has been going wonderfully well and this Sunday it is Roast Beef and scrumptious Yorkshire puddings - well worth coming to enjoy and then a stroll along the river - a perfect way to spend a Sunday.

A new shade of blue

Alesha — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:01:42 +0000

I spent some time looking at our lighting area today and I thought you might like this new Harrow lamp we do in a soft grey blue. This is one of many new finds for 2012 as our buyers have been on the road both in Europe and the UK for days and I for one can’t wait for their return so we can see the full extent of what they have sourced…. (and then I will show you too!)

Ps: Our food hall has been incredibly busy and my thank go to the wonderful team at Stokes Sauces, who are just a few miles away from the Maltings, who have managed to prepare us plenty of fresh product in just a matter of days! Thank you Rick and Anny!