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£3 million upgrade plan announced at leisure park

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A leisure, retail and holiday destination has launched a multi-million pound improvement programme. Stonham Barns, based in Stonham Aspal, will roll out the GBP3 million upgrade of facilities between autumn and spring 2023.

The mid-Suffolk visitor attraction is best-known for its Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, Teapot Pottery, holiday park and campsite.

Janice Rowles and Keith Forward at the new entrance to Stonham Barns.Picture: Keith Suffling

Janice Rowles and Keith Forward at the new entrance to Stonham Barns.Picture: Keith Suffling

Janice Rowles and Keith Forward at the new entrance to Stonham Barns.Picture: Keith Suffling

It is now in the process of introducing a range of new features and events over the next few months. Keith Forward, director at Starglade Leisure, which has owned the complex for over 10 years, said: “Stonham Barns Park is emerging as a destination of choice for visitors from all over the UK and Europe.

“We are developing some new facilities that work in synergy with our surroundings to enhance the visitor experience.”

The park has unveiled a new frontage

The park has unveiled a new frontage

The park has unveiled a new frontage

The complex already features a cafe restaurant, golf centre, sports bar, soft play facility and fishing lakes, as well as a 40-outlet retail village and events showground.

Recent additions to the venue include Cafe 24 and the Legends Sports Bar. Footgolf, a game in which players kick a football into a cup, has proved popular and another facility, called adventure footgolf, is being developed. Bosses hope it will be open by Easter.

The course will add a creative theme to the standard game and nearly 1,000 trees will be planted to help landscape the course. The venue has two fishing lakes which are fished by lodge owners and day ticket visitors. A third lake is being added in the next couple of months, which will be used for non-motorised sports, including stand-up paddleboarding.

This is planned to open around the same time.

The venue already stages car and truck shows, vintage transport, history, country shows and music events.

A new events manager has joined the business to expand and develop the number of shows and events, including a free family fun day set to take place next year.