In east Suffolk, approximately 2 miles from Southwold, a unique addition to the outdoor hospitality scene has emerged. The Pigs in Blankets campsite, located at Broadside Park Farm, has repurposed an old grain silo into a stylish bar called The Grain Shed, enhancing the campsite and local hospitality scene.
This innovative conversion opened on August 22.
The Pigs in Blankets campsite operates from April to September each year, offering camping and glamping pitches. Will and Jess Tomson, owners of the campsite, conceived The Grain Shed as part of their vision to repurpose existing farm structures. The bar marks the first phase of their campsite enhancement efforts, which began earlier this year when they submitted plans to East Suffolk Council.
“We are so excited to have finished building the bar. We have been looking forward to this for a long time and we’d like to thank everyone for their support in the first few days. It’s all very exciting,” the Pigs in Blankets team told The Lowestoft Journal.
The glampground collaborated with YouDrink, a UK-based beer and brewery company, to bring The Grain Shed to fruition. The bar operates daily from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., serving campsite guests and the public alike. It offers a selection of local beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks, complemented by a range of snacks. Patrons can enjoy their beverages in both indoor and outdoor seating areas, taking in the rural surroundings of Broadside Park Farm.
To diversify on-site dining options, the Tomsons have begun inviting third-party caterers. For instance, The Little Pizza Oven van serves food on Fridays.
The Grain Shed reflects a broader trend in outdoor hospitality: leveraging local partnerships to enhance guest experiences. As highlighted in the March 2024 MC Hospitality Highlights report, collaborations with local businesses—such as the Tomsons’ work with YouDrink and food vendors—can diversify offerings, create cross-promotional opportunities, and strengthen ties with the local economy.
This approach supports findings that campgrounds can position themselves as cornerstone businesses by identifying service gaps and offering unique amenities. In this case, the Tomsons addressed a gap in local dining and social spaces by integrating a bar and inviting third-party food providers like The Little Pizza Oven.
The Tomsons are not stopping with The Grain Shed. Plans are underway to add a petting farm and another food and drink space utilizing a second unused grain silo. This strategy mirrors suggestions from the March report on expanding accommodation horizons and diversifying revenue streams through on-site services and collaborations.
By repurposing agricultural structures and enhancing their offerings, the Pigs in Blankets campsite exemplifies how campgrounds can innovate to attract new visitors while boosting their local economy. Their efforts align with a key insight from the report: addressing unmet guest needs—whether through local dining options or unique on-site amenities—can increase bookings and improve guest satisfaction.
