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CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS
MARCO PIERRE WHITENICK KNOWLES
GARY AVIS
suffolk.greatbritishlife.co.ukEAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES
SUFFOLKIssue 135 August 2011 £3.25
HIGH SUMMERIN SUFFOLK
PLUS: LAURA WRIGHT, RETURN OF SUFFOLK’S ANGEL
20 GREAT SUFFOLK DAYS OUT
PACK UP THE PERFECT PICNIC
WALK IN MAGICAL MEADOWS
PEASENHALL
DEBENHAM
WOODBRIDGE
ALDEBURGH
OUT AND
ABOUT
20 GREAT SUFFOLK DAYS OUT
PACK UP THE PERFECT PICNIC
WALK IN MAGICAL MEADOWS
SUFFOLK ON SCREEN ● THE MAN WHO BUILT A JAG ● SWEFFLING INTERIORS
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114 SuffolkAugust2011
BoughtbyGeorgeGooderhamin1965,the
beautifulandimposingVictorianbuildings
thathouseSnapeMaltingswereoriginally
intendedforagriculturaluse.
Butallthatchangedwiththeestablishment
ofAldeburghMusicin1967,whenrenowned
composerBenjaminBrittenapproachedGeorge
aboutusingoneofthemaltingshousesasavenuefortheSummerProms.
Quicktospyanopportunity,GeorgeopenedThe
ShoponTheQuay,aconvertedboatshed,tosit
alongsidewhatthenbecameAldeburghMusic.
Withthesuccessofthisandtheteashopthat
followedsoonafter,itwasclearthemaltingswere
destinedforculturaluseandhadvastpotential.
NowJohnnyandAleshaGooderhamarecontinuing
theworkthatGeorge,whohassinceretired,began
bytransformingeachspaceintosomethingtruly
unique.
Thecollectionofbuildingshostsavarietyof
boutiqueshops,cafesandgalleriesallmadedistinctivebyextraordinarythemedwindows.
“TheideaofSnapewastoretainthehistoryofthe
buildings,notmakingthemclinicalbutactually
creatingwonderfulspacesinsideandgoodshops,”
explainsAlesha.
Andofcourse,shopsareoneofthehighlights.The
productsfoundattheMaltingsareallofthehighest
quality,betheyhomeware,food,artorclothing.
Thereisastrongemphasisonartisanalproducts
ofthekindthatcan’tbeproducedinbulkand
thisaddstothebespokenatureoftheshoppingexperience.
Snape’smerchandisersworkwiththousandsof
independentsupplierstomakesurethatthevery
bestBritishandEuropeancraftsmanshipisbrought
totheforefrontandcelebrated.
Aleshastressesthatthedecisiontousesmaller,
localsuppliersbreaksawayfromthegenericand
massproducedethosofthehighstreet,particularly
regardingfashion.
“Thebriefwiththeclothingsideistofindnice
stylishclothesthatareactuallyinasmallcollection,
soitfeelsthatyouboughtsomethingandyoureally
loveit.Also,clotheshaveanendurance–andnotpartofthisthingwhereyoubuyit,wearitandthen
disposeofit.”
Shesaystheiraimwastofindsmallerproducers
Snape Maltings
Breathingnewlifeinto
Setagainstastunningbackdropofwhisperingreedbedsandvastskies,SnapeMaltingshasbecomeamust-visitSuffolk
destination.Shekha Vyas caughtupwithAleshaGooderhamwhoexplainedwhytheMaltingsoffersashoppingexperiencetotallydifferenttothatofthehighstreet
SUFFOLK shopping
Above; the SnapeMaltings complex
set against ahuge Suffolk sky.Opposite; a look
inside some of themany differentshops at Snape
Maltings which selleverything from
food and furnitureto giftware andartworks.Farrightcentre; Alesha and
Johnny Gooderham
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Suffolk August 2011 115
who can match Snape Maltings’ needs as a smaller
stockist.
“We can’t compete with the high street on
production or price points because we are smaller
– so the job of our buyers is harder and they do it
really well.”
Indeed this symbiosis between smaller
entrepreneurial businesses is what makes the
artisanal focus in Britain so important now.
The stock found at Snape Maltings shows these
small businesses are the key to giving the country
in general, and Suffolk in particular, a cultural
foothold and making it a distinctive destination for
wonderfully crafted goods.
As well as shops, Snape has several independent
galleries on site, and some carefully placed
sculptures. This eclecticism marries the
contemporary and the traditional, rendering the sitedifferent to other waterfront locations. The drama
of the landscape lends itself to cultural pursuits,
making it a perfect location to view intriguing and
contemporary art and listen to renowned musicians.
As the Maltings closes at the end of a day’s trading,
Aldeburgh Music opens, so visitors can spend an
entire day here. People can shop, eat, view art and
go on boat trips throughout the day and then listen
to some music in the evening.
The site itself is also extremely important to wildlife,
which lends another facet to the experience. With
the changing face of Minsmere, Snape is the next
heavily populated area for rare flora and fauna.It is in a sense, the gateway to the Suffolk coast,
particularly for wildlife.
So here, nature and art are drawn seamlessly
together. In a natural progression of utilising what
could have been a cluster of wasted buildings, the
complex really does seem like part of the land itself.
There is a strong ethos of restoration that
resonates within the Maltings. There are two full-
time maintenance staff in charge of restoring the
buildings and the future of Snape Maltings looks
extremely exciting.
Out of the seven acres on site, two thirds have been
painstakingly restored. The next project will be todevelop the final third. However the Gooderhams
are adamant that Snape will not move beyond that
space and will only do what is within its capacity. The
idea is to work on the existing space to make it the
best that it can be, continually improving to preserve
the future of this cultural icon, a ‘jewel on the Suffolk
coast’.
Alesha describes their role as custodians of Snape.
“You hope that while it’s under your tenure your do
a really good job. It represents the county well and
people are proud to bring their friends here,” she
says.
For more information on Snape Maltings visit
www.snapemaltings.co.uk
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118 SuffolkAugust2011
THISPAGE:TommyHilfigerdress,£80RalphLaurencardigan,£100.AllfromCaramel,47StNicholasStreet,IpswichTel:01473216797Star-printscarf:StylistsownOPPOSITE:HartfordJacket,£92,Hartfordredandbluescarf,£34.Abrobluepumps,£78.AllfromFanny&Frank,6MarketHill,WoodbridgeTel:01394384723www.fannyandfrank.com
Roundnecktanktop,£36atCollen&Clare,25MarketPlace,Southwold,Tel:01502724823www.collenclare.comFeverChaunceydenimtrouser,£69.99atBird,4bMarketHill,FramlinghamTel:01728727481.Necklace,£25fromCaramel
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Suffolk August 2011 119
BLUE
Into the
Add a subtle nautical touch
to your summer wardrobe
with fabulous fashions in
shades of blue and cream,
all available from our
county’s leading boutiques
Fashion direction: Shekha Vyas
Photography: Clifford Hicks
Model: Maaike Mae Schoute
@ Sandra Reynolds
Hair: Craig Brunning @ Baiss and Co
using Tigi Catwalk Session Series
Make-up: Gemma Smith
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Suffolk August 2011 121
Tommy Hilfiger blue silk blouse,£70, Tommy Hilfiger skirt, £70, bothat Caramel. Mirabelle fish necklace,£15 at Bird and Ursula Mascaro redplatform shoes, £159 at Fanny & Frank.All stockist details as page 118
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122 SuffolkAugust2011
GanninavyFultondress,£139,atBird.Anchornecklace,£30,fromaselectionatCaramel.Moschinoturquoiseheels,£150,atCaramel.Stockistdetailsaspage118
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Suffolk August 2011 123
Guess by Marciano jacket, £300, at Caramel.Details as page 118Olsen Trousers, £95, atO&C Butcher, 129-131High Street, Aldeburgh.
Tel: 01728 452229www.ocbutcher.co.uk