Visit the world famous Snape Maltings and concert hall with the Suffolk Cambridge Society. Snape Maltings is home to the world famous Concert Hall founded by Benjamin Britten and opened by the Queen in 1967. Snape Maltings is an expanding arts complex on the banks of the River Alde which has a year-round programme of concerts, educational activities and art exhibitions. Built in the 1800s, the original purpose of the buildings was for the malting of barley for brewing beer; local barley, once malted, was sent from Snape to London and exported to mainland Europe. Today the Concert Hall, rehearsal studios and a collection of galleries, restaurants and shops, fill the old buildings. The Alde Estuary is known for its extensive wildlife and picturesque walks.

The programme for the day is;

10.30am: Meet in the Concert Hall restaurant for tea/coffee.

11.00am: Guided tour of Snape Maltings with David Edwards, former Head of Operations at Snape Maltings and author of The House That Britten Built: How the Aldeburgh Festival Brought Music to the Maltings. The tour will include the Concert Hall and the Britten Studio in the Hoffman building.

12.30pm: Two course lunch in the Concert Hall restaurant (drinks can be purchased from the bar).  Smoked salmon and asparagus tart, Mozzarella vine tomato and pesto tart, chicken and pork raised pie, glazed Suffolk smoked ham, a selection of salads, butternut squash and apricot chutney and a selection of home-made bread. To follow; summer pudding with clotted cream, glazed lemon citrus tart.

After lunch you may wish to take the picturesque walk along the footpath towards Iken Church or visit the many shops and galleries on the site.