The Artisan Smokehouse opens new café-deli

'Goose Barn' home to The Artisan Smokehouse's café-deli. The interior is stylish, relaxed and informal with a range of tempting cakes on the counter.

Photo: © The Artisan Smokehouse

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It feels as if both The Artisan Smokehouse and ourselves at The Artisan Food Trail have grown up together.

They became members when we first started back in 2011 and it has been a pleasure to watch them grow from their humble beginnings, with a smoker in their garden, to where they are now.

After a year of gathering materials and the help from friends and family, Tim and Gillian Matthews now have a new premises which is situated on land which used to be a goose run at Gillian's old family home.

Moving their business from their home in Trimley St Martin in Suffolk, they have travelled up the road to Falkenham and built a barn to house their smoker and working kitchen as well as adding a fully licensed cafė and deli.

We were kindly invited to enjoy some food and drink at The Artisan Smokehouse's pre-opening afternoon which gave Tim and Gill the opportunity to test out the running of the kitchen and front of house.

The fish platter with both cold and 

hot smoked salmon and the most 

delicious juicy smoked prawns.

Photo: © childsdesign

The menu is simple yet delicious, putting products from The Artisan Smokehouse centre stage.

Lovers of smoked foods will be impressed with the fayre on offer from charcuterie meats, fish or cheese themed platters, served with bread, to salads with some tempting combinations and sumptuous sandwiches.

For those with a sweet tooth, choose from a range of gorgeous cakes and pastries displayed on the counter to go with a cup of freshly made coffee or perhaps tea.





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Relax in the airy and informal surroundings with views of the fields beyond and on good weather days big sliding doors can be opened to let in the breeze.

Tim and Gill's new venture is also a breath of fresh air for the local area.

Tim Matthews, owner of The Artisan Smokehouse explained:

"There was nothing like this for the local community and I hope we can make it a valuable part of the local economy in terms of tourism."

The Artisan Smokehouse has created a nice little foodie destination on a relatively small budget too. Making use of reclaimed and recycled materials and secondhand equipment mixed with some new items the result looks well finished.

Top left: Choose from a wide variety of foods all smoked on the premises; charcuterie, fish, cheese.  Top right: A range of unctuous smoked oils. 

Bottom left: The wine cage stocked with something to suit all tastes and budgets, and more importantly, specially selected to complement the foods. Bottom right: The large back door of the café-deli opens out to a view of open fields, hills and trees.

Photo: © The Artisan Smokehouse

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The Artisan Smokehouse Café-Deli is now open and we recommend that you give it a try – you can even take the experience home with a little shopping before you leave.

Opening times
Thursday: 10am – 5.30pm
Friday: 10am – 5pm
Saturday: 10am – 5pm

Occasionally they may be closed on certain days so please check if you’re making a special journey.

Address
The Artisan Smokehouse
Goose Barn, Back Road
Falkenham, Ipswich
Suffolk IP10 0QR

Tel: 01394 44814
Mob: 07854 940181

For more information about The Artisan Smokehouse Café-Deli
visit the website www.artisansmokehouse.co.uk