Go with the grain

Towering over the low meadows of the Waveney Valley stands

The Silo, a marvel of ingenuity and repurposing. Dating back to the 1950s, it is a post-industrial grain store that has been transformed into a bustling café where speciality coffee is roasted on site and paddleboarders can hop ashore for a takeaway.

Originally part of Crisps Maltings, The Silo is owned by brothers Alex and Toby Hammond, who also own the Mill House opposite, and I am intrigued to learn more about the story behind this exciting new venture. Located at Wainford, just outside Bungay, The Silo is hard to miss, and stepping out of the car I am greeted by the wonderful aroma of freshly roasted beans. Luckily, although I am here a few days ahead of the official opening, Amir from Etude Coffee who will be running the café has the machine switched on and I am soon relishing the rich flavours of a deliciously smooth flat white. It is a fabulous space with vast glass doors that open to reveal the industrial scale workings of the original silo and I love how this contrasts with the relaxing ambience of the café. The giant helical sack chute is still in place, creating a wonderful synergy with the hessian sacks of coffee beans stacked nearby.

Alex and Toby grew up locally and enjoyed an idyllic childhood spent messing about on the river, exploring its hidden channels, and getting lost amongst the leafy tributaries.

“As kids we often paddled past the old Mill

House. It was totally derelict back then, with broken windows and suffocating under layers of ivy; overgrown and unloved. It held a fascination for us, and over the years we made enquiries as to whether it was for sale. With persistence and a little gentle persuasion, we managed to buy it and in 2008 began a five-year restoration project.” They have done a brilliant job, breathing life back into this handsome Georgian property with careful attention to detail and respect for the original features. It is now available to rent via Airbnb, and they love bringing their young families here. “To see our children jumping in the river and making rafts is like reliving the past as it is such a true reflection of our own childhood.”

With one project complete, Alex and Toby then turned their attention to the grain silo.

It was in use right up until 2016, and mindful that it might be sold for development, they once again charmed Crisps into giving them first refusal. “It is an extraordinary piece of architectural engineering as it is made entirely from concrete and was built over ten days via a continuous pour method. It caused quite a stir locally and one old chap, who was just a boy back then, was tasked with hauling trays of mugs up to the workmen above.” They take me on a tour, and ascending floor by floor I immediately get a sense of how huge it is. Finally, via a series of ladders, we make it out onto the roof where the views are simply spectacular, and the discussion soon turns to ideas of turning this into a terrace for the most phenomenal outdoor dining experience!

Back on ground level, Amir is still busy roasting his speciality coffees. He has worked within the industry for over eight years and is an accredited World Coffee Judge and trainer. “All our coffees are speciality grade and we work directly with farmers to ensure that the workers are fairly paid. To have a roastery on site is unusual but it means we can roast to order and guarantee the freshest coffee possible.” Amir also has plans to convert the first floor into a Coffee Training School where he can offer barista training and advice to people looking to open their own coffee shop. There is one last success story to add to this family enterprise, as Anna – Toby’s wife – also runs The Secret Sauna from the site. The Silo and Mill House are located on an island surrounded by the tributaries of the Waveney, and it has always been a popular swimming spot. Seeing the potential, Anna had a bespoke sauna built amongst the trees, tucked away in a secluded location to the rear, where otters and kingfishers are regular visitors. It is utterly magical. Strings of fairy lights line a wooded path that you wind down to the sauna, perched on the edge of the river, and guests also have the option of taking a dip and then warming up around the fire pit with coffee and cake afterwards.

This trio of innovation and reinvention makes for an exciting destination. Whether you want to stay for a week, book a sauna, meet friends for a coffee, or just grab a takeaway, it is all here for the taking and I can’t wait to return – maybe next time by canoe!

Instagram: /thesilowainford

/etude.coffee /secret_sauna about interiors