Stowmarket Design Quarter at the Old Fox Yard announces plans for pop-up workspace and café
A town’s historic business hub is welcoming creativity with plans for a new café and studio workspace for artists.
The Old Fox Yard in Ipswich Street, Stowmarket is introducing a new hive for creativity, innovation and artistry with the newly announced Stowmarket Design Quarter.
As Pickwicks coffee shop and Cancer Research UK have left the town, owner Matthew Bell is looking forward to bringing in a community-focused café and temporary pop up space for local artists to explore.
He said: “We’re really excited to be launching the Fox Yard as the official design quarter for Stowmarket.
“It’s been in the process for a long time but we feel like we can do it now.
“The yard is a perfect place for a café which will continue to create the community spirit we are already delivering at the bar and art studio.
“On top of this, the new artistic space will give people the chance to pretty much take over part of the old Cancer Research building which is really exciting.
“At the same time we’re always looking for more creative businesses to join our team in any of the smaller units we have at the yard.”
Matthew and the team are urging café owners and interested parties to get in touch by sending an email to property@modece.com.
On Monday, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council agreed to provide a temporary six-month work space for artists in the area and there will be a competition launched soon to create an exhibition and other programmes in the building.
The Old Fox Yard already has three creative businesses with Modece Architects, Fox Yard Studio and Pallet bar and Sam Bell, studio community organiser, is looking forward to this next chapter.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “After hearing from all the people that come into the studio - there really is a lot of creative stuff happening in the town and there’s so many creative people in the area.
“Knowing that we are evolving and granting more opportunities for people to explore is really great.
“I knew from the beginning that I wanted to bring people together through the studio and it’s been so lovely to grow the company into a CIC to offer free and low-price workshops.”
Sam created Stowmarket Arts CIC (Community Interest Company) in October and has been delivering community-focused workshops including sessions of creative writing, knitting, painting for beginners and lino printing.
The Old Fox Yard was a 16th-century listed coaching inn and was known then as The Fox Hotel.
The large complex of buildings is full of rich history and the most recent addition, Pallet bar, opened its doors in December 2021 with its vibrant murals painted by artist Catalina Carvajal.
Bar manager Ella Gill said: “I’ve been involved in hospitality for years and I’ve always loved working in bars and I love the social environment.
“It’s been so nice to be at Pallet from the start and I had never managed anything before - but I just really love being a part of the team here.
“In the summer it's so nice to see all our customers in the courtyard and people always say that they ‘forget they’re in Stowmarket’ which is funny.
“To see people happy in the environment you’ve created - it’s really nice.”
