Shortts Farm Brewery

Shortts Farm Brewery sits just outside Eye in Suffolk, a working farm operation that's turned its hand to craft beer. It's the sort of place where you can actually see how things are made rather than just drink the finished product - there's something satisfying about that, especially if you've got a genuine interest in brewing rather than just wanting a pint.

The brewery itself is fairly low-key. You're looking at a farmyard setting, proper rural Suffolk, which means it feels genuine rather than packaged up for tourists. It works well if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Hill Farm Suffolk or Stonham Barns - both within easy striking distance - and fancy a change of pace from the usual holiday park bars. Worth checking their opening hours before you head over, mind you, as small operations like this can be a bit variable.

It's more appealing to actual beer enthusiasts than families with restless kids, to be honest. If you're into how brews are put together and fancy talking to people who actually know their stuff, you'll get more out of it. Casual drinkers might find the conversation a bit heavy-going. Allow a couple of hours if you're planning to have a look around and grab a drink, longer if the owner's in a chatty mood and starts explaining the process. East Anglia's got several decent breweries dotted about, but this one's got the advantage of being agricultural - you're seeing beer made in its original context rather than in some renovated barn that looks like an industrial unit.