Thank you to so many of you who joined us this month for a magical summer evening with the talented Wild Arts Opera Company, who travelled up from London in electric cars, trains and bicycles to perform their Opera Evening to the highest possible standard in the Hangar earlier this month, staying the night with our kind friends in the village. Tickets, marketed by Wild Arts and on our Instagram account sold out fast, with the Hangar and our Maharaja tent at the ready in case of rain, though happily a few days before the event we were so completely certain of yet another dry warm and balmy evening ~ picnics were brought, Stiffkey Oysters served with lobster from Randy’s Seafood and plenty of Flint Vineyard sparkling pink wine and the warm evening started in the very early afternoon – audience members came in linen and sun hats, adorning the Hangar lawns and chattering away, while the musicians rehearsed inside until the performance started, when we were utterly entranced by a truly wonderful performance; after which everyone remained in the happy glow of the Hangar and under the setting sun, overlooking Cley marsh until late evening – the absolute luckiest of them all being the party of guests staying at Barn Drift, having just a short walk through the sycamore wood back to their beds. The musical standard was so high and we were delighted to hear from all performers, not only marvelling at the magical, wild and unspoiled building in which they performed but also their great enjoyment of the extraordinary acoustics too. Who would have thought, when my grandfather, Hubert Blount returned from WW2 and built the Hangar for his light aircraft in the late 1940’s that it would now prove to be the perfect musical event venue almost 80 years on.
Now in full swing of summer, we are very excited that The Wild Arts Opera Company are coming to Barn Drift, performing in the Hangar on the 9th of August. It will be a truly wonderful evening of music starting at 5pm, with an interval for drinks and serving oysters and lobster after the performance, although you are most welcome to bring your own picnic too. Get your tickets here https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wildarts/1581290 or from the link on the Barn Drift instagram bio and we really look forward to seeing you. As well as the Hangar we will also have our Maharaja tent up too so if, by some miracle it is raining ~ we’ve got it covered …without compromising that wonderful uninterrupted sea view!
Despite the extreme lack of rain lately and poor wilting, stunted crops all around us the Barn Drift gardens are looking lovely, with well established native trees and drought tolerant planting the happy sound of buzzing insects and garden birds all thriving – this morning while I was waiting for a delivery there I watched wagtails catch insects for their young, hidden in nests in the viburnam. We’ve added the Flat and Stables to the website – sorry not many photos yet, but well worth a visit. These rural apartments, 1 and 2 bedrooms are in the same place as each other, east of Cley and about a minutes drive from Barn Drift (or 15 minute, very lovely and easy walk across the farm). Each apartment has it’s own parking and front door. Bedrooms in both have ensuite showers and the Stables is wheelchair accessible. Both apartments have fully fitted kitchens, very comfortable sitting rooms and outside space. Perfect additions to Barn Drift or can be taken independently as a couples retreat – giving you more reasons to enjoy lovely Cley and the surrounding area. We still have some summer availability at Barn Drift too and don’t forget that all returning guests get 10% off. See you soon, Alice x
Exciting time of year, as usual wildlife galore engulfing Barn Drift and beyond; we are also loving noticing the spoonbills showing lots of interest again in Northforeland, the wood planted by my grandfather in 1951 north of Barn Drift – diligently building their nests for the 5th year running amongst the herons and egrets at the very top of the highest trees. Although we daren’t stop and stare as understand they don’t want any human interest at all! so no eye contact – better to watch them feeding on the marsh, heads down, bills swishing through the mud. Amazingly there is still some summer availability at Barn Drift – unheard of but dates slowly filing up so don’t leave it too late. Christmas is also still free but only until the 27th of December 2025 and Christmas 2026 is already booked. We’ve planted some holly’s in the old water tanks in front of the loos and showers by the Hangar and the native tree collections along the hedge are doling so well – credit to them, fully exposed to salt air and high winds. A friend in the village has been having a clear out and kindly passed on some pretty urns that we have positioned on the raised terrace – let me know what you think we should plant in them. Our beloved Cley church has lots of musical events throughout the summer and we are hosting the wonderful Wild Arts in the Hangar on the 9th of August – not to be missed! There’s a link for tickets in my bio on the @barndrift instagram account – The hangar lawn will be open for picnics all afternoon. See you soon, Alice x