Leiston Abbey

Leiston Abbey is a beautiful historic site dating from 1363, set in the Suffolk countryside only a short drive from the seaside towns of Aldeburgh and Southwold. The beautiful abbey ruins are incorporated into the buildings providing a stunning backdrop for your event.

Parts of the ruins were purchased in the 1970s by Pro Corda, the International Chamber Music Academy, a charity running music courses for children and adults.

The barn is a large space suitable for many different functions and is licensed for up to 160 people. It is a building full of character with a superb thatched roof supported by vast old beams, and the beautiful candelabra provide a stunning and romantic effect. With a self-contained bar and a raised platform ideal for live music, discos and dancing, the barn is the perfect place to accommodate your event.

Some fifteen years ago the remains of the Abbey’s medieval Guesten Hall were discovered under a tangle of brambles and an old cattle shelter. Once restored, the remains were preserved exactly as found and the resulting building is very special. The red tiled roof is supported by a series of wooden clad pillars and the original walls can be seen clearly, both inside and outside the building. The Guesten Hall comprises of an upper and lower floor and is another unique space with a capacity for up to 70 people, the upper floor accommodating our licensed ceremony room.