Heritage & Places

The Maltings & Living Barracks Project

Arts and culture have always been part of Berwick-upon-Tweed’s character, shaped by its history, landscape and community. A key champion of this creativity is The Maltings (Berwick) Trust, a creative cultural organisation presenting exhibitions, film, creative activity and events across a number of venues in the town, offering something to discover throughout the year.

As a registered charity, The Maltings works to make arts and culture welcoming and accessible, creating opportunities for people of all ages to experience and take part in. From exhibitions and cinema at Berwick Barracks and The Granary Gallery to creative workshops at Maltings at Hide Hill, its programme reaches across the town, inviting you to explore culture in different settings.

Visitors might step into an exhibition within a historic building, discover a new artist, or enjoy a film just a short walk from the river or town walls. Each space offers its own atmosphere, but together they form a connected cultural programme that continues to grow.

A part of this is the Living Barracks project at Berwick Barracks. The Maltings (Berwick) Trust, along with Berwick Barracks Heritage Trust (BBHT), English Heritage (EH), The King’s Own Scottish Borderers Association (KOSB) and Northumberland County Council, and supported by Arts Council England’s Cultural Development Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and other generous partners, are working together to restore the Barracks’ historic role as a central part of the town’s social and cultural life, creating a vibrant destination where heritage and creativity meet. Within this partnership, The Maltings plays a key role in animating the site through exhibitions, screenings and events, ensuring that heritage and creativity sit side by side. As more areas of the barracks open up, the space will evolve into a lively, welcoming destination for residents and visitors alike.

And it’s not just in the venues. The Maltings is working with artists, communities and partners to create a programme that feels both aspiring and welcoming — from nationally recognised exhibitions to family-friendly activities and opportunities for young people to get involved.

This reflects a growing confidence in Berwick as a cultural destination, where creativity sits naturally alongside heritage and landscape.

The Maltings are playing their role in bringing these elements together, helping to create reasons to visit whilst bringing the local community into the heart of its work.

As the Living Barracks project develops and activity across the town continues to expand, there is a clear sense of momentum. For you, that simply means more to see, more to do and more ways to connect with culture throughout the year. Whether exploring an exhibition at the Barracks, visiting The Granary Gallery or taking part in activities at Hide Hill, The Maltings continues to make creativity a visible and enjoyable part of life in Berwick.

Find out more at www.maltingsberwick.co.uk

The Straw Yard

The Straw Yard is an independent creative venue and cultural hub based in Berwick-upon-Tweed, dedicated to supporting artists, audiences, and community participation in the creative and performing arts. It combines the intimacy of a fringe venue with the ambition of a small producing house. Our aim is simple: to create a place where creativity can thrive, where artists can experiment, and where audiences can encounter exciting work up close.

The Straw Yard is an independent creative venue and cultural hub based in Berwick-upon-Tweed, dedicated to supporting artists, audiences and community participation in the creative and performing arts. It combines the intimacy of a fringe venue with the ambition of a small producing house.

Our aim is simple: to create a place where creativity can thrive, where artists can experiment, and where audiences can encounter exciting work up close.

Alongside presenting work, The Straw Yard actively develops new projects. Through Yardlight, its associated production company, it creates original productions that premiere in Berwick before touring elsewhere. This ensures that new work is not only made here, but also grows out of the local creative ecosystem.

The venue also supports artists through rehearsal space, workshops and collaborative opportunities, helping practitioners refine their ideas and bring ambitious projects to life.

The Straw Yard also operates a welcoming courtyard bar and social space, allowing audiences and artists to gather before and after events. This informal environment encourages conversation and connection, reinforcing The Straw Yard’s role not only as a performance venue, but also as a meeting place for creative exchange.

As an independent organisation, The Straw Yard is driven by a belief that culture should be locally rooted but outward-looking. From its base in Berwick-upon-Tweed, it collaborates with artists and organisations across the UK and beyond, contributing to the cultural life of the region while connecting it to wider creative networks.

The team is supported in that ambition by Create Berwick, the CCZ for Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Ultimately, The Straw Yard exists to nurture creativity, support artists and provide audiences with memorable cultural experiences. By combining performance, production, learning and community activity in one place, it aims to be a vibrant and sustainable centre for the arts in Berwick and the wider Borders region.

Support Us: The Straw Yard Membership Scheme

Help us to help you

At The Straw Yard, we believe great art thrives when a community stands behind it.

This April, we’re launching an exciting new membership scheme: a simple, affordable way to support what we do, while enjoying a range of special benefits in return.

With a one-off annual payment, you can become part of our growing community of supporters yourself, or gift a membership to a fellow arts lover. It’s our way of saying thank you to those who champion live performance in Berwick.

Members will enjoy priority booking access, giving them the chance to secure tickets before they go on general sale. At every event, members will also be welcomed with a complimentary tea or coffee, and receive a member’s badge to wear with pride.

The enhanced membership tier offers even more, including:

  • invitations to exclusive members-only events and receptions
  • the opportunity to bring a guest for half price to two shows each year
  • 10% off at the bar every time you visit

How to Hire and Contact The Straw Yard

The Straw Yard is a unique space forming part of the historic barracks of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The team operates flexibly and understands that every event has different requirements. Spaces can be hired on an hourly, daily or weekly basis.

The JM Wilson Studio

Capacity: 40–60 (depending on event type)

An open-plan space with hardwearing flooring, an attractive roof and original stone walls. It’s ideal for:

  • workshops
  • rehearsals
  • small performances
  • spoken word events
  • parties
  • book launches
  • fairs
  • exhibitions
  • and a wide range of other events

Outdoor Space

Capacity: 80–120 (depending on event type)

The outdoor space is part hard standing, part grass and is perfect for spring, summer and autumn events. The site can also be closed off and secured, helping keep events private and safely managed.

Head to our website to see the best way to get in touch: www.thestrawyard.co.uk