The seaside town of Aldeburgh is a quintessentially British former Tudor port, with a beautiful Blue-Flag shingle beach and some of the best fish and chip shops in the country.

One of the town’s most recognisable landmarks is Scallop, a 15ft stainless steel sculpture created by local artist Maggi Hambling. The words “I hear those voices that will not be drowned” from Benjamin Britten’s opera Peter Grimes appear on the sculpture, which is dedicated to the British composer, a former Aldeburgh resident, who enjoyed nothing more than to stroll down the pebbled beach.

When seeking the perfect location to shoot their spring/summer campaign, Gieves & Hawkes wanted a setting synonymous with the brand’s British heritage. And Britten’s former Aldeburgh residence, The Red House was the ideal location. The composer lived in the beautiful 17th-century redbrick farmhouse with his partner Peter Pears between 1957 and his death in 1976.

‘We chose Aldeburgh as the setting for our new campaign as it seemed very Gieves & Hawkes,’ says G&H design director John Harrison. ‘We’re a British company with maritime roots, and the seaside town with its cultural associations felt like a great backdrop for our elegant, British designs. Benjamin Britten’s house in particular was a wonderful place to shoot, full of history and atmosphere.’

Gieves & Hawkes’ SS18 collection is full of British charm and evokes days spent on pebble beaches or racing down the motorway for a weekend away. Classic sporting motifs are particularly prevalent with monogrammed cricket jumpers in pink and navy, and rugby shirts in sky blue, navy and British racing green. Formalwear takes a young Prince Charles as a key influence, particularly in its peaked lapel lightweight wool suits in dark blue and green or houndstooth. The collection’s embroidered tailored chinos and airy linen jackets are perfect paired with striped T-shirts that evoke coastal adventures and are made for exploring the countryside or attending relaxed summer parties.

Now open to visitors, The Red House includes Britten’s composition studio, library, and beautiful gardens. Britten and Pears held garden parties, grew vegetables, and played croquet and tennis in the verdant grounds. Britten wrote his War Requiem in the studio, built in a hayloft next to the main house. The library, built in 1963 on the site of a derelict barn, held Pears and Britten’s extensive music and book collection, as well as serving as a rehearsal space. His desk, piano and other belongings are still in the room for visitors to see.

The Red House’s sturdy architecture and tasteful grounds are the ideal setting for a classic British brand such Gieves & Hawkes, and the inspiration drawn from the iconic composer can be felt in every image.

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