Snape Maltings is part of Snape, Suffolk, U.K., best known for its concert hall, which is one of the main sites of the annual Aldeburgh Festival. The Maltings is a set of buildings, mostly dating from the 19th century, built on the banks of the River Ore near Snape, Suffolk, England. Its original purpose was the malting of barley for the brewing of beer; local barley, once malted, was sent from here to London and exported to mainland Europe. The Maltings closed in 1960. The buildings have since been partially restored and rebuilt (some remain dilapidated) and converted into shops, galleries, and the concert hall, where part of the world-famous Aldeburgh music festival is held, initiated by Benjamin Britten and run by Aldeburgh Music.