The Bildeston Crown

“Culinary cleverness at a very appealing inn” - AA Inspector
BILDESTON, SUFFOLK

Our Inspector's View
The Bildeston Crown has all the chocolate-box charm you’d hope for in a 15th-century former coaching inn, although there’s a very 21st-century take on things these days, which means boutique bedrooms, an atmospheric beamed bar, a smart restaurant and classy food ranging from pub classics to more modern ideas from a kitchen that’s firing on all cylinders. Chef Chris Lee’s understanding of how flavours work together results in outstanding dishes, whether you go for something pubby from the Classics menu – a Red Poll cheese burger poshed up with foie gras and truffle mayo, say – or look to the Select menu and open with cumin-roasted scallop with cauliflower and apple. Main courses such as loin of local rabbit with duck liver, beetroot, fennel and endive, or hake fillet with curried mussels and coriander demonstrate mastery of both texture and taste. Flavours punch above their weight in deserts too, particularly when warm chocolate mousse is matched with ginger ice cream.
Awards, Accolades & welcome Schemes
Facilities – at a glance
Tasting menu
Private dining
Wheelchair access
Features
- Seats: 100
- Private dining available
- On-site parking available
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accessible toilets
- Assist dogs welcome
- Open all year
- Lunch served from: 12
- Lunch served until: 2.30
- Dinner served from: 7
- Dinner served until: 9.30
- Wines under £30: 30
- Wines over £30:
- Wines by the glass: 16
- Cuisine style: Modern and Classic British
Also in the Area
About The area
Discover Suffolk
Suffolk is Constable country, where the county’s crumbling, time-ravaged coastline spreads itself under wide skies to convey a wonderful sense of remoteness and solitude. Highly evocative and atmospheric, this is where rivers wind lazily to the sea and notorious 18th-century smugglers hid from the excise men. John Constable immortalised these expansive flatlands in his paintings in the 18th century, and his artwork raises the region’s profile to this day.
Walking is one of Suffolk’s most popular recreational activities. It may be flat but the county has much to discover on foot – not least the isolated Heritage Coast, which can be accessed via the Suffolk Coast Path. Southwold, with its distinctive, white-walled lighthouse standing sentinel above the town and its colourful beach huts and attractive pier features on many a promotional brochure. Much of Suffolk’s coastal heathland is protected as a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and shelters several rare creatures including the adder, the heath butterfly and the nightjar. In addition to walking, there is a good choice of cycling routes but for something less demanding, visit some of Suffolk’s charming old towns, with streets of handsome, period buildings and picturesque, timber-framed houses.
Nearby Stays
Places to Stay
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