The pick of Suffolk's inns
Our top choices for pubs with AA-rated accommodationSuffolk’s finest inns
Suffolk has the lot. A county studded with picture-postcard villages, Tudor mansions and glorious churches, plus bird watching at RSPB Minsmere, the genteel coastal resorts of Southwold and Aldeburgh, and the foodie delights of its excellent inns along the way. Our selection seeks out the pick of the pubs, all with accommodation rated by the AA.
The Crown, Stoke-by-Nayland
In the heart of Constable Country and handy for the timeless villages of Lavenham, Kersey and Long Melford, this 16th-century free house offers stylish dining and cracking local ales in the contemporary bar. Eleven luxury bedrooms complete the jewels in this crown.
Sibton White Horse Inn
Replete with Tudor charm, this rustic 16th-century inn incorporates stone floors, exposed brickwork and recycled ships’ timbers. Its raised gallery is the place to enjoy a pint, several dining areas serve award-winning food, and the secluded courtyard has a cheery Mediterranean feel.
Elveden Inn, Elveden
This village inn on the Elveden Estate has a relaxed, contemporary bar, several dining areas, and six luxury bedrooms. Expect a family-friendly atmosphere, blazing log fires in winter, a range of guest ales, and a modern pub menu brimming with produce from the estate farm.
The Packhorse Inn, Newmarket
Close to the racing at Newmarket, his smart, family-friendly country pub and restaurant still pulls in local drinkers, but it’s the classy, inventive cooking that attracts foodies from far and wide. Classy bedrooms are enticing for a stopover.
The Angel Inn, Stoke-by-Nayland
Serving ale since the 16th century, The Angel’s doors open to reveal oak beams, quarry-tiled floors, log fires and a high-ceilinged dining area with a 52-foot well. You'll find antique furniture in the individually styled bedrooms.
The Ship at Dunwich
Climbing foliage adorns this red-brick pub in a coastal village. Surrounded by heathland and nature reserves, with a beach on hand and Southwold nearby, it's got the lot, including a garden with an ancient fig tree and a courtyard for outdoor dining.
The White Horse Inn, Eye
Set in some lovely Suffolk countryside, the heavily timbered interior of this 17th-century coaching inn accommodates an inglenook fireplace, two bars and a restaurant. There are 11 spacious motel bedrooms in the grounds, as well as a patio and secluded grassy area.
Cherry Tree Inn, Woodbridge
The Cherry Tree Inn features a large central counter and appealing seating areas amid its gnarled oak beams. Expect locally-sourced, home-cooked food and a changing cast of guest ales, with Adnams and Aspall cider in permanent residence; a beer festival in early July confirms the pub’s ale credentials.
The Black Lion, Sudbury
Overlooking the village green in Long Melford, the 15th-century Black Lion is an inviting inn with roaring log fires in winter and a conservatory leading out onto an alfresco dining terrace. Some bedrooms overlook the green and others the cathedral.