Suffolk Countryside - Food and Drink
From gourmet restaurants with Michelin stars, to cosy tearooms in a historic medieval village, our Suffolk countryside properties are never too far away from a delicious meal or afternoon tea! Combine this with Suffolk’s rich farming heritage, and you’ll find an abundance of locally grown and reared produce on offer at farmers markets, farm shops and village grocers.
If you are staying in the stunning area of Suffolk known as the Wool Towns you’ll find award-winning restaurants, pubs with timber beams and vineyards. Dating back to the 15th century, Lavenham’s “AA Two Rosette” awarded Swan Hotel serves delicious Sunday roasts and is a lovely place to relax with its Inglenook fireplaces and exposed oak beams. Some of The Swan’s customers also claim that it offers the best afternoon teas in the whole of East Anglia!
The Angel, which is located in the beautiful market place, lays claim to being Lavenham’s oldest inn. Today it is run by Marco Pierre White and has achieved critical acclaim for its delicious meals. Lavenham’s Great House, is another excellent, fine-dining establishment and was included in the Sunday Times’ 'Britain's Top 100 Restaurants’ list in 2010.
For a lighter lunch or morning tea, visit The Tudor Tea Rooms situated within Lavenham’s beautiful Guildhall of Corpus Christi. Other popular tea rooms include Chilli and Chives and Café Knit – both situated on Lavenham’s historic High Street.
If you prefer to shop for your own groceries, Lavenham has many shops including a family run butchers. Alternatively, why not visit the Farmers Market that takes place on the 4th Sunday of each month in the village hall? This market boasts over 30 of the highest quality artisan producers in Suffolk and was awarded ‘Best Market’ in the Suffolk Food and Drink awards.
Other popular dining establishments in the Wool Towns district include The Bull Inn — a 500 year old pub set in the beautiful village of Cavendish and Scutchers of Long Melford, recipient of a ‘Michelin Bib Gourmand’ award. Another award-winning restaurant situated in the picturesque village of Long Melford is The Black Lion. Their extensive menu includes seasonal favourites such as partridge pate, slow roasted shoulder of pork and a popular Sunday roast featuring rib of beef with all the trimmings.
If you are staying in one of Kersey properties you should definitely visit the historic Bell Inn which dates back to 1378. The pub was recently featured in one of the Meekats advertisement and is popular with walkers and cyclists, offering a cosy log fire, a bar/lounge and two dining rooms. Kersey Mill Tea Room is also popular place for light lunches, coffee and cakes and is located within the idyllic setting of Kersey Mill & Maltings.
If your Suffolk Secrets’ holiday is based in Bury St Edmunds, you won’t be disappointed by its excellent choice of cafes, restaurants, traditional tea rooms and pubs. This fine market town is home to The Nutshell, which lays claim to being the small pub in Britain. It is also home to Greene King, who has been brewing in Bury St Edmunds since 1799. A brewery tour and visit to the Greene King museum offers a fascinating journey into this historic business.
Bury St Edmund also hosts a fantastic Food & Drink Festival in the Buttercross Market every August with a fun filled programme that includes demonstrations by celebrity chefs, tasting booths and a Farmers’ Market.
A short drive away from Bury St Edmunds and not far from Stanton, is Wyken Vineyards which incorporates a 1200-acre farm with a flock of Shetland sheep, a small herd of Red Poll cattle and a 7-acre vineyard which produces a range of award-winning wines, including the English Wine of the Year. The vineyard’s restaurant – The Leaping Hare – is recipient of a ‘Michelin Bib Gourmand’ award, and serves delicious food using locally grown vegetables, meat and game from their estate and fresh fish from the North Suffolk coast.
If you’re staying in one of our Badingham cottages, we definitely recommend a visit to The White Horse - a beautiful 15th century coaching inn with open fires and timber beams. This pet-friendly pub serves home cooked meals and has a good selection of beers, wines and non-alcoholic beverages.
If you’re staying in one of our lovely holiday cottages in Monk's Eleigh, Woodlands Coffee Shop at Hollow Trees Farm is an excellent place for some delicious home cooked food. It’s also a great place to take the kids for a morning out in the countryside. The Woodlands Coffee Shop has a great selection of homemade cakes and gluten-free options. Meals are made using home-grown and locally sourced produce wherever possible and the popular children's menu includes healthy choices including fruit/vegetable snack bowls and homemade soup in addition to sandwiches, toasties and jacket potatoes.
