Suffolk - WHAT TO DO

Local Pubs

The nearest pub to The Grove Cottages is the Edwardstone 'White Horse', a friendly `village pub' with bar billiards, guest CAMRA ales and beers and now local organic Cider (great if you have a good sense of balance)

The White Horse now has it's own micro brewery - so lets check it out

The White Horse is a 20 minute walk across the fields from the cottages at the Old Grove Farm.

If you walk around Farmer Jack's deer compound in the other direction you can visit The Swan at Little Waldingfield, which is about a 25 min walk - just right for a thirsty walker.

The Bell at Kersey is a very friendly 'Local' pub in a very pretty village, in fact the next village along the lane from here at The Grove Cottages - The pub has become our local and offers a friendly atmosphere with a log fire and good unpretentious food, this is an excellent base for an easy dog walk along Kersey Vale or the perfect place to go to the day you arrive to unwind at get someone else to do the cooking !

* The Red Rose Lindsey is now open all week and has an excellent menu specialising in local organic beef and local oysters - it is a big hit with everybody and you will need to book 01449 741424.

website : http://www.redroseinn.co.uk/default.aspx

The Cock at Brent Eleigh is a treasure and is perhaps the smallest pub in England, it has no food but it does have Abbot Ale, ask for a pint if you dare.

The Boxford Fox & Hounds - actually in the hamlet of Groton, is a popular country Pub which has changed hands a few times but still seems to maintain it's attractions.

Boxford has The Fleece, which is a nice 3 mile walk across the fields from here or Holmwood Cottage and has excellent Jazz. Check the jazz websites for details but usually every Friday evening at 8.30 www.jazzatthefleece.org.uk or tel 01787 211 865 Good beer, Great Modern Jazz - no Dixieland stuff. - at the moment the jazz has moved down the lane to Kersey Mill - just 10 mins away.

The Boxford White Hart is on it's way to establishing itself as the Boxford Gastro pub and is handily situated opposite the Fleece pub where the excellent Jazz sessions are held every Friday night at 8.30pm

The White Hart is the birthplace of the legendary 'Wall of Death' motorcycle rider 'Tornado Smith' and also the burial place of his companion the 12 stone Lioness 'Briton' who rode with him in the sidecar.

The Cock, Polstead, a lovely cycle ride away from The Grove, Holmwood, Cobblers, The Wheelhouse or Milden, it has a friendly atmosphere, really great inventive snacks, good restaurant and a very good place to walk from across the Box Valley to Stoke-by-Nayland. I supply maps with a special walk that ends at this lovely village pub perched on the hill with all the thatched cottages leading half way down the hill, to the church where my walk begins from.

The Angel in The Market Place Lavenham - a beautiful pub where the host plays piano Friday and Saturday night - good pub restaurant - fantastic location. Open Sunday !

The Crown at Bildeston has been taken over recently and is making a great impressing on the foodie crowd, who all say it is well worth a vist.

The Angel in Stoke-by-Nayland - and old inn with a very good 'order at the bar' restaurant for easy evenings and a great finishing point for one of my favorite walks - maps of this are supplied in the cottages . The puddings are outrageously good. Sunday lunch runs from 11 a.m till 10p.m. no booking and very good. Open Sunday

The Crown in Stoke-by Nayland - This old pub was taken over by the original owners of The Angel opposite ! so now we have 2 great pubs trying to outdo each other with excellent food and wines - This pub is fast getting a big name for itself and was voted the best Pub with wine cellar in the good food guide 2008 !

Now these 2 Stoke-by Nayland pub's are perfect for Sunday's because there is a lovely walk along the St Edmunds Way at this point and you can get Sunday lunch from 11a.m. till 11 p.m. - which is a time scale I can appreciate.

The St Edmunds Way - Stoke-by-Nayland

If you visit Bury St Edmunds, The Nutshell, which is right in the centre, at 15ft x 7ft 6in it is officially England's smallest pub and well worth a visit.

The Brewers Arms in Rattlesden near Bury St Edmunds is great - good food and a good old pub atmoshere.

The White Hart in Nayland is an old Roux Brothers Pub, restaurant - more details in the restaurant section - you Have to book to eat and doggies / muddy boots are not welcome !

The Anchor in Nayland is another good pub in this very pretty riverside village, it recently enticed the chef from the Roux Bros White hart away and we all have great expectations of culinary delights there but again unfortunately no doggies inside but they do have a riverside beer garden and they do grow a lot of their own produce !!.

The Shoulder of Mutton in Assington - Live Bands most Saturday evenings. Decent Pub 'grub', good for a lively evening out.

The Low House (Kings Head) Laxfield is the best pub in England - wonderful 'make your own music' days on Wednesday - lovely old fashioned 'Settles' - no bar - just a tap room in the back where you can sample the beer before buying a jug. - Great simple food. A chap could easily be led astray here - and that is what I think I will do now - we can call it a bit of market research.

Mark The Grove Cottages