If you can't decide whether you're after a rural retreat or coastal calm on a break from London, then the good news is that you don't have to choose. We popped up to Suffolk for a break from town to stay with The Chestnut Group - a range of award-winning pubs and hotels in the East of England. The group itself has been around for a while now, but appeared on our radar due to the new person heading up the food and drink side of things there. You might remember Gordy McIntyre for being part of Hicce and Hicce Hart in London. Now Gordy's a country boy and when he invited us to check out a few of their inns we jumped at the chance.
A country inn, just minutes from the seaside
The view of The Westleton Crown from the nearby churchyard
The Westleton Crown is one of those gorgeous village pubs that's the heart and soul of the place. You'll find it in Westleton, a pretty village about three miles inland from the Suffolk coast which boasts both a medieval church, village green complete with duck pond and its own nature reserve.
The pub itself is a late 18th century coaching inn which is just as lovely a place to pop in for a pint of local ale as it is booking in for a long lunch or leisurely dinner. We also hear it's popular with royalty too, with both the Prince and Princess of Wales having stayed here not that long ago.
The rooms
Our family bedroom at The Crown
Over the years, the pub has expanded so there are now 34 bedrooms in the pub and adjoining cottages. They've all been very recently refurbished so are bright and modern. We lucked out with Little Owl, one of their better (their description) family bedrooms. That was massive with a separate sofa bed, huge bathroom and a little balcony with table and chairs. That would have been lovely to sit out on if we hadn't been experiencing sub-zero weather at the time.
The food
Fallow and Fire (£50 for two - served in the evenings from Thursday to Saturday).
Head chef Alex Henshaw is responsible for a locavore menu that emphasises responsibly grown produce. That includes everything from the sourdough toast at breakfast from local bakers Filo & Twine to the fully East Anglian cheeseboard at dinner.
We particularly loved the idea behind their popular venison option Fallow and Fire. That's a dish that very neatly illustrates the food ethos here. It sees the kitchen butchering a whole venison and using every bit of it in a platter that includes a fillet, haunch steak, stalker's pie, faggots and game chips. It's one of the best venison dishes we've had in quite a while.
Bramley apple Charlotte with white chocolate custard (£10) - the must-have dessert, we think.
Breakfast time
It wasn't until we came down to breakfast the next day that we realised just what a dog-friendly pub this is. We felt slightly out of place not having our own pooch resting underneath our table.
Breakfasts are included if you book direct with the hotel, making their own rate a seriously attractive proposition. We could have opted for local smoked salmon with scrambled egg, smoked kippers or a breakfast brioche bun, but the lure of the Full East Anglian breakfast was impossible to resist.
Top marks for a very good Full Anglian
What is there to do nearby?
The Crown is right on the edges of RSPB Minismere, a haven for wildlife. Ask at the pub's reception for their Round Route walking map. It's an 8.5 mile round trip that takes you through the local heath to Dunwich on the coast and back.
Happily the Chestnut Group also own The Ship at Dunwich, a similarly historic inn that does a very nice line in pub lunches. Stretch your legs on the nearby Dunwich beach before heading into the pub for stellar fish and chips or this...
Soft shell crab burger with Monterey jack cheese and sweet chilli mayo (£18).
Take a bracing walk pre or post-lunch on Dunwich beach.
You could also visit the nearby Tosier Chocolate Tasting Rooms - a family-run business where you can see small batch chocolate being made, try your own hand at making it or just sit and enjoy an amazing hot chocolate in the cafe here. And we also had to pop in once again to Pinch bakery to get some of their legendary honey and bacon cruellers for the trip home.
Getting there
To do this part of Suffolk properly (and easily) you really need a car. If you don't have access to one then getting here involves a train trip from Liverpool Street to Ipswich, then a branch line train to Darsham which is a three mile walk from the village.
Overall thoughts
If you've been stuck in London and are desperate to get out of town for a minibreak that involves good food, plenty of interesting walks, is dog-friendly and doesn't cost the earth, then The Westleton Crown ticks all the boxes.
More about The Westleton Crown
Where is it? The Street, Westleton, Nr Southwold, Suffolk IP17 3AD
Pricing We thought that prices were very good for a place of this standard. When we searched for a Friday night in Spring we found rooms for as little as £115 for the night for two including breakfast or from around £200 including dinner as well.
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @thewestletoncrown
Hot Dinners stayed as guests of The Chestnut Group. Prices correct at time of publication.
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