The best pubs and bars in Suffolk
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Did someone mention nightlife? Needless to say, this is something you’re more likely to go to Suffolk to escape from rather than seek out. However, there are a handful of places you might want to let your hair down and have a few drinks in from a number of decent live music venues to the age-old Suffolk practice, a convivial local pub with an array of local ale. Get sampling with Telegraph Travel's Suffolk expert, Martin Dunford.
Inland Suffolk
Wingspan Bar, The Angel, Bury St Edmunds
There’s nothing like a proper basement bar for a night of illicit merry-making, and the Wingspan Bar at the very comfy Angel hotel in the centre of Bury is the place for just that, serving decent cocktails and pretty much anything you could wish for in the vaulted undercroft of this ancient coaching inn. We’re not sure why but it’s decorated with an aviation theme – with a bar fashioned out of an aircraft engine and tables from airplane doors – but it only adds to its charm and intrigue. Good for both pre- and after-dinner drinks.
Contact: 01284 714000; theangel.co.uk
Opening times: From 5pm on Saturday, 6pm on Thursday, Friday, Sunday
Prices: ￡￡
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The Locks Inn, Geldeston
On the banks of the river Waveney, which forms the border between the two counties, the Locks Inn is technically a few metres into Norfolk on the north bank of the river, but is such a legendary local joint we had to include it, with regular live music, specifically Sunday afternoon sessions, folk nights and a thousand other inventive offerings to lure you here. It feels very remote, and is one of the few pubs that is easiest to reach by river – by ferry from the riverside in Beccles.
Contact: 01508 518414; geldestonlocks.co.uk
Opening times: Late-October–March, Thursday–Sunday, 12pm–5pm; April–early-October, Monday–Friday, 12pm–11pm and Saturday/Sunday, 11am–11pm
Prices: ￡
Stoke-by-Nayland Hotel
This family-run hotel in the heart of rural Suffolk (it's owned by the Copella juice family, whose orchards surround the hotel) has been hosting their live 'Fleece Jazz' nights for a decade now, and they attract some of the most popular performers on the British jazz scene. Tickets cost just ￡15–￡20, and their cosy bar is a great place for pre-gig refreshments – as indeed is the restaurant, overlooking the sumptuous grounds of the hotel. They also offer great-value 'jazz packages' if you want to make a night of it.
Contact: 01206 262836; stokebynayland.com
Opening times: Friday, 7.30pm–11.30pm
Prices: ￡￡
? The best nightlife in Suffolk
The King’s Head, Laxfield
A proper pub, and one of our favourites in Suffolk, this ancient watering-hole on the green in the pretty central Suffolk village of Laxfield was proclaimed 'Adnams Pub Of The Year' a few years ago, and is unusual in that it has no bar – just a room full of barrels that staff disappear into to get your order while you make yourself comfy in one of the pub’s wood-panelled rooms. There is also good food, served in a separate dining room and the whole venue feels very friendly, and especially cosy on a winter’s night.
Contact: 01986 798395
Opening times: Daily, 12pm–11pm
Prices: ￡
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The Bell at Sax, Saxmundham
A coaching inn in the classic sense of the phrase, the long-established Bell at Sax is the beating heart of the small, sleepy town of Saxmundham, dispensing good cheer to a bar full of thirsty locals and serving good quality affordable food in its next door dining room. It’s been revitalised in recent years by chef-patron Jonny Nicholson (whose most recent venture is the excellent Sail Loft in Southwold) and the bar is always busy and buzzing – unlike the rest of the town, which to be honest can be pretty quiet at night.
Contact: 01728 602331; thebellatsax.co.uk
Opening times: Daily 10am–11pm
Prices: ￡
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Coastal Suffolk
DP’s, Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh is full of restaurants but does not have a brilliant selection of places to enjoy a tipple – with the exception, that is, of the legendary DP’s Bar, whose pristine art deco interior has, among other things, been used as a chemist and a book shop and now hosts live music events, the occasional quiz night and serves brilliant Thai street food in the courtyard outside every summer. Even when there’s nothing happening, there’s a friendly boho vibe that is in pleasant contrast with Aldeburgh’s otherwise largely vanilla offerings.
Contact: 01728 453530; dpsbar.co.uk
Opening times:
Prices: ￡
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Ramsholt Arms, Ramsholt
About five miles south of Woodbridge, this riverside pub sits right on the Deben estuary, an idyllic location with big picture windows and a large terrace overlooking the water. Having undergone a major revamp, it has been spruced up to no end with simple wooden tables providing a place to sit and get lost in the marvellous view outside. If you’re looking for an evening out at a country pub, with really good food too, you'd need look no farther. It is perhaps the most ideal spot to enjoy the sunset on a late summer evening by the river.
Contact: 01394 411209; theramsholtarms.com
Opening times: Monday–Thursday, 12pm–3pm; Friday and Saturday, 12pm–3pm and 5pm–10pm; Sunday, 11.30am–7pm
Prices:
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Ipswich and Constable Country
Dove Street Inn, Ipswich
Just a short walk from both the swanky waterfront and town centre, the Dove Street Inn is without doubt one of Ipswich’s best local pubs, renowned for its selection of draft ales (including its own brews) and a wide and interesting choice of bottled beers from around the world. It’s deceptively large inside, with a back room and courtyard and a cosy bar in the front, and they host regular beer festivals and other events throughout the year. They also serve a hearty menu of chilli, curries, pies and the like.
Contact: 01473 211270; dovestreetinn.co.uk
Opening times: Daily, 12pm–10.45pm
Price: ￡
Maybush Inn, Waldringfield
Owned by the same folk as the Butt & Oyster in Pin Mill on the Shotley Peninsula, along with a number of other scenic local pubs, this is a gloriously situated riverside boozer about 10 miles from Ipswich, with a brilliant location right on north bank of the Deben river. Enjoy a pint or two and perhaps a bite to eat (they do great nibbles as well as all the usual pub favourites) on its large terrace overlooking the masts and grassy banks of the tranquil river. A lovely location for a summertime drink by the river.
Contact: 01473 736215; debeninns.co.uk
Opening times: Monday–Saturday, 9am–11pm; Sunday, 9am–10.30pm
Prices: ￡
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Arcade Street Tavern, Ipswich
Right in the centre of Ipswich town, around the corner from the Corn Exchange, this diminutive bar has fast made a name for itself on the local craft beer scene, with an ever-changing range of cutting-edge brews on tap and literally hundreds by the bottle. They also have a huge gin menu, and host regular themed DJ nights at the weekends. They don’t serve food, apart from bar snacks, unless you are lucky enough to coincide with one of their 'Streetfood Fridays', when local vendors are invited in to sell their wares to hungry punters.
Contact: 01473 805454; arcadetavern.co.uk
Opening times: Tuesday, 11am–3pm; Wednesday-Thursday, 11am–11pm; Friday, 11am-12am; Saturday, 11am–1am
