Let’s face it, now is not the time that anyone fancies heading to the Med trying to find a spot on a crowded beach in 45 degree heat and ending up squeezing next to some bloke in budgie-smugglers, or standing outside the Uffizi with only 1,722 people ahead of you in the queue for a ticket. And it won’t be any better in the Autumn, which is when the British countryside is at its most lovely. Hence the increasing popularity of the staycation. And in that context we came across an offer that is so tempting it felt unfair to keep it to ourselves.
In rather wonderful Suffolk, The Bildeston Crown, a characterful 15th-century pub with rooms is offering a Midweek Dine & Stay package includes two nights for the price of one, a three-course dinner on the first evening worth up to £90, and a full Suffolk breakfast on both mornings.
The Crown’s kitchen, led by Executive Chef Greig Young, works closely with the nearby Nedging Hall Estate gardens and local suppliers to create seasonal menus centred around ultra-local produce and game.
Available Sunday to Thursday, prices for two guests start from: Woodland Room: £300, Game Room: £315 and Orchard Room: £335. These are quite extraordinary prices for somewhere like this and I suspect will prove very popular – they certainly should!
The Crown is a country pub with rooms located in Bildeston, Suffolk and is part of the aforementioned and Nedging Hall Estate and both are owned and run by the Buckle family. Proud to follow an ‘Estate to Plate ethos’, The Crown’s menu is inspired, and supplied wherever possible by what is grown within the bountiful Nedging Hall Kitchen Garden..
Having relinquished management of The Crown in 2022, Charlie and Harriet Buckle have lovingly restored the property. A large 50 seat dining room provides an ideal spot for lunch or dinner and for those wanting a more intimate experience, three private dining rooms are available for up to 38 guests, A separate bar area with a generous open fire is ideal for a light bite and refreshment of any kind, as is the adjacent Paddock Bar, inspired by Charlie Buckle’’s love of racing. Upstairs, The Crown has 13 newly refurbished rooms which are generous in size and ideal for a gourmet break away.
Good food is at the core of the Crown’s offering and chef Greig Young leads the kitchen. Working closely with the Nedging Hall Estate gardening team, Greig is able to deliver a menu that is both seasonal and local. Beyond vegetables, fruits and herbs, The Estate also supplies The Crown with wild game, with all other livestock and poultry being sourced from farms within a stone’s throw of Bildeston. Likewise, a warm welcome and smooth service is guaranteed courtesy of Jackie Ha who has recently joined The Crown from the UK’s former number One Gastropub and all round excellent place, The Unruly Pig (a personal favourite of mine).
Greig’s dishes for the autumn are centred around root vegetables and pickled ingredients including dishes such as braised venison raviolo, onion cream, crispy shallots and slow roast celeriac with pickled walnut and sage, however, early signs of spring mean wild garlic is now available with plenty more spring-greens to come.
For those wanting more of a pub experience, bar snacks including scotch eggs and rosti chips are always available and perfectly paired with Nedging Hall’s very own, Mauldons Brewery lager or ale.
Being family owned and run means The Crown is a pub with heart. Charlie and Harriet Buckle are entirely hands on and it is Harriet’s keen eye for interior design that has ensured The Crown looks as good as it tastes. A palate of heritage colours ranging from golden yellows, to perfect greens and warming reds weave their way throughout the ground floor creating a convivial and inviting space which always glow courtesy of the roaring fire. The 13 bedrooms are equally stylish where billowing beds and classic interiors with a contemporary edge create spaces you won’t want to leave.
Having been in the family for over 50 years, Nedging Hall is a loved and treasured estate and the family considers The Crown to be its jewel. What a perfect place to spend a few days away from London….
The Bildeston Crown, 104 High Street, Bildeston, IP7 7EB – [email protected] – www.thebildestoncrown.com – 01449 740510
The offer can be booked here
