Food & Drink

FOOD & DRINK

Suffolk is justly renowned for its food produce, as well as its famous beers, cider, and even wine. Locally produced food and drink can be found in the many delis, farmers’ markets, independent butchers, dairies and cheese shops in the towns and villages around The Gig House. Suffolk Farmhouse cheeses and fresh Guernsey milk are both available from Whitegate Farm to the south on the A140 just outside Stonham Aspal, and other local produce is available at Hog & Hen on the Debenham Road.

There is a lovely Community Shop with cafe in Coddenham which sells local produce as well as general store items and is well worth supporting.

Locally landed fresh fish and other seafood can be found at fishmongers and smokeries in coastal villages like Aldeburgh and Orford.

Alder Carr Farm shop at Needham Market is well worth a visit to browse and buy fresh local produce, and you can take a break from shopping or have a meal at the cafe there as well.

If you’d prefer to let others do the cooking, there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, pubs with food and takeaways to try in the larger and coastal towns as well as a range of country pubs and restaurants in the villages.

A small selection of our favourites includes:

The Highwayman – is nearby and easy to find alongside the A140. Good bar and restaurant menus available.

The Victoria at Earl Soham – 10 minutes. Great, simple, pub food – and has its own brewery!

Cretingham Bell – On the village green in Cretingham. Good pub food and a good range of beers to be had.

The Moon and Mushroom – Nice village pub, 15 minutes away in the village of Swilland, towards Ipswich. Free house with good beer and menu.

The Black Horse – At Thorndon near Eye. One of our very favourites for a casual meal out. Good food – with an interesting and tasty range of curries and other exotic meals to supplement its regular pub menu.

The Sorrel Horse – Barham – near the junction between the A14 and A140.

The Walnut Tree (Bucks Head) – Well regarded vegetarian restaurant and pub. Ten minutes up the A140 at Thwaite. I can confirm that you don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy their menu.

The Dog at Grundisburgh – Justifiably very popular and close to Woodbridge – about 20 mins drive. You will probably need to make a reservation for evenings.

The Crown at Stowupland – Refurbished and reopened under new management in 2015. Closed Mondays.

The Bull Auberge – Cosy, high quality, restaurant 15 minutes up the road towards Norwich.

For routine shopping, there is a large Tesco superstore just off the A14 at Junction 50 (A1120 – Stowupland). Take the Stowmarket/Needham Market exit off the roundabout and then the second exit off the next roundabout (about 200 yds further on). The Tesco store is then the second exit off the roundabout 100 yards after that one. Alternatively, there is a Co-op and range of other shops in Debenham, and a small convenience store at Stonham Barns just outside the village on the A1120