Onin.London Visits The Crown, Bildeston: A Pub With Rooms Rooted in Suffolk
On Friday 5th June, my mum, my nine month old twins and I took a long journey on public transport into heart of the picturesque Suffolk village of Bildeston. Why you ask? Well we were invited to The Crown, which is marketed as far more than just a country pub with rooms, so it seemed the perfect place to escape London for a night.
It was relatively easy to get to Bildeston from Stratford via train and a bus, if you don’t have a car. The picturesque views made the journey worth while for sure.
This Family-owned pub with rooms is deeply connected to its surroundings and has been beautifully restored to offer those a retreat with authentic taste of rural Suffolk. We were told to expect exceptional hospitality, seasonal dining and stylish accommodation. And that’s exactly what we got!
Owned by husband-and-wife team Charlie and Harriet Buckle, The Crown forms part of the wider Nedging Hall Estate and proudly champions an estate-to-plate philosophy. This means that the food which appears on the menu is grown just a short distance away in the estate’s thriving kitchen garden. Pretty remarkable if you ask us as you know you’re getting quality and fresh ingredients in every bite.
Following an extensive restoration, The Crown strikes the perfect balance between traditional charm and contemporary comfort. The spacious dining room provides an elegant setting for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, while cosy private dining rooms and the welcoming bar area, complete with a roaring open fire, offer more intimate spaces to relax. We had an early dinner so were able to enjoy the background music, candlelight room and beautiful interiors to ourselves before other diners joined us.
Of course we were there to eat as the heart of The Crown is its outstanding food offering. Head chef Greig Young works closely with the estate’s gardening team to craft menus that celebrate the seasons and showcase the very best local produce. During our visit, we were offered a three course meal for dinner and couldn’t have been more impressed.
We started with a range of traditional bar snacks such as Scotch eggs, mushroom arancini and Sour Dough Bread with homemade salted butter. All were delightful.
While waiting for our starters and mains, mum and I enjoyed a light summer spritz made with rhubarb, gin and prosecco. Tasty and Tangy just the way we like it.
Our starters consisted of a Pea Soup which mum thoroughly enjoyed. As did my 9 month old twins, who if they’d had their way wouldn’t have allowed mum to have any! I had the Heritage Tomato, Peach and Goats Cheese Salad which was light, refreshing and the perfect starter.
Main wise, mum went with the Pork Belly, braised white carrot with hot and sour apricot sauce and I had the Venison loin with Rosti, broccoli and red wine jus. Definitely one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. Service from the team was top notch as well as they were warm and attentive throughout our meal which felt genuine and effortless throughout.
We finished our meal off with a tasty Apple Sorbet which was light and a great way to end to our meal.
Upstairs, where we were fortunate to spend the night, we stayed in one of the 13 newly refurbished bedrooms which provided a peaceful sanctuary. Thoughtfully designed by Harriet, the interiors combine heritage colours, classic country-house elegance and modern comforts. In our room (Plum), we had a gorgeous king size bed to spend the night in and a bath which was the nicest way to end the night with a cup of tea and home made short bread. The amenities were a lovely touch to the room for sure.
We did have to bring our own travel cot, so families should be aware of this. And while there were no fridges in the room, staff were all too happy to help store the babies’ milk in their bar fridges for safe keeping.
We’d be amiss if we didn’t mention the breakfast. Mum and I had the Suffolk Breakfast and it came with some of the best scrambled eggs I’ve had on an escape. It wouldn’t have surprised me if they had been laid that morning. Staff also made a portion with no salt for babies so they could join us for breakfast.
What truly sets The Crown apart is its sense of place. Having been part of the Buckle family estate for more than 50 years, there is an authenticity here that cannot be manufactured and is rarely found in London. Every aspect of the experience, from the produce on the plate to the design of the rooms, reflects a genuine connection to Suffolk and the surrounding countryside. Staff should really get a huge shout out as they were helpful from the start to finish of our stay. From helping to carry luggage, to sourcing bike pumps to fix my pram (which got a flat tire in the morning and left us in a spot of bother). So you can guarantee staff will make your stay memorable throughout.
For those seeking exceptional food, heartfelt hospitality and a memorable countryside escape, The Crown, Bildeston delivers on every level. The team should be very proud of what they built. It made the long journey, worth every time spent just to be able to spend a night in the English Country side.
We can’t thank The Crown enough for a lovely stay and for the Suffolk Mauldons Brewery lager or ale, that we were gifted upon arrival. My dad had been enjoying this since we arrived home.
Make sure you book a weekend or mid week stay now, you’ll be glad you did.
