All Posts

Welcome to our Spring Guide for things to do in our region as the days get brighter and the nights get shorter. You'll find tips for the best Easter activities for families, our favourite walking spots, recommendations for festivals and outdoor theatres and lots more - all within easy reach of one of our pubs. CAMBRIDGESHIRE Paddle Boarding What better way to take in the sights of historic Cambridge than paddle boarding down the River Cam on a sunny day. From city-centre spot

#EmbraceEquity As today is International Woman’s Day it’s the perfect time to shine a spotlight on some of the fabulous women across our collection of pubs. This year’s theme is Embrace Equity so we are celebrating with snippets of how our incredible ladies create opportunities in the environments they influence, both in and out of work. Marcela, Head Chef at The Rupert Brooke "I always wanted to become a chef, it definitely runs in the family as my sister became a chef and m

It's Food Waste Action Week this week and we have been looking at all of the little ways we can make our fruit, veg' and pennies go further. Making the absolute most of the ingredients in our dishes has never been more important. The cost of food has risen exponentially in recent years and we are all aware of the importance of reducing the amount of food we send to landfill. Each stage in the production of our food, from farm to fork, draws resources from the planet and produ

Back in Autumn we had the pleasure of hosting one of our EA Festival Chestnut Tour talks with renowned designer and eco-fashion pioneer, Anya Hindmarch, at The Crown . Anya shared some of the wisdom and insights from her first book, the Sunday Times best-seller, If In Doubt Wash Your Hair . Drawing on what she has learned during her busy, multi-hyphenate life (mother-designer-businesswoman), she told us of strategies for becoming an even-more sustainable business, balancing f

Last year a number of Chestnut chefs took a trip to Fen Farm Dairy, a key supplier of Chestnut dairy products. The team were transported to the delicate ecosystems of the Waveney River Valley and the Fen Farm team showcased the care that is put into their beloved herd and land. MEET JONNY CRICKMORE, DIRECTOR AND FARM MANAGER Jonny is the third generation of the Crickmore family to run Fen Farm. He has been working on the farm since the age of four, when he would sneak out of

Guest Writer Emily Goodwin Booked a stay by the Suffolk coast during the off-season? Here’s a guide to some of the best-kept secrets of the seaside towns when sunbathing on the beach is not an option. ALDEBURGH Even on a gloomy day, The Scallop on Aldeburgh beach is a sight to behold. Designed as a tribute to local composer Benjamin Britten, the shell was commissioned in 2003 of artist Maggi Hambling. Aldeburgh is a goldmine for artists, with the Beach Lookout Art Gallery o

Whether you're celebrating with your other half, friends, or just want an excuse to treat yourself to something delightful, we've compiled some of our favourite gifts and experiences to share this Valentine's Day. LITTLE LUXURIES Not all of us go into full-blown Valentine's mode, however, I know that you can't go far wrong with buying a beautiful bouquet or box of fancy chocolates for that special someone. The Flower Hut , based near The Weeping Willow , is an independent f

Throughout December, as part of our Giving Tree fundraising, we committed to raising much needed funds for East Anglia's Children's Hospices . With the help of our generous guests and Bury St Edmunds Roundtable , we raised over £10,000, this will support the charity in providing specialist care for children and young people with life threatening conditions in our region. To support with the fundraising, £1 was added to guests bills when dining with us in December. The money

If you have visited one of our pubs recently, you may have seen our in-house magazine, In a Nutshell , greeting you at the entrance, or perhaps propped up on the bar. After such a popular response to our first edition, we have just released our Autumn/Winter version. AUTUMN/WINTER 2022/23 Our second edition has a variety of articles ranging from pub profiles, to an interview with Suffolk born actor, Ralph Fiennes. Having recently starred in hit-film The Dig, we hear a little

On 11th October last year, a number of our Chestnut team embarked on the epic 500km cycle ride around all of our pubs to continue important fundraising efforts for The Giving Tree . We chose to support Norfolk Community Foundation and their initiative, Nourishing Norfolk , which aims to feed Norfolk’s future by helping to combat food insecurity and ensure that no-one goes hungry. The initiative was set up in 2020 as a response to increased demand for food services during the