From Romantic painter John Constable, known for his landscapes around Dedham, to sculptor Maggi Hambling, East Anglia has always been rich with inspiration for the creative industries. There's annual literature festivals, such as Felixstowe Book Festival , and celebrations of music at the Aldeburgh Festival , but with plenty of museums, galleries and stately homes on our doorstep, there's always a new exhibition for art lovers to rejoice in. CAMBRIDGESHIRE This summer Cambri

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

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

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

At Chestnut, our chefs always keep locality and provenance in mind. That's why a team away day at Houghton Estate in North Norfolk made for a great backdrop to learn more about sustainable farming and then get creative in the kitchen. Nowhere is the commitment to sustainable food sources more apparent than the 5000 acre estate where Head Game Keeper, Robert Hall, takes the lead. You can read more about his fascinating story here . After Robert took our chefs, team members and

Welcome to our Winter Guide for things to do in our region during the colder months of 2022. You'll find tips for the best walking routes along the Suffolk coast, our favourite Cambridgeshire spots to see snowdrops, our recommendations for getting up close to the seasons wildlife in Norfolk and family fun to be had in Essex - all within easy reach of one of our pubs. THE GREAT OUTDOORS New year, new gym membership? Enjoy a healthier lifestyle by exploring our region on foot,

Written by Charlie Branwhite, guest to our Field to Fork dinner and Sandy Paws Stay As a couple whose passions and hobbies encompass all traditional aspects of country life, we advocate eating and swapping to game at every opportunity. So when we got invited to a Game Dinner at The Feathers celebrating all things “field to fork”, we couldn’t have been more excited! We arrived at picturesque Holt on a chilly November night, with our mouths already watering in anticipation of

Written by Lily, a guest at the Supper Club and ESG Executive at Chestnut On the evening of Thursday 17th November, the conservatory of The Black Lion was adorned with fresh, natural foliage and welcomed in guests for our second Sapling Supper Club. The theme of the evening was centred on zero-waste cooking and sustainable spirits. Twenty-five guests sat comfortably around a large banquet-style table, surrounded by foraged greenery and the flicker of candlelit. Ed Faulkner –

Written by Jessica, guest at the Holkham preview event and Social Media Executive at Chestnut Wells-Next-The-Sea, home to The Globe Inn , which is less than a ten-minute drive from Holkham. Renowned for its unspoilt stretch of sandy beach, Holkham is an 18th Century estate that consists of 25,000 acres of parkland and is home to Holkham Hall . Holkham Hall is open throughout the year on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. Home of the Earl of Leicester, the magnificent Hall is mag

Robert Hall, Head Gamekeeper at Houghton Hall Estate, North Norfolk Game is the quintessential British ingredient, steeped in tradition. An ingredient that has a tendency to divide opinion. However, there is a new breed of game enthusiasts bringing it to the forefront of modern cookery. Why? Because it is both environmentally and economically sound, whilst being healthy and delicious. Nowhere is the commitment to this sustainable food source more apparent than the Houghton E

By Michaela and @the_daxie_trouble I’ve been wanting to explore Suffolk for such a long time and when we were invited to stay at one of the Chestnut pubs ( Chestmutts to the boys - Chestnuts dog-friendly website for discovering their pubs) I just had to choose the The Westleton Crown . This beautiful, super dog-friendly inn takes pride of place on the edge of a quintessential Suffolk village green and is also very close to the beach. What's not to like! SANDY PAWS STAYCATIO

World Mental Health Day this year falls on Monday the 10th of October. To mark the day we wanted to share some habits and small changes that have been shown to assist in aiding your wellbeing. In the hospitality industry, we hold our hands up to working in fast pace environments, with high highs and low lows. A fact that demands we strive every day to provide a supportive and positive place to work. Things like our Employee Assistance Programme, our Chestnut Hub and team bond

INTRODUCTION TO LILY My name is Lily and I am the Environment, Social, Governance Executive at Chestnut and a keen climate activist in my spare time. I am so excited by this role as it really means I use my passion for sustainability and my 8 years experience in the hospitality industry to move forward in making Chestnut as eco-conscious as possible. THE PLAN This year the Great British Beach Clean Week ran from Friday 16th - Sunday 25th September, inviting people up and down

It's time to pull on your Wellington boots and explore our region as its scenery turns a colourful array of rusts and burnt orange. Browse our guide to discover the best places to take in the changing landscape, to find East Anglian stately homes offering Halloween fun and to discover the perfect spot for Pumpkin picking. SUFFOLK Suffolk is bursting with seasonal fun this autumn. From illuminated stately homes to Curious Creature trails and our own arts and culture events. CH

If you have visited one of our pubs recently, you may have seen our brand new in-house magazine, In a Nutshell , greeting you at the entrance, or perhaps propped up on the bar. We wanted to create something specifically for our guests which is informative and fun, giving a closer glimpse at our portfolio of pubs and our teams that run them. It's a chance to introduce you to Chestnut while showcasing why East Anglia is our much loved home, through its people, places and local

By Josie Laxton What do you imagine when you think of Suffolk? I picture sleepy villages, thatched cottages, painted in muted pinks and burnt oranges... To kick start our August Bank Holiday weekend, we headed to the countryside for our overnight stay at The Black Lion . Although Suffolk is a short drive from where I live, it's a county I am quite unfamiliar with. So, when we arranged our stay, I was excited to see as much of the county as possible and it did not disappoint.

Get out and about in East Anglia this Summer! From festivals and carnivals, to family fun and summertime walks -all within easy reach of our pubs, inns and restaurants. SUFFOLK The county that is home to the majority of our pubs is also home to some great Summer activities this year, including festivals celebrating music, food and our faithful four-legged friends. CHESTNUT PUBS IN SUFFOLK - The Ship , The Westleton Crown , The Northgate , The Packhorse Inn , The Black L

We are thrilled to be sponsoring this year's EA Festival, an exciting art and culture showcase in East Anglia for the best of our region's creative leaders in literature, media, art, environment and music. We’re equally as thrilled to be planning our own Chestnut Arts and Culture Month for later this Autumn, in partnership with the festival, where we will be inviting many of these local creative icons to host workshops, talks and special events at each of our pubs and restaur