30 years ago, if someone had said people would come to a pub and drink tea, you wouldn’t have believed them. How times change.

Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher, a slow-paced walker, or simply craving space to reconnect with nature, East Anglia offers some of the best spots for birdwatching and walking holidays.

Written by Katie of @thesundayfeeling - gifted pr stay There’s nothing quite like being tucked up by a roaring fire in a cosy country pub to start the festive season. The Weeping Willow , located in the heart of the Suffolk countryside in Barrow, is the perfect spot to do just that. I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit last weekend with my husband and two children to experience the wonderful Festive Stay package. THE WEEPING WILLOW PUB It’s always a joy stepping

Guest blog post by Riannah @riannaheve Nestled amongst the serene setting of the Suffolk countryside, The Weeping Willow offers a picturesque escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The lodges promise a haven where guests can rejuvenate and reconnect with nature. ARRIVAL Upon arrival, we were greeted by a very friendly team who brought an immediate sense of comfort. The Weeping Willow recently built 7 beautiful lodges behind the restaurant and bar area, which

Guest blog post by Anna @suffolksisters IN AND AROUND In April I headed over to the Westleton Crown, a delightful pub in the idyllic village of Westleton, Suffolk. Think an immaculately kept tree-lined village green and pond, quaint church, bookshop, tearoom and duck crossing signs! Enroute to my stay, I stopped off in the nearby historic town of Framlingham to visit family, and of course the famous Framlingham castle. I couldn’t believe how buzzing this town has become; the

Written by Katie of @thesundayfeeling - gifted pr stay We’re fortunate to live just over an hour away from the beautiful North Norfolk coast. The golden sandy stretches of beach, picturesque towns and villages and wildlife-abundant, gently rolling countryside is what makes the county so appealing. Despite this, we don’t visit as much as we would love to, so when we were invited to experience the new Hidden Holt walking map and stay in one of the family rooms at The Feathers

With the opening of our lodges at The Weeping Willow fast approaching, we were keen to find out a little more about the inspiration behind the interiors from our designer, Lucy, before the seven individually styled lodges are unveiled. Describe the lodges in four words. Natural, relaxed, environmentally-conscious. What’s been your biggest inspiration behind the Willow Lodges? Nature was my main inspiration - we wanted to produce lodges that fit into the natural setting and pr

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

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

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

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

By Kitty Brandon and Eevee the Dachshund Having looked through Chestnut's new doggy focused microsite - Chestmutts, we jumped at the opportunity to try out one of Chestnut’s dog-friendly pubs as staycations are brilliant and they’re even better if you take your best furry friend with you! Eevee could play the pampered princess (nothing new there!) at one of Chestnut's upscale inns and we would be able to explore a new area. THE DESTINATION The Three Blackbirds is a refine

Fliss from @upupandawaytheuk reviews her stay at The Cricketers in Clavering, Essex FIRST IMPRESSION Situated just outside of the charming Essex town of Saffron Walden, sits The Cricketers in Clavering. The pub is part of Chestnut , who own multiple pubs with rooms around East Anglia. I have had the pleasure of staying at one of their other inns before and dined at a few others and they are always exceptional. One of the best things about Chestnut is that they are extremely