Nightlife in Suffolk

Suffolk has some truly excellent pubs up its sleeve. If you’re staying with us at one of our Ipswich hotels then you’re properly spoilt for choice as four of our absolute favourites can be found in the county town. 

The Spread Eagle is the oldest pub in Ipswich. It dates all the way back to 1510 and has welcomed world-famous punters like Charles Dickens to prop up the bar. It has effortless style and a fine selection of craft beers from some of the most exciting breweries around.

The Dove Street Inn is a classic English pub on the corner of St Helen’s Street and Dove Street in Ipswich. It’s a classic English pub, which appeals to ale enthusiasts with an enormous wooden bar, a bigger selection of tap and pork scratchings available by the tankard.

Making our way away from Ipswich town centre, the Fat Cat is a fantastic free house with some biblical Scotch eggs and at least a dozen real ales on tap. There’s a lovely beer garden to the rear and the pub has a lovely, laid-back charm that makes it easy to spend a full evening sipping your way through the drinks selection.

Next up is a hidden gem for veggies. The Vegetarian Red Lion is on the aptly-named Greenstreet Green and has a full menu of fantastic vegetarian and vegan options. The mushroom wellington is the stuff of meat-free dreams.

The Butt and Oyster may well be the most picturesque pub in Suffolk. It’s in the hamlet of Pin Mill, which perches on the south bank of the River Orwell. The pub is on the water’s edge and has welcomed thirsty visitors since the 15th century. It’s a beautiful old-world inn with gorgeous views, great ales and a delicious menu featuring freshly-caught fish.

If you’re staying with us at our Bury St Edmunds hotel, be sure to pay a visit to The Nutshell. This minuscule pub was formerly the smallest in Britain. It may have lost its title, but it’s still extremely popular and makes for a great pit stop on any itinerary of things to do in Bury St Edmunds.

Three more to finish. The Maybush Inn is a hugely popular red-brick pub in Woodbridge that overlooks the River Deben. It has a tasty seafood menu, which you can eat with complementary views from one of the best beer gardens in Suffolk.

The Fox Inn in Newbourne has previously been named Suffolk’s pub of the year. It gets top marks across the board; visit for great food, drink, service and scenery. Last but by no means least, there’s The Unruly Pig in Bromeswell. It stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the very best places to eat in Suffolk. It’s a 16th-century inn that’s been brought into the present with contemporary decor and a creative kitchen run by the “Best Pub Restaurant Chef” in Britain.

The Briarbank Brewing Company is an excellent microbrewery with a convenient location just off the marina, less than a five-minute walk from our Ipswich Quayside hotel. It regularly hosts live music nights and if ale isn’t up your street, it has a fantastic choice of gins.

Another great option for craft beers and G&Ts in Ipswich is the Arcade Street Tavern. You can take your pick from roughly 120 beers and 100 gins at any one time. It was previously named Suffolk’s pub of the year, so you know the Arcade Street Tavern has pedigree. It also hosts all manner of events, including street food festivals, quiz nights, tap takeovers and spirit tasting evenings. See what’s on during your stay.

Moving on to Bury St Edmunds, Stillery could well be our favourite cocktail bar in Suffolk. It’s a tiny operation hidden one road over from the hustle and bustle of St John’s Street. The drinks are exceptional, the staff seriously know their stuff, and they even have their own distillery on-site, hence the name.

Tie in a trip to Stillery with a visit to the stylish and sublime Petrus Wine Bar on the corner of Churchgate Street and Whiting Street, then round off your mini Bury St Edmunds bar crawl with a trip to LP in the heart of town on Woodhall Street. It’s equal parts restaurant, bar and nightclub with some of the best resident DJs in Bury St Edmunds.

A couple of other honourable mentions go to the excellent cocktails from Woodworks in Lowestoft. It’s a stylish restaurant and bar, which overlooks the waterfront. And finally, The Alex in Felixstowe is another excellent seafront spot for some casual drinks.