It’s rare when all the elements in a restaurant come together well, and they really do here. It’s a 14th century Grade II listed inn in the heart of Suffolk. The ceilings are low, and the fires crackle bright. There are a few picnic tables on the lawn to enjoy a drink in the sunshine, and a few bedrooms should you decide you want to stay the night. It operates both as a local pub and a destination restaurant, but it’s the talent that really makes this place. With a head chef, Sam Clover, who has worked at some of London’s finest and most demanding kitchens (Pied à Terre, The Ledbury, and The Fat Duck in Bray), and a general manager/trained sommelier, Jack Butler, who could make anyone feel welcome, this really seems like a well-oiled machine, even though it’s only a few years old (with this team). The Peacock Inn is approximately an hour and a half from London, with Ipswich being the closest station.
The Vibe
Friendly! You know you’re out of London when you arrive here. Weeping willows sway across the street, local chatter buzzes from under the Tudor beams, and an eclectic but great playlist hums in the background. They’re usually fully booked, but there are only a few tables, so you’re sure to always be well looked after.
The Menu
Using Suffolk’s finest ingredients to elevate comfort dishes in execution and presentation is what they do here. Highlights include a pie named after a local, ‘Sir Gerald’s pie’, which is made with Hereford beef shin braised in Suffolk ale, beef fat pastry, truffle and bordelaise sauce; halibut with courgettes, sour fennel, sweet red pepper, saffron potatoes, brown shrimp and langoustine; and blood orange drizzle cake with crispy meringue, marmalade and clotted cream ice cream for dessert. The wine list is interesting, with bottles from regions like Georgia, and the tasting menu is £85.
To Note
Supposedly, parts of Harry Potter (Godric’s Hollow, in the Deathly Hallows Part 1, 2010) were filmed in Lavenham, the town closeby, and there are walking trails close to the inn, should you feel like rambling. If you’re staying over, the rooms are cosy and comfortable and breakfast is served in the morning at the inn.
