Pub of the Month - Bildeston Kings Head

by Dob & Annie

(October 2009)

 

Once again, my notes on this outing have disappeared (I suspect sabotage but cannot prove it) so I write from memory which may I say is not so good after a very enjoyable trip.

 

Our starting point was The Dove Bury St Edmunds, a new oasis and haven for real ale fans, recently taken over by our good friend and staunch CAMRA member Roger Waters, who was our driver for the day.

 

After a quick Wherry to start the day we travelled on to our pub of the month ‘The King’s Head’ Bildeston where we were warmly welcomed Landlady and Best Bitter were in fine order, also Loveley’s Fair from Mill Green. After a difficult task of choosing from such a large and varied menu I settled for the Saturday’s special plaice, chips and peas, a larger piece of fish I’ve never seen before on a plate. All enjoyed the great food on offer.

Landlord Nigel then kindly gave us a brief but knowledgeable and interesting tour of his small brewery which we greatly enjoyed. Thanks Nigel. As always it’s difficult to leave such good hospitality but we had to move on to our next stop. The Cock at Polstead.

 

A warm welcome at The Cock with a fine view over the green as we enjoyed a pint outside in the autumn sunshine.

 

We moved on quite quickly having overstayed (and may I say over drank) our hospitality at the King’s Head to our next stop at Stoke by Nayland. We visited two pubs here a stones throw away from each other, The Angel and The Crown; excellent beer in both but a little expensive.

 

Our next step was the most southerly pub in our area ‘The Three Horseshoes’ at Bures; the guest ale Adnam’s Bitter that had just finished and with nobody to change the cask most of us settled for IPA whilst a few had Cider and even a Guinness.

 

After blindfolding John, we ventured south of the Stour into Essex to a wonderful pub ‘The Lion’ at Lamarsh. What a beautiful view of the Stour Valley in the late evening sunshine from the bar at this 14 th Century Free House. The autumnal colours were magical and the Nethergate beers were excellent. One member tried as advertised, trying to regain his long lost youth and early drinking trials a brown and mild ending up with an IPA with Harvest Brown Ale. (This is surely a brown and bitter) anyway it was very good.

 

Reluctantly leaving this wondrous spot we regained Suffolk (much to John’s relief) and called in at the Mauldon's Tap in Sudbury. We were spoilt with the full Mauldon’s range of ales. Blackadder was excellent and perhaps yours truly’s downfall for the day! Some find banter with the regularly and the brewery’s owner Steve Simms and his staff.

 

Our goodbye driver, perhaps perceiving that we may have enjoyed ourselves a little over-much or worse perhaps would be too sated to drink anymore at his own watering hole quickly moved us on. In what seemed like no time at all we arrived back at The Dove in Bury St Edmunds where we quietly (I think) finished off our day. Here we had the choice of Crouch Vale Brewers Gold, Woodforde’s Wherry (on tap at all times) and four ever changing guests. At the time they were Oakham’s JHB, Nethergate’s Jolly Roger, Green Jack Orange Wheat and Old Chimney’s Great Raft Bitter.

 

Many thanks to Roger and Bernie for the nibbles to soak up some of the ale and thank you Roger for driving and organising a fantastic day out in the autumn sunshine. We all very much appreciated it.

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