Before booking a night at the Ship at Dunwich (one of the @chestnutcraftedhospitality properties), I did a little research and first thing I read was this:
‘Imagine the perfect coastal pub. A stroll from the beach, open log fires in winter, light and airy in summer with sheltered sun traps outside in Autumn and Spring to enjoy off season sunshine. Paired with simple, beautifully cooked food – of the season and of the place, all washed down with a pint of beer or a glass of pinot.’
After spending the weekend exploring its excellent surroundings, I can say that it’s exactly that: ‘the perfect coastal pub’. The Ship at Dunwich looks and feels just as a great coastal pub should.
We loved the location, within a minute walk to a lovely beach where the children played for hours and hours and hours, until they got so hungry and rushed back to the pub for dinner. Dinner here mixes wonderfully the idea of comfort food with a fine presentation of their locally sourced and skilfully cooked dishes. Not just fish and chips, but a gorgeous menu selection, while catering beautifully for any dietary requirements.
In the morning we woke up before the kids and took a long walk, then had breakfast in the snug dining room opening up to a light filled conservatory. At times we were taking turns wondering around with the little ones noticing signs of dormant gear, quietly and patiently waiting for the warm seasons. I could close my eyes and feel the summer buzz of the beer garden and al fresco dining in the back gardens. I’m pretty sure this was only our first time here…Kippers for breakfast was the cherry on top!!
The room was everything that we needed and a bit more than we expected: clever space split between 2 floors, the kids running between upstairs and downstairs while we were chilling or reading from the comfort of our bed. Or often getting distracted by the window with the most calming view, spying on bird watchers 🙂
Long story short, this was a successful family stay spent in this cute Suffolk pub. Did I mention this was our first time in Suffolk? You can see more here @theshipatdunwich – a little footage that goes a long way! Literally only a minute walk to the beach!
We left shortly after breakfast, towards Thorpeness in search of the House in The Clouds. Thorpeness village is not your regular holiday resort, being the creation of Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie and is still unspoilt since it was built in the 1920s. Ogilvie’s dream was to create the ideal holiday village “for people who want to experience life as it was when England was Merrie England”. A rather wonderful village with a great pebble beach where we spent half a day before we headed back home.
Suffolk, you beauty, we will be back!
*our stay at The Ship at Dunwich was a press stay. It truly was a comfortable stay, can’t wait to explore again this beautiful part of the UK…
