The Ship Inn

I’d been looking forward to trying this pub, so the roast was a real letdown. At £16.95 each, it was almost inedible. There was no beef, so I chose chicken, but it was an overcooked, unseasoned breast. The Yorkshire pudding was burnt and hard, and the small amount of vegetables was soggy. The pub itself is lovely and the staff were friendly.

We had good food and the accommodation was handy for travelling around Suffolk. The pub itself was really nice, with a friendly atmosphere and staff. No sheep in sight, and no ships either, despite the name. Apparently, this quaint country pub was once called “The Sheep”, until a travelling sign-writer misunderstood the landlord’s regional accent and painted “Ship”. I don’t know if he was paid, but the name stayed.

Sunday night was music night, and the atmosphere was great, with everyone enjoying themselves. We’re already thinking about booking another weekend. The food was excellent, made with fresh ingredients and cooked on site, and the staff and locals were friendly and welcoming. The room was large and clean, with an ensuite and wifi. This unassuming village pub and restaurant, with free parking, was just right for a quiet weekend away. The management has only been there since April 2025, but you can already tell they love the place.

The pub, food and service were all great, but I can’t honestly recommend staying in the accommodation. Eat here or stop for a drink, though. It’s a real shame the stay was let down by something as simple as turning on the heating system. We stayed in chalet 2 on Monday 15th September 2025. I tried to send feedback by email, but the inbox was full, in 2025!!! The pub was a treat: we were warmly welcomed, and walking into a folk jam session was a lovely surprise. The woman who showed us our room was very personable. After a windy, rainy journey, we left our bags and wanted to air our clothes. The window stay was broken, so I switched on the towel rail. We enjoyed some drinks, the music and the late afternoon crowd, then had tasty meals with great service at our table. The beer was good too. But when we got back to the room, there was no heating. I tried the radiator valves, then went to the bar, where I was told to turn them on. I explained I’d already done that, as I’m in the trade. The system was off. We hoped it would be on in the morning, but it still wasn’t, and there was no hot water for washing or showering. The people in Chalet 4 had the same problem. Nobody was on site to contact, just a phone number, and our mobiles don’t work in the UK, so we made do with the kettle and set off. I know it wasn’t the depths of winter, and we’re Canadian, but surely it’s reasonable to expect somewhere to dry towels and clothes, and a shower in the morning? We’d put over 80 quid across the bar in cash and paid 70 for the room.