This is another ‘out-of-area’ dining experience that we can definately recommend.
The George Hotel in Stamford is just an hours (fast) drive from Bury St Edmunds. Sitting in THE historic market town of Stamford, access from the A1 couldn’t be easier.
There are 2 principal restaurants in The George, The Garden Room and the Oak Panelled Restaurant. The garden Room is pretty informal and booking usually isn’t required, although if you do have a short wait for a table, there are plenty of comfortable lounges to relax in. The Oak Panelled Restaurant is a much more formal (and expensive) option although the food really is of the highest standard. When we get a nice summer there is also the option of eating in the open air courtyard with a covered section if the weather does turn out to be rather inclement!
Having eaten in both restaurants, we can honestly say that the quality is good in both, with just that little bit extra in the Oak Panelled room.
Our most recent visit was to The Garden room, where 2 glasses of champagne, a bottle of white wine and 2 very good main courses came out to £65. This still makes for good value though and the restaurant manages to be lively and relaxing at the same time.
Private functions can also be catered for with weddings a speciality and there are further menus in the York Bar, with Afternoon Tea available in the lounge or courtyard.
Having returned to The George Hotel time and time again we can thoroughly recommend it and have no doubt that the majority of customers will always hold it as one of their favourite locations. If you are anywhere near Stamford or Peterborough, or even just passing through on the A1, you really should pay them a visit!
More information and menus can be found here: The George Hotel of Stamford
We thought we’d try the Marlborough Head Inn for a late lunch as we were driving around the countryside on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Having been to the inn many years ago it was interesting to see how it had changed. I did have to wait a considerable time to be served drinks in the lounge bar – having said that I had failed to notice a bell to summon bar staff. I guess 3pm on Grand National day probably isn’t the best time to draw the bar staff away from the TV in the bar!
Having ordered some food, which arrived in reasonably time, I’m afraid to say we were a little diappointed with the quality. The prawns in my wife’s prawn sandwich were quite ‘rubbery’ and my cod in beer batter and chips was really nothing special.
Having said that the bill was fairly reasonable at just over £15
I think we will try the Marlborough Head Inn again sometimes, when there isn’t a major sporting event on, just to give them another chance. The Inn has an AA 3 star rating although one must assume that is for the quality of the rooms rather than the fine cuisine.
The Marlborough Head Inn
Mill Lane, Dedham, CO7 6DH
01206 323250
On walking past The Angel Hotel last night, we noticed a board outside offering 2 courses fro £12.50, from 12 noon to 6pm!
As it was just 4pm and having checked the menu outside and decided it was very good value, we ventured into the hotel restaurant, only to find the place empty..
We were then approached by a waitress and when we asked if they were serving dinner, were told that they’d ‘run out of food’!
We were then told that they stopped serving at 3pm on a Sunday, even though the board outside clearly said 12-6pm! To be honest she was quite curt and didn’t really offer much of an explaination and made us feel like a right pair of idiots.
On leaving we decided to check the board and menu again. The board still said 12-6pm (on both sides!) but in very small print at the bottom of the menu, customers were informed that it was 12-6pm on weekdays, 12-5pm on Saturday and 12-3pm on Sunday.
So if you’re thinking of taking advantage of what appears to be a very good offer, check the time and the day on the menu! Oh, and if anyone from The Angel is reading this, please don’t misrepresent your offers with misleading notice boards…
The Bildeston Crown was a very nice introduction to dining in Suffolk when we first arrived.
With an excellent menu and very reasonable prices, The Crown has seen us on several occasions since our first outing.
Not only is The Crown an extremely good restaurant, but also a very nice hotel, although we have found them to be very inflexible when it came to booking a a late stay. I mean, you expect some sort of reduction when they still have a room left a 6pm on a Saturday evening!
Having said that, the food makes The Crown well worth another try, and afternoon tea in their courtyard is great on any summer afternoon.
104 High Street, Bildeston, Suffolk, IP7 7EB
01449 740 510
Well, we had a wonderful Christmas here in 2009. The food was great and the champagne was flowing like there was no tomorrow!
As a regular dining venue, the 4* Angel scores very well, with food available in the main ‘eaterie’ which is open for food and drink all day.
Pricewise The Angel is comparable with most local options but has that certain composure and atmosphere you expect from a 4* hotel. With the main Eaterie and the occasional jazz in the Vaults, the Angel is well worth a visit.
3 Angel Hill, Bury St. Edmunds, IP33 1LT
01284 714 000