Harden's survey result
Summary
This “very popular gastropub/hotel in a pretty village” was taken over and lavishly revamped by new owners a few years ago, and “the conversion of an old building is very well done (down to the super WCs!)”, making it a most “attractive” spot for a meal. Chef Matthew Hurry oversees the French-ish cooking, which ranges from fish Fridays to “outstanding” desserts. Reflecting comments in previous surveys, there was praise this year for the “very reasonably priced set menu – £26 for two courses, £34 for three – considering the quality”.
Summary
A 500-year-old country inn set in gorgeous Suffolk countryside provides a stunning backdrop to a meal at this ambitious property, which has been owned by Richard Sunderland & Sarah Broadbent since 2022. But if “after spending millions the place is very nice”, the odd report also has reservations: the traditional (and sensibly priced) French-inflected cuisine is well-rated by one repeat-visitor, but another feels that: “they seem to be chasing a Michelin Star, but are trying to run before they can walk”.
Summary
“At last Suffolk has somewhere very special again” – this “relatively new, upmarket” outfit is set in a five-hundred-year-old country inn that has long had a culinary reputation. Fans say it’s “the best-looking restaurant for miles around”, and is “trying hard” – they’re “obviously chasing a star” in the kitchen, which is praised for its “great tasting menu” (the only option by night).
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Angel Inn?
Polstead St, Stoke-by-Nayland, CO6 4SA
Restaurant details
The Angel Inn Restaurant Diner Reviews
"We had two starters. The tomato gazpacho which comes with roast tomatoes on sourdough on the side was quite good. The soup was lovely and the separate tomatoes on sourdough was quite good. It was difficult to get at the sourdough as it was on same plate as a very large and deep soup bowl. It would have ben better if they had just had croutons to put in the soup. The foie gras was at the bottom of a very large bowl and was quite good. We had two haddock and chips for the main course. The fish was good and crispy outside. The chips were of many different sizes some fairly thin and some very large. So the cooking was OK for the small pieces but undercooked for the very large pieces. With 3 x 175m glasses of grill the cost without service surge was £100. The Inn is lovely and the service was good."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £29.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £6.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
Polstead St, Stoke-by-Nayland, CO6 4SA
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
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