The Elveden Inn, Thetford

Official site of The Elveden Inn - www.elvedeninn.com

Official site of The Elveden Inn - www.elvedeninn.com

This flint stone pub qualifies as the nearest pub to the Elvedon Forest centre parcs and I have stopped for a pint a couple of times over the years when it was formerly known as the Six Days Inn (apparently because it is owned by the Elvedon estate and the estate would only allow it to open Monday to Saturday) and it was a traditional country inn. Revisited this weekend and boy what a difference. It has had a complete makeover and is now much more of a food led gastro pub and boutique bed and breakfast. The original stone pub has been extended by conservatory extensions on two sides and inside it is the usual very clean gastro interior with wooden and stone floors and the liberal use of Farrow & Ball pastel shades on wall surfaces. But it just stops short of being sterile with some original structural touches like exposed beams and the original stone walls in prominence, and some period photos and maps decorating those alcoves that don’t have a bookcase in. The stone floored bar area has a collection of tables and chairs and then the dining area or dining room referred to as the Six Day Room in memory of the original old inn, is more uniform and mainly set up for dining. There is a separate small snug bar which apparently was put in for the use of the estate workers to come in and have a beer… nice touch. And then there is a spacious outside drinking garden area with plenty of bench seats The wooden bar serving area supports four ale pumps and as two of these were Adnams I believe there is some tie up with the Suffolk brewer. And then a Purity brew was on one of the others. The Elvedon Estate is owned by the Guinness family and apparently, (if the Guinness glass mural outside is to be believed) does an excellent pint of the black stuff, but as I don’t much go for it I can’t comment on that. And neither can I on how this place now rates as a restaurant, and you are better off looking at Trip Advisor for that. Still a good spot for a pint close to the Centre Parcs, but traditional country Inn it certainly isn’t any longer.