The Lord Nelson Inn, Ipswich

This impressive half timber fronted, 17th Century builing in the Ipswich Docks area was previously a Tolly Cobbold house before Adnams took over in 1989. You enter into the left hand side of the pub where there is a row of standard seating along the front wall and a couple of sofas opposite the entrance. The servery emerges as you move to the right, before turning 90 degrees and running towards the rear of the pub, with a section of low wall breaking up the access points to the counter. The whole of the front part of the pub is carpeted and split in two by a massive chimney beast and raised fireplace, which helps to create the sense of different seating areas. To the far right there is a slightly partitoned dining area, bordered by a low wall and some partitioning screens with ancient looking wood beams and bulls eye glass panes. A long single bench occupies another area at this end of the pub, with some interesting contemporary art on display. A doorway with an ancient beam and similarly aged wooden support pillars, leads into the bare boarded bar area. Here there was a TV screen which was turned off throughout my visit and a lovely brick fireplace with an amazing high backed wooden bench to one side. Beyond the bar, there is a rear room with basic furnishing and decor, where a small crowd had gathered to play darts and from here you can gain access to the beer garden. Music played quietly throuhout my time here and although I arrived a little after lunchtime, a few punters were still polishing off their lunches. Five Adnams brews - Lighthouse, Southwold Bitter, Ghost Ship, IPA and Broadside - were available, all dispensed from a row of old wooden casks racked on the bar back. I'm occassionaly sceptical when it comes to gravity dispense, as it's not often that it is done well, but my pint of Ghost Ship was absolutely spot-on and probably the best kept pint I've had so far this year. The staff seemed keen and were very friendly and helpful. This is a lovely traditional pub that works just as well for the drinker as it does for the diner. It put me in mind of a rural pub, but it is easily reached from both the town centre and train station. This is a must for fans of Adnams beers and well worth including on any crawl around town.