The Packhorse Inn, Newmarket

This village pub takes its name from the fabulous medieval stone packhorse bridge over the River Kennet that it is located next to. Nowadays it’s more a restaurant with hotel quality rooms than a wet village pub and most people who visit are here for the food menu rather than the drinks options, and the hotel and restaurant sections are usually fully booked out during Newmarket race events. The original stone pub building sits to the front of the road and the stable blocks out back are now the accommodation rooms and you enter both via the original cobbled courtyard from the side car park. Internally it’s clearly a building of some history, being a series of separate rooms off the main bar room. But every table in all of these is set for and used for dining and the only place you can just have a beer without feeling you are getting in the way of the restaurant service is the couple of stalls up the bar or the pleasant beer garden accessed from the bar. Two hand pumps on the bar which serve two Suffolk ales in the form of Adnams Ghostship and Woodford Wherry which have both been in good condition for my recent couple of visits to try the food. The food has been good, but this one is a long way from a traditional village Inn experience as far as having a pint is concerned.

Official site of The Packhorse Inn - www.thepackhorseinn.com

Official site of The Packhorse Inn - www.thepackhorseinn.com

The fish and chips on Friday nights are superb and the Sunday Carvery is excellent value for money at £12.50 for 4 courses. Tony and Donna are very welcoming and really make an effort for childrens meals too.