Lord Nelson, Southwold

Excellent little pub near the sea with two rooms decorated with nautical stuff and lots of woodwork giving a cosy feel. Garden area at rear. Beers from Adnams, and well-kept of course, and a busy food trade which wasn't sampled but looked good. Worth finding.

A traditional and cosy pub just off Southwold’s attractive High Street, it consists of a larger central bar with a smaller snug off to the right. Décor wise it’s quite traditional with some tiling on the floor, wood panelling on the walls and wooden pews to sit on. A snug off to the right had maroon paintwork on the ceilings and cream wood panelling on the walls as well as a high shelf running all around the room that was full of old soda bottles. Elsewhere there were various nautical artefacts such as ship’s photos, lamps, a wheel, a ship in a bottle, a picture of Admiral Nelson and a model of HMS Victory and one of it’s guns. A small brick fire-place contained a wood burning stove. Beers on tap were all from Adnams as might be expected with the brewery just a stone’s throw away and on this occasion were Fat Sprat, Mosaic Pale Ale, Broadside, Ghost Ship and Southwold. The solitary cider meanwhile was Aspall’s Harry Sparrow.

We have visited Southwold for many years and the Lord Nelson has always been our favourite pub. Inside it has the decor of a traditional pub, and there is a really good atmosphere in the evenings, when it appears to be the social hub of the town. It is probably best to avoid it at the weekends when food is being served, as it becomes very crowded with children, prams and dogs, as do other pubs in the town. Adnams Bitter at £3.20, New Zealand Pale Ale, Ghost Ship, Old Ale, Broadsisde, Gunhill and Explorer at £3.50, Spindrift on keg at £.85. Pay it a visit at the right time and enjoy it.