The Ten Bells, Stowmarket

In need of a decent beer and some bargain food, I picked this roadside country pub near Stowmarket out of the Good Beer Guide given some glowing reports on both counts. Whilst there was nothing especially adverse about the pub, it didn't really impress to any great degree. 3 Ales on offer - the ubiquitous Green King IPA, Bombardier and 1 guest beer (Tom Woods Bomber County on my visit) - no prizs for which I went for. Quality was OK but prices a bit higher than I would have expected. The pub interior is divided into 3 sections, a large public bar with darts, pool and TV's, a rather cramped main bar with, if I recall just 3 tables and barely space for 10 people and an intrusive staircase overhead making it feel a bit like a broom cupboard. Down a couple of steps is the spacious restaurant area that leaves no doubt as to where the pubs bread is buttered. Basic, fairly dated décor and furnishings throughout with a few old features intact, beamed ceilings and a wonderful large Inglenook fireplace but overall it felt a bit disjointed. As for the food, there was little that appealed from the not particularly varied lunchtime menu and we moved on after a quick pint. There was a large beer garden and on another day I would have been tempted to stay a bit longer but it didn't really fit the bill for us at the time.