The Victoria, Woodbridge

Delightful old pub which showcases the produce of the Earl Soham Brewery. Lots of wood: bare floorboards, a handsome wooden bar, wood panelling on the walls and part of the ceiling, wooden tables, chairs, benches and stools - and a piano. There are two rooms: a front room which is the width of the building and contains the bar, and a smaller back room. Unusually, the fireplace is shared by the two rooms. The back room has a collection of beer bottles on the mantel piece, and there are pictures of the late queen whose name is almost obscured by ivy on the front of the pub. The men's toilet is in an adjacent building at the side of the car park. There are three hand pumps, of which I only sampled the Victoria Bitter - an excellent session bitter, or in my case just one for the road. The other beers were the Sir Roger Porter and a golden ale whose name I neglected to write down. There was also an Aspalls cider available, but on a font rather than a hand pump. There is obviously great enthusiasm about the home-cooked food, judging by the discussion I overheard between the staff, but I couldn't stay to sample that either. Must come back some time!