Ye Olde Coach & Horses Inn
The Inn is a Grade II Listed Building, an Old Coaching Inn built in 1547, with a wealth of Timbered Beams and Inglenook fireplaces, open fires and a rich interior.
The Inn was originally a small single roofed building with stabling at the rear for the horses. Located on the main London to Norwich route via the coastal regions the main travellers were the rich gentry who dealt in business related to the shipping on the Rivers Deben and Orwell.
Nearly 40 years later the Inn was extended and a central fireplace and chimney were added with additional upstairs accomodation. The stabling was extended providing a cobbled courtyard with both Blacksmith and Farrier in attendance.The Inn became a regular stop over point for the next 250 years and operated as a Coaching Inn and gradually grew in both size and importance. A succession of landlords who were the modern day licensee operated the Inn dealing with the travellers and the local community. Beers, Porters, Ales, Meads and various types of wines mainly from hedgerow concoctions were readily drunk together with a limited food selection. This consisted of breads and cheese with a continuous stew-pot with some local delicacy of rabbit or hare with a root vegetable and potato base which was served warm with a chunk of trencher type bread.
During the 17th and 18th Centuries the whole building was increased in size to accomodate more rooms with the addition of the bow fronted room on the southerly elevation finishing the major structural work. By the end of the 19th Century the Inn was a thriving commercial venture and just before the end of the century it had its own Brewery. Adjacent to the Inn a Brewery was built which for nearly 10 years provided not just the the Inn but other hostelries with 'Melton Pure Beer'.
Obviously over the many years the Inn has had numerous landlords and owners and this brings us right up to date .
In 1999 the present owners bought the Inn and have restored the Inn to its present condition and made it a true picture on the landscape. With its enviable reputation for top class quality food the Inn thrives today with International Chef Chris Martin providing some of the best Food...Wine.....Drink in the whole of East Anglia.
To contact Ye Olde Coach & Horses
E MAIL
Dine in our NEW Indian Restaurant
View our Dusk Dining
Join the Wine Club
Try our Sunday Carvery Lunch
We thank All Posters. com for use of their illustrations.
