Restaurant at The Westleton Crown

A traditional coaching inn with origins extending back to the 12th century The Westleton Crown retains the antiquity and charm of its heritage whilst notching up the creature comforts to modern levels. It is perfectly situated for exploring the Suffolk Heritage Coast, in particular the picturesque coastal towns of Southwold and Aldeburgh, the culture of the concert hall at Snape Maltings or the wild and beautiful nature of Dunwich Heath and the RSPB Minsmere nature reserve.

As well as being a 'gastro pub with rooms' it retains the atmosphere of a genuine local with its gently crackling log fires, real ales and an air of peace and homeliness. No wonder though that it has gained two AA rosettes and is Suffolk Dining Pub of the Year in the Good Pub Guide 2008.

The Westleton Crown is a good port of call when it comes to that sudden impulsive weekend break, or quiet spot to roost in for a couple of nights when on tour. In 2006 all the 25 individual and stylish bedrooms were given a complete refurbishment, bringing new levels of luxury and comfort. There are three types of room, Good, Better and Best. More specifically, choose from cosy singles, luxurious doubles with nickel or four poster beds, and a couple of spacious family rooms. All rooms are en suite and have flat screen televisions.

Hoteliers are increasingly realising that when people go away to stay, the quality of the bedroom and its furnishings is rather akin to breakfast - at home this is usually, though regrettably, a fairly sparse occasion, but go away and you expect the full monty, and so it is with beds. Fully sprung mattresses, goose down duvets, crisp white Egyptian cotton and oversize pillows come to mind, and The Crown has them all.

If I had to apply two words to describe the food, they would be 'hearty' yet sophisticated, and I would be thinking of grilled garlic king prawns with a coriander and pine nut salad, served with their own granary bread, or devilishly tasty cock-a-leekie soup also with a touch of the granary.

The appetite duly sharpened it would be time to think of the seven hour slow roast leg of lamb, supported by its own rosemary, roasted root vegetable shepherd's pie and rich lamb jus, or possibly grilled fillet of sea bass with coconut and lime leaf sticky rice with chargrilled Mediterranean vegetables. Follow with an individual glazed prune and toasted almond rice pudding.

The wine list is a masterly exercise, with a good breadth of choice starting from the house wine at £13.75, and a good number by the medium or large glass. Trust the Australians to put some point into Reisling, ask for the Howard Park '06. Lebanese Gaston Hochar '00 is well worth a call, and the list generally moves nimbly between the upper and lower ranges, only occasionally hitting the 50-plus mark.

Like any good country inn there's a choice of places in which to enjoy your food, with the front bar offering a huge open fireplace, or the more elegant dining room or snug. For the al fresco touch try the large airy conservatory or a pretty terraced garden.

There's always something going on at The Westleton Crown, and a quick click on their Website will put you fully in the picture.