January is a month of birthdays in our family. We needed a great venue in West Suffolk to celebrate three birthdays: somewhere that could host a table of eight, was suitable for children, had vegan and pescatarian options and allowed dogs.
Luckily, we’re surrounded by country pubs where these needs can easily be met. After some deliberation, we settled on The Weeping Willow in Barrow, a small village just a few miles to the west of Bury St Edmunds.
This 16th-century pub with rooms is a little haven in the middle of the West Suffolk countryside. Part of the Chestnut Group, it not only offers dining and drinking options, but also seven new eco-friendly lodges – some with hot tubs – for those looking for a rural escape.
When we visited, the main building felt a little cramped – drinkers (who seemed to be celebrating a special occasion) filled the route through to the toilets and it was hard to fight our way past. The dining area, though, is in the extension: a bright, airy space with spaced out tables and views of the open plan kitchen. High shelves by the ceiling are piled high with cookbooks, and the decor is contemporary and cosy.
Food-wise, expect a menu packed with local, seasonal produce. There are vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free choices, and a dedicated kids’ menu. Disappointingly, the kids’ menu on the day consisted of a burger and chips, fish and chips, sausages and mash or chicken goujons and chips: always a shame when the “grown-up” menu in a place is so much more exciting.
As a result, the birthday boy (we visited on the day of his seventh birthday) shunned the selections aimed at his age range. Instead, he ordered from the small plates menu, choosing the BBQ sardines with pesto and sourdough (£8).
He loved the presentation, the toasted bread spread with the rich green pesto, topped with the fish fillets and finished with a generous handful of pickled pink onions and microgreens. The combination of the smoky, tender fish and fresh, tangy pesto was delicious – and needless to say, he cleared his plate.
Elsewhere at our table, the beer-battered haddock and chips, served with minted peas and lemon (£18), was a hit. The portion sizes were huge, the batter looked lovely and crisp, and the chips (I managed to pinch one) were chunky and delicious, if a little over-salted.
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a veal fan…and guess what I found on the menu? The saffron risotto with ossobuco and confit cherry tomatoes (£20) didn’t disappoint. It was a huge, steaming bowl, packed with a creamy risotto topped with plenty of rich, meaty jus. The ossobuco was incredibly tender and full of flavour, the richness of the dish tempered by the pop of the sweet tomatoes. Absolutely delicious.
While the food at The Weeping Willow in Barrow is at the pricier end of the ‘pub grub’ spectrum, the delicious flavours and generous portions made it well worth the money for a family celebration in West Suffolk. I’d be keen to head back when the weather’s a little warmer to enjoy the circular walk that starts from the pub, building up an appetite for another meal. Definitely recommended.