"Wonky-beamed charm’ and its own beer

The village of Bildeston has the same pastel-coloured, wonky-beamed charm as the nearby medieval tourist village of Lavenham.. On the high street, the mustard-hued Crown matches its three AA stars with three AA rosettes for its food — dishes might include mussels with rose harissa and fennel and pheasant Kyiv (mains from £19). It’s part of the Nedging Hall Estate and most of the vegetables served come from the land that surrounds the village. The beer is equally local; barley is grown on the estate and sent to Mauldons Brewery, Suffolk’s oldest, before heading behind the bar to reward punters after their Constable’n’churches adventures" -

"A characterful 15th-century building which has offered hospitality to guests for over 400 years. Imaginatively decorated rooms, creatively tasty cooking and a friendly welcome makes this a great choice as a touring base for families or couples wanting to explore Suffolk’s rural heartland." -

Our History

The Crown was built in 1495 as a merchant's house & has been an inn since the mid 17th century.

When this Grade II* listed former coaching inn was initially restored in 2003, Suffolk antique shops were scoured and local craftsmen sourced to create a very stylish hotel. All en-suite double rooms have such unique characteristics and styles that you can visit again and again for a completely new experience.

Did you know? The crown is a simple sign to show loyalty to the reigning monarch and apart from the commonwealth era (1648-60) has been a pub sign for over 600 years.

Award Winning

In 2022, The Crown was a finalist in the "Best Small Suffolk Hotel” in the East of England Tourism Awards.

The judges highlighted that the food at The Crown was “excellent and well-presented” and added that the hotel “has lots of character”, commenting on “the traditional wooden beams and unique rooms”.

In September 2007, our restaurant was awarded the much coveted Three Rosettes by the AA and made us the only restaurant in Suffolk to have this status. We are delighted that we have retained our 3 AA Rosettes for 2023.

In January 2024, The Times named The Crown as one of the ‘best 3 star hotels in Europe’.

The Crown was triumphant at the East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards in 2024. Recognised as the East Anglian Daily Times Environmental and Sustainability Business of the Year, an incredible achievement for a hospitality business!