nourish team Kate Morfoot, leading food and travel writer from www.LoveToEatToTravel.com, enjoys a visit to The Packhorse Inn in Moulton.
The Packhorse Inn is a wonderful traditional country inn and part of Chestnut . It sits at the heart of the community in the village of Moulton, just outside Newmarket, Suffolk. There are not many pubs in the area that can boast their Michelin Plate dining experience, awarded 2011 and 2022, with food offered at reasonable prices.
Arriving in Moulton takes you back to a moment in time, and perhaps a scene from The Darling Buds of May, as on its pretty village green, you will find the quintessential village’s 15th century Packhorse Bridge.
Arriving at The Packhorse Inn, you are welcomed by not just friendly staff, but also their wonderful packhorse that has been ingeniously handcrafted from willow by Helen Colletta and that takes pride of place at the entrance of the Inn.
There are plenty of scenic country walks for guests can explore. The Three Churches walk that takes you through Moulton, Dalham, and Gazeley, passing by each of the village churches along part of Icknield Way, thought to be one of the oldest roads in Britain. The walk takes you through fields, woodland, country roads, and by the River Kennett.
The Packhorse Inn welcomes furry companions and offers several dog-friendly rooms and ‘Muddy Paws’ packages. In addition, The Packhorse Inn attracts horse lovers and racegoers alike from where you can easily reach the famous Newmarket Racecourses and the National Horse Racing Museum, both within a six-mile drive.
We checked into the Primrose Room, one of eight rooms at the Inn. It was light and calming and decorated with French shabby chic furniture. This is one of the largest rooms available and probably one of the most luxurious, making our stay very comfortable indeed. It was lovely to relax on the king-sized bed overlooking a view of the village green. Within the room is a large free-standing double bath opposite the bed by the window, as well as a walk-in rain shower and private toilet.
The Packhorse Inn is proud of its excellent reputation for food and in 2022 it was awarded a Michelin Plate. Head chef Steve Angier is passionate about locally sourced produce from the region including local cheeses, Dingley Dell pork, tomatoes from Norfolk, and herbs from the pub’s kitchen garden in addition to the famous Maldon Oysters from Essex.
One highlight of the year for Steve is game season, creating dishes that champion the sport, and seasonal ingredients that can be foraged locally such as brambles and plums. Steve’s fun and cheeky nature shines through in his desserts, where he enjoys making old favourites or English classics and creating something fresh and new.
We tried the Dingley Dell ham hock terrine, Suffolk Gold tart and curried cauliflower soup, served with an onion bhaji, all nicely presented and tasted delicious.
The main courses are varied and suit most tastes, including roast Suffolk chicken, crispy East coast seabream, rare breed steak, Old Spot pork belly, BBQ heritage carrots, and celery risotto with herbs from the garden.
You won’t leave The Packhorse Inn feeling hungry. The breakfast menu is incredible! Enjoy Powters sausages from Newmarket and Dingley Dell bacon. The full-on English breakfast comes with two eggs cooked to your liking, bubble and squeak, black pudding, and fried bread.
Things to know
Open Wednesday to Sunday
Dog-friendly, with a special dog menu and ‘Muddy Paws’ stay packages.
Book in advance for the popular Great British Sharing Roast, served every Sunday
Things to do
The Packhorse Inn is perfectly located to explore the area that includes Newmarket, Ely, Cambridge and of course, Thetford Forest. It’s a short trot to the National Horse Racing Museum and to Newmarket Racecourses
Nearby Bedford Lodge Spa is a luxury retreat where you can relax and spend the day being pampered through a range of exceptional treatments using ESPA products.
Fact file
Rooms can be booked from per person from £125 bed and breakfast
Address: Bridge St, Moulton, Newmarket CB8 8SP
- Address: Bridge St, Moulton, Newmarket CB8 8SP
- Phone: 01638 751818
- Email: info@thepackhorseinn.com
- Website: https://www.thepackhorseinn.com/contact-us
- Follow Kate on Instagram @Love2Eat2Travel
