Ipswich Star pub of the week is Lord Nelson in Fore Street

This week, we've been checking out the Lord Nelson in Fore Street, an Adnams pub which I, for some reason, had never stopped by before.

But this weekly feature has almost forced me to check out all the great pubs Ipswich has to offer, so I was more than happy to pay it a visit on a Friday lunchtime.

The Lord Nelson can be found in Fore Street, Ipswich(Image: Newsquest)

Now I will admit to not being Suffolk born and raised, but I always thought of Horatio Nelson as being a Norfolk icon - after all, you are reminded you're entering "Nelson's county" every time you drive over the border.

But a quick Google search suggests he had some links to Suffolk too, so I guess we can claim him a little bit.

Anyway, the nautical theme is very apparent from the moment you step foot in the Lord Nelson. I didn't get a proper look, but I was sat right next to a replica of what I believe was HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship.

Historical nods to Lord Nelson can be found inside the pub(Image: Newsquest)

There was also a cabinet with a bust and certificate of provenance, plus a few other bits and pieces related to the Royal Navy officer.

I'm getting sidetracked - no one reads this column for a history lesson.

In a nutshell, the pub has a very nice and welcoming feel to it. It wasn't particularly busy as I sat down for some lunch, with a few other people inside, but I've always understood this place to get fairly busy in the evenings.

I went in not knowing too much about the vibe of the Nelson, so I wasn't aware it was more of a sit-down pub for food. That's at least how it came across, and there's nothing wrong with that.

The Nelson burger went down a treat(Image: Newsquest)

Being an Adnams pub, you can probably expect what sort of beers you can get on tap. You can get all of you favourites such as Ghost Ship and Dry Hopped Lager, but one I spotted and have never tried before was Ease Up IPA, which is gluten-free. That is not something I need to watch out for in my diet, but I'll be sure to try it some day.

Other tipples you can get include Birra Moretti, Amstel, Carlsberg and Suffolk favourite Aspall cyder. So all in all, a decent selection.

Matthew Earth sitting down in the pub(Image: Newsquest)

Fancying some grub, I ordered myself a Nelson burger - the top item on the menu. Given this, I assumed they must sell a lot of them.

I've been on a bit of a tour of Ipswich's best pub burgers in the last few months and I'm pleased to report the Nelson's effort is right up there. It may be on the more expensive side at £17.20, without a drink, but you are getting a decent, quality meal. 

The inside décor of the Lord Nelson(Image: Newsquest)

The meat was nice and juicy and the fries were cooked to perfection. I also had all of the mixed leaves, which came with a honey and mustard dressing - they were such a great addition to the main event of the burger.

The staff were very friendly and the service was great. In summary, I enjoyed my little lunch break at the Nelson and think I'll be going back.