Ipswich Star Pub of the Week is The George in Hintlesham

This week, I went to The George in Hintlesham, on George Street - a fascinating building.

Hintlesham is a lovely little village, and this historic building and pub fits in perfectly with its surroundings.

I went on Tuesday lunchtime and there were a number of other groups already in there when I walked in, having lunch or just a drink.

The bar area (Image: Tom Cann)

The George in Hintlesham (Image: Tom Cann)

I went up to the bar to have a look at one of the many menus at the pub, with there being a huge variety of food on offer, including sandwiches, paninis, small plates and larger pub meals. They also have a special board, a range of burgers and different pies.

On a Sunday, they do roast dinners and they also offer takeaway food.

Because I am only 29-years-old, I went for the chicken goujons, chips and beans - sometimes it is exactly what you fancy.

Alongside this, I went for a Pravha.

I enjoyed a pint of Pravha (Image: Tom Cann)

The chicken goujons, chips and beans (Image: Tom Cann)

The food came in at £9.99 and the Pravha at £5.99, costing £15.98 in total - a reasonable price for a drink and food at a pub these days.

It all came very quickly and the service from Lizzie and Daniel was great.

There's not a lot I can say about the food, it's chicken goujons, chips and beans...something everyone has had before, but it was served warm and hit the spot.

Inside the pub (Image: Tom Cann)

The pub garden (Image: Tom Cann)

The vibe inside the pub was great. I was told that it recently went through a refurbishment, with book cases being installed to separate the area in front of the bar a bit, which looked really good.

Work was also done to the fire place and chimney area, so it looks like it fits in more, and there is also a large restaurant area at the back of the pub, but this was closed off as it was a Tuesday lunchtime and not needed.

The pub garden out the front was really nice too, with lots of flowers and plants around the many benches outside.

The bar area (Image: Tom Cann)

Inside the pub (Image: Tom Cann)

Many of the tables were reserved, which suggested it was a hugely popular pub.

Now, the history.

The George in Hintlesham has been a fixture of village life for centuries.

The original inn is believed to have stood on the site for many hundreds of years and was known as The George & Dragon at the turn of the 20th century.

Inside the pub (Image: Tom Cann)

The pub garden (Image: Tom Cann)

However, that historic building was destroyed by a fire towards the end of the 19th century. The present-day George was then rebuilt in the 1890s and remains the building seen now.

Over the years, the pub evolved from a traditional coaching and village inn into a larger pub and restaurant serving the local community and travellers passing between Ipswich and Sudbury.

An unusual feature of the building is that a number of its fixtures and fittings were salvaged from a local church that was later demolished.

The George in Hintlesham (Image: Tom Cann)

Today, The George is one of Hintlesham's best-known landmarks, hosting everything from family meals and celebrations to quiz nights and community events.

Although modernised over the years, it remains an important part of the village's history and a reminder of the role Suffolk pubs have long played at the heart of rural communities.

It was a great experience and I can't wait for my next visit to sample more of the menu and have another drink.