The Coach House is a fabulous family restaurant situated in the middle of the Thornham Estate woodland. Serving freshly prepared food, that is as locally sourced as possible, their Sunday roasts and themed dinners are not to be missed!
What a great find! It’s off the beaten track yet still only a mile or so from the main A140 Stowmarket to Norwich road
Nestling in the forest of the 2,000 acre Thornham Estate with 12 miles of way-marked paths, The Coach House was converted to accommodate dining in 2001 and is now operated by family team who also run Sweet & Savoury ; a café restaurant at Stonham Barns and a deli & sandwich shop in Needham Market.
The Coach House is open Thursday to Sunday serving delicious lunches using as much locally sourced produce as possible. Additionally they host themed lunches and evenings throughout the year. As we went on a Sunday we opted for a traditional roast lunch and I can honestly say that it was the best roast I have had since I don’t remember when! We had home-made pâté and soup to start, with beef and pork for mains. Both meats were incredibly tasty and tender. No room for puds!
Luckily, The Coach House is situated right in the middle of the Thornham Walks, so we were able to walk some of it off immediately after. There’s an amazing charity run walled garden, Beyond the Wall, adjacent to the restaurant, and miles of unspoilt forest walks.
The Coach House is a very family orientated restaurant and there were plenty of young families dining. The floor retains the original old pamments and there’s an eclectic mix of furniture, giving it a really cosy, relaxed feel. They also sell a range of gifts and local produce such as jams and chutney. Furthermore there’s a spacious courtyard outside for dining during the summer months too.
We met with one of the owners, Jan, who was very keen to welcome our guests, particularly as we have easy access to both their café, restaurant, and their fabulous deli, being situated right in the middle of them and just around the corner from one! They cater for wedding receptions too and by the looks of the photo’s there, they do it very well.
See our other piece on Thornham Walks – they are right in the middle of it!
Last Updated on March 1, 2020 by Laura