Tucked away in the village of Shimpling, Suffolk, The Bush is one of those places that screams “quintessential country pub”. The building itself dates from the 16th century, and records state that it was converted to a pub in the 19th century. With new landlords having arrived just four months ago, we headed in for a late lunch to check the place out.
With its wooden beams, flagstone floors and cosy corners, The Bush in Shimpling is a place packed with character. There’s a sizeable garden, too – currently in need of a lot of love, but that’s on the landlords’ agenda. With a space like this, there’s huge potential – and plenty of space to soak up the sun during warmer weather.
The service was one of the highlights of our visit – exceptionally friendly and helpful, but without being overbearing. It made such an impression that our seven-year-old spent half the meal repeating, “She’s a nice lady, isn’t she?” When even a small child comments on how welcome he’s made to feel, you know you’re onto a winner.
We were seated at a booth-style table that offered a cosy sense of privacy (although with the late time of our arrival, the pub wasn’t overly busy).
Food-wise, The Bush delivers classic pub grub, along with some twists (Keralan lamb Malabar curry and Teriyaki steak ciabattas, for example). While these were tempting, we stuck with a couple of classics.
Both the kids’ fish and chips (£8) and the grown-up version (£16) were big hits, with generous portion sizes, well-cooked chips and a decent, crispy batter.
As for me, I can rarely resist a lasagne, and this version (£15) came with a choice of garlic bread or chips plus a side salad. The side salad was fresh and nicely dressed, and the lasagne itself looked fantastic: beautifully gooey, plenty of meat sauce oozing out, and a hearty portion. Flavour-wise, it delivered, although it could have done with being heated through a touch more, and the veg inside were, let’s just say “rustically chopped” – the dish would have come together better if they’d been smaller. The landlords have assured me, though, that the feedback has been passed on to the kitchen team.
Between its beautiful setting, warm hospitality, varied menu and enthusiastic landlords, The Bush in Shimpling has been given a new lease of life. While it’s still early days for the team, I’m excited to see how the place evolves!