After a circular walk around Sudbury’s beautiful Water Meadows on a hot day, we were ready to refuel. We’d heard plenty of good things about The Henny Swan, so with its idyllic riverside setting just a few miles down the road, it seemed like the perfect place to stop.
Parts of the traditional timber-framed Suffolk pub date right back to the 17th century, and The Henny Swan has long been a favourite with walkers, boaters and those exploring the River Stour. Sitting right on the water’s edge in the tiny hamlet of Henny Street, its picturesque setting feels so serene, and on a warm and sunny day like this, it was understandably busy.
There are a handful of parking spaces directly opposite the pub as well as a field to the left of the building used for overflow parking. As we arrived, there was a steady stream of cars and vans loading and unloading kayaks and paddleboards, explaining why the place was so busy…
The Henny Swan has embraced its riverside location perfectly. Visitors can launch their own paddleboards, kayaks or canoes from the pub’s garden for £10 per adult and £5 per child, with the full amount redeemable against food and drink purchased that day. Small boats can also moor up for refreshments, and if you don’t have your own craft, you can hire rowing boats, canoes and paddleboards from neighbouring Fluidity Adventure throughout the summer. Scheduled boat trips also operate between The Henny Swan and Sudbury if you fancy a more effortless way to enjoy the water.
Our original plan was a quick lunch before heading home, but the restaurant area and garden were both full when we arrived. Instead, we found a table in the bar area and ordered from the lunchtime bar menu.
The timber-beamed building gave us a chance to cool down, while the boy immediately spotted a table filled with board games, colouring books and pens, which kept him happily entertained while we waited for our food – a lovely touch for families.
He chose the battered chicken strips with BBQ sauce (£7). The generous pieces of chicken were wonderfully juicy beneath their crisp, golden coating and definitely got the thumbs-up from our little battered chicken connoisseur.
Across the table, the Cumberland sausage sandwich (£6.75, plus £1.25 to add bacon) was packed with flavour and generously filled, making for a hearty and satisfying meal.
I couldn’t resist the pork and apricot sausage roll (£6), served alongside homemade brown sauce. Beautifully presented, it was easily one of the best sausage rolls I’ve had in a long time. The ratio of filling to pastry was perfect, the sausage meat deliciously savoury, while the apricot added bursts of sweetness that kept every bite moist. The pastry had plenty of crisp and buttery layers, and the fruity tang of the homemade brown sauce brought everything together perfectly.
With lunch finished, we made a spontaneous decision to make the most of the riverside location by hiring one of Fluidity Adventure’s rowing boats. At £33 for an hour it wasn’t the cheapest activity, but it was great to spend our afternoon doing something a bit different. Drifting along this peaceful stretch of the River Stour gave us the chance to see this part of the Suffolk countryside from a different perspective, further entertainment coming from the numerous dragonflies, spotting dogs on paddleboards and searching (unsuccessfully) for sightings of kingfishers.
Whether you’re arriving by car, by boat or on foot, The Henny Swan is worth a visit: grab a bite to eat, soak up the sun in the pub garden and get out on the river with ease if you fancy it…