A Perfect New Year in the Seaside Town of Southwold

My family and I were introduced to the traditional seaside town of Southwold by our close friends and have been lucky enough to spend a week there with them every New Year for the past six years.

Southwold is on the East coast of England in Suffolk and almost feels like the town that time forgot. There's an ancient high street, a pier built in 1900 and the 300 year Adnams brewery... it's an 'Olde Worlde' English seaside town with a lot of charm and class.

There's so much to see in Southwold but these are my must-dos...

The Lord Nelson - the Best Pub in Southwold!

The Lord Nelson or the 'Nellie' really is the best pub in Southwold and believe me, we have tried them all! It stands just setback from the promenade so is lovely to sit outside (on the front or in the beer garden) and hear the waves. The staff are great and the drinks and food amazing, even for vegetarians; I had a delicious Quorn Chilli (twice!) topped with cheese nachos and soured cream.

Inside, it's a traditional pub with lots of wood, huddled up tables and comfy chairs, a fire and lots of history in the momentos and photographs on the walls. It's an old place; The Nellie was called Noah's Ark until 1805 and the earliest record of it was during the reign of Charles II in 1672!

A Visit to the Pier

The traditional pier was built 114 years ago but was weakened in World War II and a gale in 1955 destroyed a large part of it. It was restored in 2001 and is now a very popular part of the town. It has a pier pavillion, restaurant (with amazing hot chocolates!) and a amusement arcade. The most interesting parts of the pier are the novelty machines made by cartoon artist and engineer Tim Hunkin and the famous clock tower which, every hour, jumps into action to surprise visitors!

Adnams Brewery

Adnams was established in 1872 and is best-known as a brewer of beer although they now have a fleet of hotels and shops - all of which are amazing. Adnams was established in Southwold in 1872 with the brewery being built in the centre of town in 1890. Interestingly, the earliest record of beer being brewed on the Adnams site was in 1345 by Johanna de Corby and 17 other 'ale wives'!

The award-winning brewery is the town's largest employer and has beer, wine and now spirits on offer in most of Southwold's pubs, bars and restaurants. A few favourites of our group was Adnams Spindrift (a flavoursome, refreshing beer), Pink Fizz (a delicious sparkling wine) and Adnams Absinthe Rouge (inspired by an old French recipe with hibiscus flowers for a ruby-red colour).

Southwold's High Street

There are some outstanding shops on the ancient high street with something for everyone from boutiques and craft shops to florists and bakers. My favourite fashion shop is Collen & Clare just up the road from The Lord Nelson which has a great mix of designer clothing, accessories, home fragrances and beauty products.

Two Magpie's Bakery is amazing stocked with homemade cakes, biscuits and speciality bread and perfect coffee, so I'd encourage a visit there!

Sutherland House restaurant located in the centre of the high street is my favourite place to have dinner. Although other members of our group had been before, I had never experienced it but I'm now so glad I did. The food is Michelin-star worthy (but with substance), the staff welcoming and the surroundings relaxed and packed with history (wonky floors and walls add to the charm).

An Invigorating Walk from Southwold to Walberswick

We take the dogs out for a walk along the beach every day and my favourite walk is from Southwold to the next village along, Walberswick. The walk heads across the beach, through the working harbour (I love seeing all the fishing boats and we occasionally buy fresh fish from there) then across the nature reserve near the River Blyth. Once we reach Walberswick, of course, we need to re-fuel so have lunch and Adnams beer at a great pub, The Anchor. A must-have dish there is beer-battered cod with freshly cut chips and jalapeno tartare sauce - lovely!

The Beach and Famous Beach Huts

If you don't do anything but this in Southwold you need to walk along the promenade, dipping onto the sandy beach here and there and be amazed by the fun, colourful beach huts. This year we rented a beach hut; the blue and cream Blyth Spirit, and enjoyed cooking breakfast in there and eating it outside on the beach in the sun and we even celebrated New Year's Eve in there with fireworks on the beach, champagne and dancing! Although the beach huts look very small, inside they fit eight people relatively comfortably and ours had everything we needed including chairs, games, books and cooking essentials.

My perfect day in Southwold would start off with an espresso from Two Magpie's Bakery followed by a spot of shopping in Collen and Clare, before having breakfast in the beach hut with the whole crowd. I'd then pick up the dog and walk to Walberswick for lunch before taking a leisurely stroll back. To top off the day I'd go to The Lord Nelson for a glass of Adnams Pink Fizz and then on to Sutherland House for a three-course meal. Perfect!

Finally, a bit of celeb spotting... last New Year I was pleased to bump into (literally) the lovely actor Bill Nighy and this year there was rumours that Johnny Depp was in town for New Year!

I couldn't think of a better place to see in a new year in the UK!

Jane x