Stay with us between 2 April and 28 June and receive up to 25% off B&B plus treats…..
Read MoreNews & Events
SPRING ROOM OFFER
DINNER & WINE ON US
Stay this January – March and receive Dinner and Wine on Us. Winter is for hibernating but no better place to do it than in the Dedham Vale.
When you book Bed & Breakfast for £200 per room, we’ll give you dinner (to the value of £75 per couple) and wine (to the value of £24 per couple).
For stays between Tuesday 2 January and Sunday 31 March 2024. Saturday night stays and 14 February require a two night stay.
Book HERE
WINE DINNER – BILLECART-SALMON
Our first wine dinner of 2024 and what a way to start! We’re thrilled to have Charlie Wethered from Champagne Billecart Salmon here, guiding us through four of their cuvées along with a white from Provence and a red from Bordeaux.
Read MoreCELEBRATING 20 YEARS
On 17th July 2023, it will be 20 years since I opened The Sun Inn as you know it today. Fresh out of London, I wanted to bring the food I loved and had worked with to an unloved, run-down pub in a quintessential village, in an area abundant with fine produce. It won’t last a year it was said, especially since we didn’t do chips….until 2018!
We ran a special menu from March – July celebrating dishes that were on in the early years, updated by Jack. And we completed the celebration with a brilliant Al Festo weekend over 15-16 July. So 20 years are now done, the time is now and we’re looking forward to a busy summer and planning what’s next!
Thanks to everyone who has sent messages and visited for the 20 year menu over the past months, and so many of you who visited over the weekend 14-16 July, It means the world, thanks for everything.
Cin Cin
Piers & Team Sun InnAl Festo 2023
Our annual music and beer festival will take place over the weekend of 15 and 16 July. A special one as we celebrate 20 Years of the Sun Inn as you know it today. Full line up…….
Read MoreMATTHEW JUKES 100 BEST AUSTRALIAN WINE ROADSHOW
The redoubtable MATTHEW JUKES will be bringing his brilliant 100 BEST AUSTRALIAN WINE ROADSHOW to Dedham on 24 March. Bookings are open – click HERE
The tasting will begin at 6pm at Dedham’s Assembly Rooms, just 100 yards up the road from the pub. A lovely, large, open room that will accommodate up to 125 guests. Last entry into the tasting will be 7.15pm.
We have space for 65 for a SET DINNER back at the pub from 7pm – 9.15pm. Antipasti for the table followed by Slow-cooked Lamb, Shepherd’s Pie, Wild Garlic & Turnip followed by a pudding and cheese platter. Options available for pescatarians, vegans and vegetarians. And there is usually some wine to bring down from the tasting to enjoy with dinner.
Tickets for the tasting only are £25. Tickets for the tasting & dinner are £70 (DINNER & TASTING SOLD OUT). They are non-refundable. If you want to come to tasting only, you are more than welcome to come to the pub after and tables may become free or the may be tables in the front bar available. Equally, you are welcome to have cheese boards in the oak room snug.
Please ensure you select the correct ticket as dinner is not available for the TASTING ONLY. On the diary, select 24/3/2023 and then the time you want to arrive at the wine tasting, anytime between 6pm and 7.15pm. The Assembly Rooms will need to be vacated by 8.15pm. There is limited parking available at The Assembly Rooms, High Street and the pub with further parking at Mill Lane Car Park.
SEASONS GREETINGS
The Dedham Vale last Sunday morning. If this doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit, come and join us for mince pies, mulled wine and a schmaltz free festive playlist! Our team will do the rest.
Our last missive of the year brings news of an irresistible ROOM OFFER for January and February – save on your utility bills by staying with us. Can’t wait till then? Okay, we have a small offer running till the end of December – CLICK HERE.
If you’ve had enough of the Dedham Vale, head to Mersea Island and The White Hart Inn where we’re running a similar giveaway – CLICK HERE
News also of a WINE event of sorts for 2023 – the redoubtable MATTHEW JUKES will be bringing his brilliant 100 BEST AUSTRALIAN WINE ROADSHOW to Dedham on Friday 24 March. Bookings will open in the new year, but save the date, it’s not to be missed.
2022 has been quite a year. A full year of normal trading, well as normal as it can be. I am immensely proud of our team who have helped me achieve the feat of opening The White Hart Inn on Mersea Island. I am extremely thankful to all of you who have made it over there and to Church Street Tavern to support our efforts.
THANK YOU for ALL your custom this year. We’re looking forward to 2023 with mild trepidation. Running hospitality businesses these days could be considered a risk, but with with wonderful custom and an ethos of making people happy, there’s nothing we’d rather be doing.
We’re OPEN throughout the Christmas period EXCEPT 25 & 26 December and the evenings of 31 December and 1 January.
Merry Christmas, have a brilliant festive season and new year……
Cin Cin
Piers & Team Sun InnAL FESTO 2022
After a two year enforced break, we are thrilled to announce our lineup for Al Festo 2022. A mini-festival without the camping that mixes the best of Americana and Folk music with craft beer and great food in beautiful surroundings with wonderful people.
BACK TO FRONT
a charity dinner on Tuesday 15 March, 2022
Read MoreWINE DINNER DATES 2022
FRIDAY 11 MARCH – A PASSION FOR SEAFOOD
Mike Warner of the brilliant, A Passion for Seafood, joins us for a celebration of his wonderful seafood, sharing his knowledge and passion with tales of the sea.
4 courses, 8 wines. £65 per head.THURSDAY 7 APRIL – DANBURY RIDGE
Red hot new English wine producers Danbury Ridge, Essex have been making waves in the press and among many of you for their brilliant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Winemaker Liam Idzikowski and vineyard consultant John Atkinson will join us to celebrate all things vinous and Essex!
4 courses, 8 wines. £70 per head.PLEASE NOTE
Payment required upon booking, non-refundable but transferable to another person (not date). It is very difficult to cater for dietary requirements for events like these, we will always do our best but in some cases we will not be able to and will have to substitute the dish. But we can’t diverge too much from the theme and can’t change multiple dishes. An aperitif and bites are served at your table from 7pm with dinner from 7.30pm.AL FESTO 2021
Sadly, following the government’s announcement this evening of a delay to full unlocking until 19 July, we are unable to proceed with Al Festo for 2021 planned for 9-11 July so are having to CANCEL.
We’d love to say its postponed but too much preparation is required to squeeze it in when allowed. While the government have said they will review every two weeks and could unlock before 19 July we can’t wait until July for the go ahead.
For the many of you who booked the Jazz on 9 July, we will be in contact to issue refunds.
We’re totally disappointed we can’t open up fully and do Al Festo, but we are grateful for where we are today and still more than ready for summer in all its forms with you.
Cheers!
Piers & Team Sun Inn
Gooseberry Fool with McLauchlan’s PYO Berries
Picked some gooseberries from McLauchlan’s farm in Boxted and made a lovely fool with them. Read more for the recipe
Read MoreDIARY OF AN (EMPTY) PUB LANDLORD CONTINUES – 8 May 2020
Since my first entry on 21 April, the response to my diary has been quite something. I’ve been asked to continue it so here is the next entry….
Read MoreJACK COOKS #1
Jack bought a BBQ so this is his first recipe for you to try at home. Jerk Chicken, Rice & Peas, Sweetcorn…..with a bottle of Red Stripe Lager!
Read MoreDIARY OF AN (EMPTY) PUB LANDLORD – 21 APRIL 2020
Since we closed on Friday 20 March due to COVID-19, lots of people have asked about things; before, during and after the lockdown. So I wrote this (21 April 2020)….
Read MoreON HOLD
It is with the heaviest of hearts that I announce we will be putting on hold our Pick Up & Take Away Service for Finish at Home and Food Boxes.
WINE DINNER – 26 MARCH 2020
Hamish Anderson of Tate Galleries UK will be here to help us launch our new Wine List and FEAST menu. Come and join us to taste some exciting new wines and a fabulous FEAST!
Read MoreAL FESTO 2019
13TH & 14TH JULY 2019
Now in its fifth year and over two days, Al Festo is a mini-Maverick and without the camping that mixes the best of Americana and Folk music with craft beer and great food in beautiful surroundings with wonderful people.
Read MoreALISON BOND’S SMALLHOLDING
We are very lucky to have a wonderful organic and biodynamic producer on our doorstep. Alison Bond has been growing the organic salad leaves we use from May-October for the past 10 years or so. Her smallholding is located about a mile from the pub, a beautiful natural, wild plot. On a recent visit to collect eggs from her chickens, the plot was a feast for the senses. Bees collecting nectar for the honey we take; Castlemilk Moorit sheep grazing; her chickens roaming. Trees of cherries, apricots, walnuts; bushes of gooseberries, blackcurrants and raspberries. In the tunnel alongside her salad leaves, tomato plants, French beans, garlic, onion, beetroot and aubergines about to go in. It’s no wonder her produce tastes so good.
Read MoreMEET UP MONDAYS
Do you feel like the weekend has dragged? Are you fed up with your own company? Maybe you are new to the area? You are invited to come along & enjoy a free cuppa & some friendly chat. #dontbeonyourown Every Monday from 10.30am – 12pm, we’re here for tea, coffee and cake as part of #meetupMondays