The Cock Inn

Situated in the charming Suffolk village of Clare, The Cock Inn was first recorded as a pub in 1636 and retains much of its olde-worlde charm. We visited the pub for a midweek dinner and were tempted by the extensive range of locally brewed real ales available at the bar, deciding to sample one before dinner. A glance at the menu showed a great choice of classic pub meals, along with a few contemporary dishes and a good vegetarian selection, all of which sounded mouth-watering – we had a difficult decision ahead.

Eventually I chose the fried calamari, which was prepared to order yet arrived quickly; the batter was crispy and the calamari rings were tender, fresh and full of flavour. For the main course, the fish of the day caught my eye – pan-fried cod fillet served in cream, garlic and lime sauce, with new potatoes and green beans. The dish was perfectly cooked, beautifully presented and bursting with subtle flavour; it more than lived up to my expectations. My companion opted for the glazed ribs served with apple coleslaw and chips, declaring the tender meat absolutely sublime.

We decided to finish our evening with a coffee in the pub’s beautifully manicured garden. On a balmy evening the attractive, well-lit and covered decking area was busy with the babble of diners and drinkers enjoying the late summer. We joined them, and so ended a very pleasant evening. We’d definitely recommend this bar for great-quality food and comfortable, sociable dining.