A couple of weeks back I was invited along to one of the launch evenings for an exciting new restaurant and wedding venue in Suffolk - The Boot, situated close to the banks of the River Orwell on the Shotley Peninsula, just a short walk down the lane from St Peters Church in Freston, making it a brilliant location for a wedding reception..
The building and grounds have had a significant amount of renovation work done which began in January and Mike and his team have really embraced this old venue and restored it to something quite beautiful. An extension was added for a brand new kitchen and there are exciting plans for a private cinema and brewery also being installed onsite. At the back of the building the outside has been landscaped with great attention to detail. There is a large patio area leading up to the wedding paddock where you can book your choice of tipi or marquee through Events Under Canvas who are teaming up with the guys here when it comes to wedding events. At the back of the wedding paddock there is a beautiful woodland area which would be great for wedding photos, especially in the Spring when the woods are a wash with bluebells and wild garlic. A field at the back of the carpark will also provide wedding parties with the option of providing a more festival-themed wedding if they should like.
The garden area is really well planned. A duck pond is built in to the gardens which has paths criss-crossing the different areas for guests to walk around whilst they enjoy a drink. A kitchen garden is filled with vegetables and the restaurant also keeps its own chickens and ducks, supplying fresh eggs for the chefs. The restaurant keeps its own sheep which currently help to keep the wedding paddock 'mown' when not in use and then there is the resident pet raven! There is plenty to keep guests or families occupied whilst they are here.
The interior has been painstakingly restored using reclaimed and up-cycled furniture and has managed to mix old with new to give the place a charming yet contemporary feel. The restaurant hasn't forgotten its roots and there is a dart board and other games available for those wanting to sit and enjoy a drink and some good company.
On the launch evening, guests were treated to a range of tasty and colourful canapés served by the new team of staff. The scotch eggs were a favourite, along with the brownies which didn't last long at all! The bar is serving a great range of beers and ales and there is to be an on-site micro brewery too when all the works are completed here.
If you haven't yet popped in yet I'd strongly recommend taking a drive out along the beautiful river orwell and go find this new little gem. And if you are recently engaged and are planning a wedding - definitely check out this new venue, with a pretty church down the road, amazing food and the ability to tailor your day as needed, it's something to be excited about!
The Boot is now open for lunch and evening meals and is proving popular so booking is recommended - Don't just take my word for it... get down there and see for yourself....
