Carriers Arms East Bergholt — Restaurant in Babergh

We visited the pub today for the first time, I’d booked a table for 16 of us for 1pm for a surprise for my Mums 60th Birthday. We had a lovely time, food was great and we had the room in the back to ourselves where we spent the whole day and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I have to say I was slightly disappointed with a couple of comments that were made by (who I assume/think is the landlady) The desert menus were brought out quite quickly after we had had our mains, and she was going round the tables asking if any one would like deserts, my mum asked if her table could have a couple of minutes, to which she very abruptly and rudely got told the kitchen was waiting to close. It was around 2.20pm, I understand this may have been the case, but had someone of told me on the phone when I made the booking (a month ago) that the kitchen closes at a certain time then I would have asked to book the table earlier with there being so many of us. The deserts then came out, and my partner had ordered chocolate brownie with cream, it came out with ice cream (which again I understand mistakes happen) but the same lady who had already snapped about the kitchen waiting to close, then said to my partner well it’s been sent with cream “is that a problem” - again it came across as very abrupt and rude, she then seemingly reluctantly said she would see if she could change it. They are my only two grumbles for the whole day. And i feel the customer service from this particular member of staff could have been a lot better, especially when there was a big group of us and we were spending a lot of money here at the pub. I still give this 4 stars as the food was great and all other members of staff...

What a pleasant pub the Carriers Arms is, have been a few times before, but this was the first Winter visit and was able to see the log burning fire alight, which was lovely and it kicks out a lot of heat.

As with previous times we came for food and found it to be of really good quality and well priced too.

The staff were also really good, polite and attentive, much that on each visit we've been with our friends who have gotten to know the staff, I think even on a first visit you'd still get a warm welcome. It doesnt strike me as one of those local pubs for local people, as some village pubs can feel.

If going at popular meal times, or with more than 4 people in your party, I'd recommend ringing ahead and reserving a table as it can get busy, which is a good indicator that the food/drinks/prices are all good. It has a good sized garden and just about enough parking, though think if ever the garden was full in Summer, the car parking could become a challenge.

Definitely be...

Not suitable for vegans but please read on.

Sorely disappointed. Staff friendly and very apologetic which is why I give 2 stars.

Online, the menu shows plenty of vegan options. In reality, I believe there was 1. The vegetarian curry, which online isn't marked as Vegan but Vegetarian.

What really has my back up is the Vegan Burger which is titled "Vegan Burger" on their menu does in fact contain egg and milk in the brioche bun.

This is dangerous, I said as much. I kindly explained that some people with allergies will order from the vegan menu to avoid milk/egg for allergy reasons.

So, yes very disappointed with the lack of choice for vegans but also shocked at the misleading food items which could cause serious harm.

I paid £18.20 for the curry and a Heineken Zero. The curry was unfortunately a very small portion and the same size as a microwave meal. For this price I was hoping for a naan...