Bromeswell > Dining
The Unruly Pig, Bromeswell
The Unruly Pig is situated in Bromeswell, just outside Woodbridge. We caught up with the owner, Brendan Padfield to find out more about his business.
Can you tell us a little bit about your business?
We are an Estrella Damm Top 10 UK Gastropub 2021 (with the highest ranking in East Anglia). We were also named as “Dining Pub of the Year “ by The Good Pub Guide 2021. We are located just around the corner from Sutton Hoo, the hauntingly beautiful National Trust Viking burial site and occupy a building that was once a 16th century Suffolk coaching inn with log fires, sloping ceilings , quirky contemporary and pop art, great good, fab service and a relaxed vibe – that’s The Unruly Pig!
What makes your restaurant unique?
We are multi award-winning and are the only pub in Suffolk in the Top 50 UK Gastropubs 2021 list. We serve Britalian food: fresh, seasonal, British food with an Italian influence. We also have an award winning wine list with over 60 wines (to include fine wines) by the glass. We are also the only pub in the UK to have twice won “Best Front of House Team” (in 2018 and 2021)! The team make me so proud every day.
What do you love most about what you do?
Three things. I get to taste all the dishes before they reach the menu. Head Chef Dave Wall has a London provenance having worked for Gordon Ramsay as well as legendary restaurants such as Bibendum. I love how he makes the most of the abundant fresh, local produce. Secondly, I also get to taste the wine – we have “ Edgy & Quirky’ section on our wine list! Thirdly and most importantly, I get to meet lovely people: appreciative guests who praise Dave’s food and shake my hand to congratulate the front of house team.
What is your top pick from the menu?
Although I am plainly partisan, I believe Dave’s risotto is the best I have tasted outside Italy. His risottos change in accordance what’s seasonal but my particular favourite is his wild garlic and porcini risotto: locally foraged wild garlic of course! His seared octopus and nduja raviolo have drawn high praise from the judges and most recently, William Sitwell from the Daily Telegraph raved about Dave’s Chateaubriand (organic, rare breed) and gave him a very rare five star review. When it’s game season, Dave is in his element and we are lucky that most of our game comes from just five miles down the road in Rendlesham Forest.
After visiting, where would you recommend to go for a walk?
Ramsholt is glorious. My other favourite walk is at Shingle Street beach. Shingle Street has everything: crashing waves, vast skies, emptiness and desolate beauty. It’s never crowded but it always refreshes the mind – even when it is raining. I love walking there; it is so restorative and is the first place my daughters want to visit whenever they are home from London.
What is your favourite thing to do in Suffolk on your day off?
To go for a long walk with our dog at Ramsholt. Ramsholt church recently featured in the film “The Dig “ (starring Ralph Fienne’s and Carey Mulligan) for a good reason. It’s my favourite place on earth. Ramsholt church stands high and lonely (but also regally) over the River Deben. There is a glorious circular walk through ancient fields and along the river shore line and you can see four miles down the river estuary towards Bawdsey and Felixstowe ferry.
