Lady Florence River Cruise Restaurant in Suffolk Coastal

We were fortunate in having good weather - despite going on the cruise towards the end of September.Our expectations of the food were not high so we were very pleasantly surprised how good it was. I really don't understand the very negative comments about the food as without exception all 12 people were very pleased.I highly recommend this supper cruise.

A lovely sail up and down the river from Orford spoiled by 1960’s style cooking - reminded me of school dinners. Vegetables boiled to death and inedible, tasteless pre-packaged fish and sauce - but good local potatoes. To be fair, puddings were high on flavour, in that sparkly way of modified products.I suppose you shouldn’t expect anything else from a limited galley kitchen. Just not what you want at 4.30 on a sunny afternoon crushed indoors while all the scenery just passes you by.

So very disappointed in this trip. We were squashed together on a small table of 12 of us and 3 big dogs. It felt very uncomfortable sitting with people that close we didn't know. Food was okay. We paid £47.00 per couple for the trip and then food and drink costs were on top. Our total bill was £123.00. We both had a main and desert plus a couple of sandys each. Very expensive. The seating arrangements are not corvid compliant. if you need the toilet you need to climb a ladder to go downstairs, i never attempted this.Very poor value.

Excellent breakfast cruise. Catered better for us vegetarians than most local eateries. Crew welcoming and attentive. Skipper’s commentary clear and informative matching any I have experienced around the world. Lots of information given about wildlife and history, especially background of military use of Orford Ness. Saw wide variety of birds as well as seals and porpoise. May be a little cramped for the cabin meal if fully-booked with 12 people but we had nine which was fine. Finished in style with warm apple pie and muffins on deck. A great way to see the river. Thanks to all concerned. Value for money.

Done this trip 3 times over the years but was very disappointed this time. The food was not great except for the Sticky Toffee Pudding. Not a comfortable lunch as there were 12 round a table that would be pushed to take 10. We were very squashes up...could only eat with one hand.. not enough room for two! The staff were very pleasant and accomadationg.

I was very fortunate to get a last minute booking on the brunch cruise. The captain and crew were friendly and welcoming to everyone onboard. Before leaving the he captain did a thorough Covid and safety briefing. His commentary once we were underway was so informative, he clearly loves being on the river and has an in-depth knowledge of the bird life and history of the area. . My meat only breakfast was delicious and all the other guests onboard enjoyed the apple tart and muffin dessert served on deck. Fortunately it was a lovely summer morning for such a trip.

Captain Richard (?( gave us fascinating history of some of the places we passed and pointed out places where birds and sea creatures were around. The lunch was absolutely wonderful and I found it hard to believe it had been prepared on board.A splendid 3 hours on the Alde to and fro Orford and Aldeburgh which I cannot recommend too much. It was a truly memorable experience which I recommend to anyone.

A superb cruise, very friendly crew and delicious brunch catering for me as gluten free. A very informative commentary too. Extremely good value for money, we’ll go again!

We chartered the Lady Florence for a breakfast / brunch cruise to celebrate 3 birthdays within our family and friends. From the moment we boarded, we were put at ease. Fresh orange juice to start, a full English, followed by apple pie and muffins - we were stuffed by the time we disembarked. It was an added bonus that the weather was brilliant. We saw lots of gulls and other seabirds. Our knowledgeable skipper was great with his commentary and pointing out items of interest. We all had a fab time and would not hesitate to recommend to others.

As per the previous comments regarding covid test, hands sanitised and temp check all good. But be mindful you are on a boat with potentially 12 other people if you are a concerned individual don't go on the trip.Food good and plentiful, the group we were with seemed to enjoy the food. Commentary on the river good with a friendly crew.All in all a nice afternoon on the river with the added bonus of seeing the seals.

Without doubt one of the best floating restaurants I’ve ever visited. Upon arrival we were warmly welcomed by the skipper, he then boards each passenger after being hand sanitised, on boarding all passages are given a temperature check and then seated out on deck. Prior to the safety briefing the skipper asked us COVID questions. The boat was lovely and clean. The staff was extremely friendly. Service and food were both outstanding!! It was a very lovely lunch cruise and a great addition to our holiday in Suffolk. We will definitely be back !

A great trip on the Rivers Alde and Ore from Orford Quay. The boat is easily accessible from the quayside and parking is close by. We were greeted by lovely staff who made us very welcome. A great selection of drinks and our pre-ordered lunch was delicious. We were fortunate that the predicted weather forecast was proved to be wrong and the sun shone for the majority of the trip. It was a 3 hour each way drive for us but certainly worth the effort and we will definitely be repeating the experience next year. Great value for money and a very enjoyable way to spend a Monday afternoon. Highly recommend

The Covid 19 advice on the Lady Florence website states that there are hand sanitiser points on the boat, I didn’t see any, nor was I prompted to use one. It also states on the website that all passengers will have their temperature taken. There was no sign of a thermometer. We were all asked if we had any covid symptoms or had been in contact with anyone with covid, and we were all asked if we’d had the two jabs, but weren’t asked for proof when the answer from everyone was yes.There were five couples dining around one table in a small cabin. The door to the deck was left open otherwise there was no ventilation. I didn’t see the dining area until half an hour into the trip and so unless I’d eaten on a windy deck, which in retrospect I think I should have done, I had no choice but to sit with eight complete strangers. The trip lasted three hours. The two stewards wore masks. The commentary by the skipper was brilliant. The food and service was excellent.The attitude we were encouraged to take about covid once we were aboard was to feel that we were all capable of being “sensible”. I’m sure the virus is happy to take advantage of this view.

Spent a lovely late afternoon on a supper cruise along the river Alde. Commentary was informative but not intrusive. Food was very filling, good portion size and choice. 10 of us on board. Perfect number. Offered a drink as soon as we boarded ad plenty to choose from. If you're looking for a gourmet experience this is not for you. But if you want to relax and enjoy the scenery, be well fed and watch the world go by on the river for three hours then book!

Went on here with the family on a beautiful sunny evening to enjoy a leisurely cruise and dinner and upon boarding the crew were very friendly and welcoming.Shortly after boarding we set off along the river and drinks were swiftly served followed by dinner a while later.There are apparently room for 12 guests to dine and my opinion that would be a most unpleasant experience and a real squeeze even if you all had figures like Twiggy, ten of us were practically elbow to elbow with limited space as it was.The service for food and drink was pretty good throughout our time on board and the meal was okay but I thought it over the top to be charged a £5 supplement over and above the cost of the meal for beef kebabs when I doubt if there was even £5 worth of beef on them.The thing that shocked me the most was being charged £27 for a mere bottle of plonk and felt this an absolute rip off as this is not a city restaurant and merely a very basic wooden boat devoid of any finery.Just my opinion of personal experience but each to their own.

This was a really good fun trip on the Lady Florence. The crew made us welcome from the start with drinks served once we were all settled on board. It was all extremely well organised with time to sit out and enjoy the commentary and the view. It gave us a different perspective as we sailed up to Aldeburgh. The food was great and supplied in abundance by the staff. Confit chicken was delicious and the salad was so good! Don’t forget to order the french bread side as well! The food is served on one big table so you do get to know your travelling companions but that all added to the charm of the day. Couldn’t ask for better or more friendly service. This was a very enjoyable trip and highly recommended.

Had a wonderful evening Captain, Jamie & Oliver very friendly and attentive. Food amazing. A wonderful way to end our family holiday and meet new people. Views stunning, wildlife and birds pointed out so we wouldn’t miss anything. Thank you very much

we booked this trip for last year and had to change it a few times. Come the day we had the best weather and a lovely team to look after us. The food and drink was lovely, the trip was idyllic and the commentary was really interesting and entertaining. Worth the wait but hope we don't have to wait so long for the next trip.

Family trip, friendly and helpful staff, good food well served. Due to Covid restrictions we had the boat to ourselves which made it extra special.

We booked lunch on Lady Florence to celebrate my mother in laws birthday and from start to finish the trip was excellent. From the off and throughout the hosts were very attentive and friendly. We were very lucky with the weather and it was really enjoyable to sit in the sun having a couple of drinks together before we ate.I had read on a previous review where somebody commented that the eating area was a little dated and yes it is. This is what makes this area so charming, and what do they expect from a boat of this age. The whole experience wouldn't be the same if it was any different. It my opinion the dining area was perfect, the food was great and it was all very well organised.I must also mention that Covid procedures were all in place but with minimal compromise to the experience.Great day.

The great crew made us welcome from the start with drinks and the scene was set for a extremely well organised trip. The commentary excellent and the meal lovely.. wit and service supplied in abundance by the staff. Great day out ..

Absolutely brilliant day out. Fabulous food, great service and amazing food. We were looked after brilliantly from start to finish. Thank you!

This was booked for a family birthday and it was absolutely perfect.The crew where very helpful and friendly and nothing was to much trouble Every one was given hand sanitizer before boarding and temperature was taken on boarding and a safely briefing given. The food was absolutely gorgeous and plenty of it.The salad was not the usual salad of cucumber and lettuce. There was courgettes, beans, radishes and broccoli and the salad dressing just finished it off completely.If you are looking for something different for a family celebration or even a get together it well worth hiring the Lady Florence. Well done guys

I echo all of the positive reviews here. Our evening cruise was perfect: dramatic and romantic in changing weather. The crew were thoughtful, interesting and fun. I didn't want it to end. The food was delicious and the helpings were generous. I would love to go again at a different time of the year.

Nearly run down!The lady Florence ploughed through us today in our little rowing boat. Very scary. Suggest skipper looks out for a boat in future (obviously!) and if we had not taken emergency evasive action this could have been fatal! As the wash overcame our boat I am sorry we couldn’t wave back to your guests!!

I took the family out for a brunch on The Lady Florence for my wife's birthday. Unfortunately, we were unable to go on the day we booked because of the weather so we went the following day which was actually fine since we staying in Orford anyway. The breakfast was more than generous and the crew were extremely helpful and knowledgable.We were joined by the boat owners and their friends which made for a very jolly group.We saw a lot of interest including a seal following the boat and two hours passed very quickly.I would highly recommend this trip.

The food was okay, with a good selection and generous portions. The decor was dated, but clean and made good use of the space. The main issue we had was with the staff. The skipper was definitely knowledgeable and friendly - giving advice, direction and great local information. However, the ‘host’ completely lacked any customer service skills. She was abrupt, blunt and did not offer any pleasantries- making us feel like a burden. The first thing she did was ask about payment, in a brusque manner and was not supportive with the fact that there had been some confusion when booking regarding the payment. She rushed through the choices, stating rather rudely what was available and what wasn’t- a more professional manner would be to avoid explaining the issues and simply announcing what was available politely. The space was relatively cramped for our party, and the bench needed to be extended to allow for another seat - she did not help in this process, simply told us we needed to do it - it was not a simple matter. Overall, she gave an air of being not welcoming and wanting to get it over and done with. The other member of staff supporting with the food prep and service was polite and friendly. Overall, the skipper was great, the other member of staff was friendly and unfortunately the ‘host’ frequently made the process unpleasant and awkward. We would not book again.

A fabulous experience from start to finish. Hot Whiskey Macs, a coal fired stove, a comfortable cabin, the friendliest possible service, interesting commentary, rich bird life, delicious food, with some interesting choices (Malva pudding). First rate. We were blessed with fabulous weather.

This was a great way to spend a few hours. The staff were very friendly and they cooked good food. It is very relaxing seeing the banks of the river go by at a gentle pace.

Wonderful day trip, from Orford to Aldeburgh then back to Shingle Street . A lovely 3 course meal on board. The running commentary was brilliant, so informative. A fantastic day out with good friends.

The weather could not have been better, for this wonderful trip. Fantastic scenery, lovely food and crew. Beautiful to sit out at the back in the lovely sunshine and then see it slowly set. A must do experience.

Booked a trip on the Lady Florence for my birthday. Wasn't sure if it would go ahead as there were still just 4 people booked from a capacity of 12 on the evening before but we turned up and others had booked in at the last moment, so a near full house made for a good trip. Small boat which runs from the quay in Orford, with breakfast, lunch or dinner time sittings. We opted for the dinner time one, which left at 3.30 on the day we were there (time of year and tide dependent, I believe). The boat takes a trip up river to Aldeburgh, with commentary at appropriate points and then the bell is rung to signify dinner served in the downstairs sitting room. Good time to get to know the rest of the guests, as 12 around the table is quite cosy! Good choices of starters, mains and deserts plus a good selection of drinks. We had a perfect day for it - sunny and calm, with just a slight cooling breeze once the boat turned into the breeze. Turned round at Aldeburgh and headed back down past Orford, right to the mouth of the Ore, where the Orford Ness spit ends and the sea opens up, turning back again and travelling back to Orford on the other side of Havergate Island. Great way to experience the river, enjoy the birdlife, enjoy the food and have a bit of banter with others who had joined us for the trip that day. You are likely to see lots of birds along the shoreline and (like us) see a seal pop up and say hello! Lovely!

Great time relaxing and admiring the Suffolk coast, the lunch was superb, an amazing variety and all dietary requirements catered for.

We turned up on the quay the appointed time and there was our boat. We boarded and sat at our chosen seats. There were 12 of us, allretired or close to. The journey was smooth and pleasurable. The food was plentiful and quite lovely. A three hour round trip with some wonderful views.

We were blessed with fantastic weather for our trip. The commentary was interesting, food recommended for quality and variety, crew friendly, helpful and efficient . A real treat!

Booked at last minute and was so surprised to get a spot as I’m told this is usually booked up .. must have been a lucky cancellation.

My partner book the trip as a surprise ... it was truly lovely .... perfect weather and fellow cruisers were lovely too .... just as well as bad weather and less fun guests could have made for a totally different experience!!!

Ten of us went on a lovely afternoon cruise up the river. The staff were very friendly and helpful, very informative and we learnt a lot. The meal was excellent and coffee on the deck to end the day. Fantastic thankyou

From an inauspicious start, high winds generating particularly choppy water and more than a little trepidation, our evening aboard the Lady Florence went from strength to strength. Our skipper for the trip, whose name I didn't catch, maintained a witty and knowledgeable commentary, audible to both bow and stern which, as a local, I found fascinating. Food orders were taken as we headed upstream to Aldeburgh and we took our seats for the return, this time to the seaward side of RSPB Havergate Island. The tiny galley produced great quality food, which was both hot and enjoyable, before the boat turned about close to Shingle Street in order to head back to Orford Quay. I had no idea the rivers Alde and Ore were so interesting.

We were given a voucher as a gift and we were really looking forward to our trip aboard the Lady Florence.

Can not recommend this highly enough. Great cabin crew. Skipper was friendly and funny. Great breakfast. No downsides

We can only praise every aspect of this 3-hour lunch cruise. We were greeted by a very friendly and competent crew and soon felt part of the group of 12 passengers who all enjoyed everything to the full. The commentary was excellent - informative, clear and not too much information. The lunch exceeded our expectations - we thought it was fairly expensive at first but was worth every penny and there was an excellent choice of dishes, all most beautifully prepared and presented. We are looking forward to our next trip on the Lady Florence already.

Today we had a most enjoyable cruise and most delicious meal on the lady Florence. The crew were friendly and looked after us very well.We took the lunch cruise I had posh prawn cocktail as a starter.My main meal was coronation chicken yummy with a lovely salad and new potatoes ,followed by strawberries and cream.The portionswere very generous. We then sat on the deck in the sunshine and enjoyed the great views looking over to orford ness. Such a enjoyable day

The Lady Florence is a great boat and can easily cater for a large group. While cruising, we had an excellent comentary by the skipper. Lunch was excellent and very tasty and the service excellent. Well worth a trip.

A great way to dine,cruising out from Oxford.A great choice of freshly cooked food With friendly staff.A great commentary by the skipper pointing out points of interest.Highly recommend.

During our holiday we had a fabulous boat trip on the Lady Florence and an excellent meal. By the end of the trip 12 passengers were chatting like long time friends having shared an amazing meal together. The staff on the boat were friendly and very helpful. A commentary ftom the skipper also kept us in touch with all there was to see. A lovely way to spend an afternoon.

I have to admit I was surprised by the quality of food served on board. From a tiny galley the two staff produced a delicious three course lunch.

This was our third trip on the Lady Florence and it still is a real treat. There is an excellent choice of starters, main meal and deserts. I can recommend the smoked duck as a starter and the smoked trout as a main meal. The main meal is served with new potatoes, salad and tomatoes all cooked freshly It is really cosy and you get to chat with the other guests. Today there were 10 of us, the maximum is 12. As we sipped our glasses of wine/cider we sailed through the calm waters of the rivers as places of interest were pointed out. The commentary was excellentWe spotted eigrets, kestrels, Canada and grey legged geese, avocets, oyster catchers, little terns and marsh harriers, As we reached Aldeburgh lunch was ready to be served as we turned round and sailed back passed Orford towards Halvergate Island (RSPB) I certainly recommend this trip if you are visiting the Suffolk Heritage Coast. Excellent in every way,

This is a superb boat trip with a wonderful lunch. The whole trip was relaxing and informative. Places of interest were pointed out on the way also a little history lessons. Natural wonders too.

We have been fortunate enough to have been on the Lady Florence many times with various friends & family either for brunch, lunch and dinner in all kinds of weather and it has never failed to be a good experience. The last time was just before Easter with friends who wanted to do the trip and were very pleasantly surprised at both the friendliness and efficiency of the crew and the quality of the lunch which we all enjoyed, plus the amazing commentary by Captain John who made the trip the most interesting we'd experienced with his vast knowledge about the local area and its history. We saw seals basking on the mud flats and a number of different species of birds all pointed out by John and learnt some interesting facts about Orford and its environs. A trip we would thoroughly recommend!

Really lovely trip on the Lady Florence yesterday. The crew and the food were excellent, as was the commentary. Would certainly recommend and we would take this trip again.

This trip on the river was very very nice and captain john explain the whole but nothing else than the whole of that area and wetlands, lots of birds. Even seen himalaya geese and a lot of other wild live ,john explain a lot of story what was going on this wetlands during the war and after ,interesting storys.the food in the boot was veryyyyyyy good well cooked fish meat.pies etc etc and good south african weines,the crew was very friendly a d very helpfull.john let me steer the boot ( ex navy for a while). The prices they was charging very reasoneble. This orford trip and history we do again but next time ipswich trip ,we can recommend this to any one who likes. a short advensure,good luck john and crew. Peter and yanet salud you

Good food, good company but a little cramped. The weather was good so we could get outside, had it been wet it would have been a little difficult.

From the moment we stepped on board the the Lady Florence we were treated like very important people. The food was excellent and so was the service. The commentary was superb and gave us a real insight and flavour for Suffolk and its history.

An excellent lunch cruise on the Lady Florence for my dad's 80th birthday. We were very lucky with the weather for October. The skipper gave an interesting and tailored commentary, and was most apologetic when we got stuck on a sandbank at the river mouth. We didn't mind - it gave us an extra hour on the boat watching birds and seals whilst waiting for the tide to come in and lift us off. The galley staff coped admirably with our various dietary requirements and produced wonderful food. Everybody was very helpful and friendly from Craig who dealt with the booking to the crew on the day.

Went on the Lady Florence on the Lunch Cruise today. The weather was excellent which always helps but this was a wonderful way to have lunch and a cruise. The company on board was splendid - how pleasant it is to have nothing better to do than to sit, eat talk to and listen to others

Wanted something different for wife's birthday, so arranged close friends to meet us at the quay as a suprise. Had a great time, and food was excellent.

From the moment we stepped on board to the moment we left the four of us enjoyed a delightful experience. Sharon and and Laura were amazing, we ate excellent food cooked on board from a comprehensive menu and served with a lovely smile. Captain John provided expert commentary from birds to bunkers. All in all a perfect way to explore Suffolk’s unique coast. Once again thank you to all involved.

Visited on 29th August. Fair stood the wind for Orford (with apologies to H. E. Bates!) when we joined the crew for a lunchtime cruise. A little late getting aboard during light rain. Not the best of starts. However, thanks to Maddie, Kelly & Captain John this proved to be a surprisingly pleasurable experience, floating past famous sights, both historic and current. I must confess to getting seasick in the bath, but thankfully it was a very calm day.

I booked the Lady Florence for a lunchtime cruise to celebrate my husband's birthday. We were eleven in number and the age range was from 1 - 70 years. To ensure we were able to book a Saturday I booked several months in advance and Craig was always quick to respond by email.

Regrettably a celebratory cruise was long scheduled on a typically rain drenched Bank Holiday Sunday. However the elements were unable to dampen a wonderful evening of great food and drink hosted by a most engaging skipper ably supported by his cabin crew. The inside cabin was perfect for the party of twelve and a most enjoyable time was had by all. If the weather had been clement there is plenty to see and absorb in this historic part of the world. Thoroughly recommended!

Last day of our holiday and stopped off to have a look around Orford and the quay. We picked up a leaflet for the Lady Florence River Cruise Restaurant gave them a call and were lucky enough they could fit us in for the evening cruise. What a lovely way to end our holiday. There was a no show for 2 couples so there were only 7 of us which actually turned out for the better as I do feel the table would have been cramped had there been 11. That said, it was a very enjoyable 3 hours with easy comfortable conversation and the staff were all friendly. The food was very tasty and we were extremely impressed by the preparation and service we received from 2 lovely young men aged 17 which I have to say was no mean feat seeing the small kitchen area they were working from!! They were full of charm an humour and a credit to themselves - well done. Thank you for a lovely evening.

We took a friend to celebrate her special birthday and had a wonderful time. Great scenery, great company, great food and absolutely brilliant staff!!! We can'r recommend it enough! We'll be back for brunch before long!!

An adult family group of 6 enjoyed a delightful three hour evening cruise with dinner on the Lady Florence from Orford Quay. We had the benefit of a perfect August summer evening which further enhanced the trip. An interesting historical commentary was provided by our captain together with frequent updates on local bird life. The small galley produced a delicious range of meals by the chef and other crew member. This proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable adult family treat.

Four of us went on the lunch cruise and had a great time. Zach's fun & friendly welcome and service throughout the trip made for a very enjoyable time. How the team cook to order fresh, delicious food for a large group of people in such a tiny kitchen is a miracle! Baked salmon and lasagne went down well, but the winner had to be the Suffolk Country pie! A good selection of drinks and wine was available. Twelve people eating around a communal table was bit of a squeeze, however this wasn't an issue and made for a very sociable time. We were very lucky that the other people on the trip were great company and it felt more like dinner with friends! The commentary on the trip was interesting and the views amazing. Take binoculars to get a good look at the bird life and views. We're looking forward to going back and trying the other cruises.

We booked for the evening cruise and thoroughly enjoyed it. The cruise takes you up to Aldeburgh (by which time your meal is ready), back down the river to the where the river meet the sea, then back to Orford. Considering the food is prepared in a tiny galley, the choice of food and drink, together with the quality is amazing! The crew were very friendly and knowledgable, and all in all we had a most enjoyable evening. Recommended.

Treated my partner as a birthday present. Lived in Suffolk all our lives and never done this before don't know why!The experience was one of the best things we have done for such a long time.from start to finish it was lovely. The staff very nice very efficient .The food the drink the incredible views and weather was amazing .Would recommend you all give it ago .Thank you all for the experience.

Friends treated us to the cruise for a birthday treat. We were lucky with the weather, and the cruise was great - staff very pleasant.

We joined a private-charter dinner cruise as guests celebrating a friend's birthday. Surpassed expectations. Three hours gentle cruising on sun-lit river with excellent, interesting commentary, three-course meal served in the second hour. Extensive menu, wide choice, very tasty, served expertly without delay. Amazing what they managed in the space available. Yes, the inside dining table for twelve IS a tight fit, but no-one really cared. A splendid time spent with birthday boy and his friends.

Everything great. Food excellent but one problem....table for 12 was too small and very cramped. Apart from that all great and really enjoyed the trip.

We enjoyed a lovely boat trip, the staff are well trained, polite and helpful, the food was excellent with plenty of menu choice. The commentary from the captain was interesting and informative he pointed out many historical sights and explained about the nature reserve

Great day out. So much fun. Skipper & crew were great. Food really good. Weather certainly helped. Everyone of us had a good day and lovely meal.

8 of us went on the Lady Florence today for a lunch cruise. Orford is a lovely place to visit and walk around but our focus was a lunch cruise on this boat.

Many thanks to the Skipper and Crew of the Lady Florence for a great brunch cruise today, and the weather god helped out as well. Great company and the usual superb brunch food, many thanks again.

We had the whole boat for a family birthday celebration. The weather was amazing and we had a wonderful time on board. The meal was very good and the staff very helpful. Well worth a visit.

We went on the boat for a meal on our very first Wedding Anniversary, and now once again on our 25th Anniversary. The experience is amazing, a must for anybody visiting Orford. The boat trip is excellent. We went for the afternoon lunch so was on the boat from 12-3 around 3 hours in total, and whilst on board we had a lovely meal and drinks served by 2 lovely friendly crew members who looked after us excellent. The boat holds 12 people at a time, and while you are cruising the captain is giving you a talk about what you are passing and the local history of Orford. The whole experience is not to be missed and although we have gone back after 25 years, it just goes to show they must be doing something right because they are still in business and doing just as good a job as they were doing all them years ago. Sitting down with 10 other strangers around a table on board all enjoying a lovely meal and boat trip was just as pleasant. Don't just take my word for this excellent day out, go try it for yourselves and see what a lovely experience you can have.

This is an experience not to be missed when visiting Orford. Excellent food, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It amazes me how they manage to produce such excellent food in such a small gally.

A brilliant 3 hour cruise with excellent food provided by 'Izzy' and excellent service provided by 'Zac' this was not planned but on arrival at the quay and talking to the skipper John, he invited us to join today's evening cruise with dinner. A thoroughly enjoyable time chatting with the other guests.

Twelve of us celebrated my father in law's birthday with the 3 hour cruise well described by previous reviewers. Staff were friendly, and the meal was well prepared and tasty. The fresh bread was outstanding. I had smoked mackerel and vegetarian lasagna, the Suffolk Pie, Curried Chicken, trout, in fact all other dishes were well received. A nice touch is they bring potatoes, salad, and another side dish in large bowls for the center of the table. There is also a wide selection of sauces on the table. The Cotes de Rhone red wine was mediocre, I recommend spending a few quid more for the Rioja reserva, which was tasty. Be sure to have layers of clothing, it can be cold on the river, even in summer, especially if you are facing into the wind. The loo is good but is accessed via a steep ladder/stairs, so mobility and balance are helpful. We appreciated them serving a birthday cake we brought on board.

This is a river trip. The Lady Florence only takes 12 people and you sail towards Alborough and then towards the sea with Felixtowe in the distance. There is a good chance of seeing seals and various birds. We were lucky enough to sea 3 seals and about 10 types of birds. Take binoculars with you.

We booked as a couple but there was two groups of 4 and another couple making a total of 12. We were warmly greeted by the staff who made us feel very much at home. There was an excellent choice of starters, main courses, desserts and drinks. Our order was taken and prepared as we sailed up the Orwell to Aldeburgh by which time our lunch was ready to be served. Craig (the captain) gave us a commentary as we sailed pointing out places of interest, and helping us to identify birds such as a marsh harrier, hobby and egrets and a couple of families of geese to name but a few. The meal was delicious I can thoroughly recommend the smoked duck as a starter and the chicken in a mild curry sauce as a main course. As we dined we sailed back to Orford and then down to the sea before returning once again to Orford. The whole experience was thoroughly enjoyable. A bonus for us was they welcomed Poppy, our Cocker Spaniel, on board and even gave her some dog biscuits. Thanks for a lovely 3 hours

What's not to enjoy about a trip along the river with a lovely home-cooked brunch? The UK wasn't blessed with the best Easter weather but we had a lucky couple of hours sitting on deck for the first part and last part of our river trip, only venturing below deck for the great home-cooked brunch. The ladies in the small galley did a great job and the home-made apple pie was also lovely. The Skipper was friendly and informative too. All in all, a lovely way to spend a morning.

We booked this for eleven to celebrate my 70th birthday in early February . The Jolly Sailor opened early for us to assemble and be ready on time. Although it was near freezing this was offset by the clear blue sky although we were still thankful that the cabin was warm and cosy especially as there was a blazing fire in the corner. By noon Jon our skipper was casting off and we were heading off towards Aldeburgh by which time Chef and owner Craig was pouring the ice cold celebratory fizz. During the trip Jon shared his encyclopedic knowledge of the area and birds with a running commentary. Despite the cold many of us spent most of the time outside with binoculars looking at the birds and sights while Jon pointed out or the many remnants of the military past of the Orford Ness. Soon we had reached Aldeburgh and time for lunch. We were amazed that we had been able to select from an a la carte menu and more impressed that Craig and his assistant David had been able to prepare it fresh from their tiny galley. We can honestly say that the meal and service was at least a match for any quality local restaurant. Meanwhile we had returned to Orford but this wasn’t the end of the trip as we then continued almost to the North Sea mouth before returning at three to disembark.

A really enjoyable 3 hour trip for a celebratory Sunday lunch. We were a party of 6 abd were joined by another couple who we soon got to know as lunch is in a very cosy room which seats upto 12. The weather was cold and wet which made the glasses of mulled wine and warm cider very welcome. The food was much better than you might expect considering it’s all cooked to order in the galley. Great fun and different, recommended!

The food is home cooked on board and there is a great selection. Beer and wines are available. The trip lasts about three hours.

Booking procedure and info good. Started on time, explained what would happen and where we'd be going. Varied choice of all courses & drinks (mulled wine near Christmas)

Lovely day out with friends. The crew are all great and the skipper exceptionally knowledgeable about the local area. He explained the amazing history of Orford Ness and pointed-out lots of wildlife.

Thanks to the crew of the Lady Florence for a very memorable day. Can't fault you we really enjoyed the entire experience. Cosy and warm next to the woodburner in the freezing weather. Good food, informative captain, friendly.

Saw a deal at the King's Head that included a lunch/river cruise on this lovely little launch and glad we took it up. Great crew and a well provided lunch menu nicely served. Interesting commentary giving a good insight to the area. I was given the opportunity to steer the boat which added to a great day out obviously enjoyed by the other six people on board.

Was taken on a cruise and meal by my family for a special birthday sprise. It was BRILLIANT. They looked after our every need and were only too happy to help with a very disabled 9 year old that needed to be carried on.

De Lady Florence is een oud bootje dat vroeger gebruikt werd om in tijden van oorlog materiaal tussen de kust en de schepen te brengen. Normaal werden die bootjes vissersboten, maar deze is bewaard gebleven. Vandaag is het een drijvend restaurant, waarbij je tussen de gangen door kunt genieten van het uitzicht. De keuken is erg Engels, d.i. verse (en eerlijke) producten zonder veel tierlantijntjes ... maar lekker. En het gezelschap was uiteraard goed ...

Weather was on our side, which was a defo bonus as no sheltered area on deck. So check the f'cast! Was a excellent day from start to finish. Captain an crew were all very welcoming and friendly with good humoured banter. Drinks were served soon after boarding to set the mood:) Good factual commentary on the actual trip, with loads to see both scenic & wildlife. Meal was amazing..how do that do that in that tiny kitchen!! Ok the boat is old, but I expected that, but it was full of character and clean and cozy and smooth as silk. Love to do the breakfast cruise in the height of summer,

We booked on Thursday for the following Sunday and benefited from a late cancellation. The crew were all very friendly and good fun. The information on the local landmarks provided by the captain were very interesting. The boat was a reasonable size for the 12 people customers and we all sat around a large table for lunch. That made us get to know one another which added to the whole experience. We were fortunate with the weather as dry and not too chilly for October. all in all a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Booking was well managed and dealt with any pre-trip queries with no fuss. Welcoming onboard was genuine and unfussy but explained the do's and don'ts of how to enjoy the cruise. Good choice of starters, mains and desserts and enough drink options to suit all tastes.Lunch was excellent, generous portions and delightfully served in the cosy saloon. Fresh ingredients and tasty. Well worth it and would recommend unquestioningly.

We were treated to a trip on the Lady Florence and we had a superb trip.First up the river with a drink as we went. We ordered from the menu which had a number of tasty choices, then, after turning round, dinner. The dinner was excellent all 3 courses.Once down river and dinner finished, we went back on deck, the boat turned around and we sailed back to the jetty so we viewed the river both up and down.A really special half a day with good food - recommended for an enjoyable different day

Thoroughly enjoyed our experience of a cruise from Orford quay along the Rivers Alde and Ore. The staff were all charming and helpful and they do an amazing job of preparing and serving a 3 course meal, from a fairly extensive menu, whilst travelling along. We all enjoyed our food.

We joined the boat for a trip and lunch on Tuesday 19th September 2017. It was excellent. Considering the size of the galley, the lunch was superb, the crew were all very friendly. A memorable day and one to be recommended. Thank you.

Our party of 4 - including elderly parents - enjoyed a lunch trip today on the Lady Florence from Orford Quay. The three hour trip gave us the opportunity to enjoy the views of Orford Ness whilst enjoying a delicious three course lunch in the comfort of the snug dining area. We were well fed and looked after very ably by the crew of three who were helpful and knowledgable without being intrusive. A great trip whatever the weather.

Superb food and service on board. Nothing seems to be too much trouble and the commentary by Jon was well worth hearing. His knowledge of the river Ald is phenomenal

We had a lovely trip along the river on this comfortable boat, being fed a delicious brunch - melon boat, huge cooked breakfast, and warm and very delicious apple pie & muffins, with lots of tea, coffee and toast. Thank you Sharon & Hazel - how you make it all in that little kitchen is amazing! Thank you for catering for the vegetarian and coeliac members of our party too.Drew, our Captain, was very kind and understanding to all our needs - dietary, medical and pets - and gave us a jolly commentary, allowed the children to steer the boat, and even organised wonderful weather!! We just wish it was longer!