Marlborough Head Inn, Dedham in Colchester

Food was fantastic , all dishes , compliments to the chef! Staff were delightful too! The wine however is overpriced, when did two glasses of medium wine cost the same as a main dish ? Leaves a sour taste in your mouth even if the food was delicious !

We stayed at The Marlborough - Dedham for two nights around our wedding, and everything was perfect. Our room had a stunning landmark view of Dedham Church and the Royal Square, which I could even see from the roll-top bath! From the first call with Tom and later with Penny and Corrine, the team was incredibly helpful, flexible, and attentive. They allowed us to personalise the space and menu, making the lead-up to our big day effortless. The staff went above and beyond, helping with every detail, even reserving the snug for our evening gathering. The food was superb—great quality, locally sourced produce—and the ginger cookies in our room were a delightful touch! We’re already planning to return for a group stay and Christmas dinner in 2025. Highly recommend The Marlborough for any occasion!

Ignored on entry (manager more interested in drying glasses) Poor service Poor atmosphere Okay food - but overpriced. paid and will not be going back

Stopped in for a Sunday lunch today, 06/10/24. Food was absolutely fantastic, especially the Shepard's pie. Can’t rate it highly enough. Across the board was a large portion size, fresh tasting and utterly delicious. Service was fast and friendly. The pub had a great vibe, with a busy but homely feel. Reasonably priced and an impressive selection of beers/ales.

We arrived at 16:30 on Wednesday the 25th… we had to wait around 10 minutes to get served, when the staff arrived after waiting she just asked in a very rude manner “what you want?”… we felt very uneasy… the pub was pretty empty and no one was behind the bar. Tuesday morning and old lad behind the bar was very welcoming and friendly and we expected on Wednesday evening the similar statue of service it was quite shocking when we arrived on Wednesday afternoon and we were welcomed in that manner… I guess it depends a lot on who’s on shift.

Delicious food and excellent service by very friendly staff. I can highly recommend the Arancini, it was delightful! Great atmosphere

Lovely Sunday lunch in very pleasant surroundings. They have a small outdoor sitting area where we had a drink before our lunch. The staff were great and got a cushion for my uncle when they saw it was needed. Inside the tables are nicely spaced apart. We had roast pork, chicken and beef. All were delicious. We didn’t stay for dessert as we were all too full.

Only popped in for a drink after a long day out working in very hot weather. Greeted by the most miserable collection of bar staff we’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. No hello, faces of individuals who had lost a tenner found a 5 pence piece and found out that their girlfriend had just left them for a family friend. One word answers to questions. No interest in a warm welcome or even a cold one. The most unwelcoming experience I’ve had in a pub for years. I suspect the lack of competition has fostered a lazy attitude to service to the point it no longer matters. Simply dreadful

Really fabulous place to stay and have dinner and breakfast (and lunch !!!) we had an overnight stay at The Marlborough Head and could not find fault whatsoever, the staff were truly exceptional, friendly warm and helpful, the restaurant / pub is cosy and a joy to have food or just a drink, our room was spacious, clean (with a plug in heater if needed) coffee machine etc and everything that is needed, lovely clean en suite and large comfortable bed, we had dinner and breakfast there and the food was fantastic !!!!......B&B rates were very good indeed so without hesitation we would thoroughly recommend The Marlborough Head as a great place to visit for every occasion, thank you all for a wonderful visit...we will return with our new puppy very soon......Richard & Lesley

Stayed at the Malborough as had a wedding down the road. Was struggling for a taxi therefore called ahead and told them and they said leave with us, and sorted the transport within a few minutes for us… went above and beyond! Room’s were lovely and clean, great amenities and some freshly baked cookies in a jar. Slept very well and then had a 10/10 full English breakfast the next day which was included in the price. The teas, juices etc… was also included! Already talking about staying here again sometime soon.

We were a large family group getting together for our annual gathering. I’ve eaten here before and was looking forward to it but sadly we were all disappointed with our experience. The food is bang average pub grub, no high level chef skills required here. I’d rate the sticky toffee pudding as the worst I’ve ever had & for those having custard it is hard to believe you could come up with a smaller portion. The service made me feel like we should apologise for putting them out & we asked for the 10% to be removed from the bill although we did leave a small tip. We had pre ordered & they produced an extra pudding that we hadn’t ordered & they were very assertive in their denial of an error. When the bill came it told us how much each of the 13 of us owed, only problem was there were 12 of us which confirmed their error. When this was pointed out they weren’t having any of it. Why 2 & not 1 star? The venue is good & the prices are ok’ish for what it was.

Lovely friendly pub and a great place to stay with lots of character. Wonky floors and beautiful rooms. Good hot shower with nice soaps and shampoo. Good tea and coffee making facilities. Great location. Fantastic breakfast.

An excellent evening dining with family at the Marlborough Head. Great starter (ham hock terrine), why my wife and daughter shared the camembert. For mains the salmon was equally delicious. Great service and a nice ambience really added to a very enjoyable evening. Thank you!

Beautiful tradition pub with lovely modern rooms, food is fantastic and staff could not be nicer ♥️ set in a quaint English village a short walk from the river it’s a love place to stay and great value for money. Would definitely go back there to stay, and eat, in the winter by the open fire and rustic furniture, and the summer in the nice garden area.

We stayed here for two nights as a base to attend our Godsons wedding locally. we did not know what to expect. Well it surpassed all our expectations. All the staff were helpful, polite and friendly. From when we arrived mid afternoon Friday to leaving Sunday morning. The room was clean and furnished well. Bathroom large and clean.We were so pleased. We had a meal in the restaurant on the Friday evening. Fish and Chips which were perfectly cooked and the waiter professional and friendly . nothing was too much trouble. we enjoyed our stay so much that we have booked again to stay in July. Dee and Jerry Brown.

To celebrate my daughter’s birthday we chose to have Sunday lunch at The Marlborough. We often choose this venue when going out as a family and we are never disappointed. We were taken to our table promptly and the drinks and food were served at a lovely pace. The food was delicious especially my vegetarian roast option. All the staff were welcoming, polite and kind. Today Bailey was serving us and he did a brilliant job, conscientious and charming. Looking forward to our next visit. Thank you.

Wow What a hidden gem, this place is definitely worth a visit for a stay and food We were lucky to have two nights in this wonderful place. The breakfast was amazing with plenty of choices, we decided to eat there in the evenings as such a good menu wasn't disappointed 5 ⭐ for food Now the staff ! Every single member we met went above and beyond to be helpful nothing was to much trouble without being intrusive. Well done everyone

My Wife and I stayed overnight 27/3/24 and cannot praise everything from the staff,drink selection,food and room enough.Will recommended to all and sundry and be back at some point for sure.

Excellent food and great beer, with the added quality of friendly and helpful staff. I can highly recommend a visit to this brilliant old pub. Home made pies are worth a try.

We had a great meal, very delicious, and the service was cheerful, friendly and sufficiently quick. We were very pleased with the evening and shall hope to return. We went on a Monday when the pub was quiet so cannot speak about a busier day. However, we were very pleased.

Sunday lunch for 4 very disappointing. Taken to our seats ordered drinks,2 starters & Sunday roast for 4. In-between starter & mains we had to go to the bar ourselves to get another round of drinks. When mains finally arrived the 4 meals were all stone cold. Nobody came back to ask how food was until we had finished, when asked how the meal was I told him they were all cold.he apologised but no compensation was offered. I was charged £150 we would have been better off going to Macdonalds.

First rate food and rooms! We stayed for one night and had a breakfast lunch and dinner. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The food was absolutely delicious. The rooms were clean, spacious and very comfortable. Will be back!

Lovely lunch on a wet February afternoon. Fire was lit and we felt very cosy. Food was delicious and staff were all really friendly and approachable.

We had last been to The Marlborough around a year ago for Sunday lunch - this time the food was meh. The roast potatoes had that look of sitting around for a long time, Yorkshire was like eating air. The starters were nice. I think going back I wouldn’t necessarily have Sunday lunch. There was a man serving in a yellow gilet, I thought he was just a regular helping out hahaha

We decided to walk from Manningtree to Dedham and, feeling a tad thirsty when we arrived, we decided to stop in The Marlborough for a quick drink. It was very, very busy with lots of people enjoying Sunday lunch and we weren't optimistic about finding a table just for a drink. However, the lovely Mike found two options for us. He was kind enough to offer me a taste of a couple of wines before ordering a large glass, which was fab and hubby's pint of ale apparently did the job too! Looking at the lovely food on offer, we couldn't resist and asked for some cheesy chips to share and I have to say, they were delicious. All in all, for an unplanned visit on a very busy afternoon, we were very impressed with the drinks and food and, more importantly, the service. I wish there were more Mikes!

my wife and I stayed at the marlborough for one night,it was perfect the room was lovely we stayed in room 2 .It was a cold night but our room was cosy .the bathroom has a super powerful shower that was great, and we had dinner in the pub and it was delicious I have stayed in a lot of hotels and eaten in a lot of very expensive restaurants! but my meal in the marlborough was reasonably priced but didn't compromise on quality. my wife and I loved the ambience of the pub with its open fires and exposed beams ,its fantastic food that really set us up for a romantic evening. Breakfast was included and again I could not fault it .We will return!I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff for their attention to detail the chef for the great food and the young lady who showed us to our room and made us feel welcome.

Really excellent breakfast, one of the best vegetarian breakfasts I have had. The choice was fantastic and the breakfast was of a very high standard, I would definitely go back. Really nice pub with excellent food.

Amazing food, excellent service, wonderful cosy atmosphere with friendly staff and great value for money.

We booked a table for a large family gathering and from when the booking was made through to us having our meal the service was very friendly and first class. The meal itself was very tasty as was evidenced by the empty plates. It was also piping hot and more gravy was supplied during the meal for those enjoying the roast dinners. Thank you to all the staff for a enjoyable meal and we will be back.

Had Sunday lunch, excellent friendly service, couldn’t be more helpful and accommodating. Food delicious enjoyed every bite apart from the crispy garnish, not sure it added anything in fact a bit too much of it, which detracted from the excellent ingredients that made up the roast dinner which was absolutely spot on. Highly recommend!!

We visited Dedham and fancied trying The Marlborough . We hadn’t booked but was quickly shown to a nice table in the window. We both had the scotch egg ploughman’s - delicious! Friendly service and lovely food. Would definitely return next time we are in Dedham.

Called here en route to Harwich port as booked a covid test at the Travel Clinic in Dedham. What a lovely experience, due mainly to the friendliness politeness and enthusiasm from the young staff. The food was delicious and piping hot. Tables inside were spaced well apart. We will definitely return here when in the area. Well Done!

We chanced upon this pub during a walk with friends between Dedham & Flatford. There were 9 of us (& 2 dogs) and hadn't booked but they seated us outside without any fuss. The staff were very friendly and helped two of our party identify gluten free dishes on the menu, which wasn't vast but catered for every taste. We ordered the burgers (beef & falafel options), fish & chips and scampi - everything was delicious and beautifully presented. We also had a mix up with a drinks order (our mistake!) and the waitress changed it without question. Excellent service, food quality & choice, fine Adnams ales on tap and we left on a real high. Can't recommend The Marlborough enough.

After reading the reviews we booked a table for lunch, thinking it would be something special! Sat in the garden, or should I say the car park, lovely view of a skip full of rubbish really set the ambience.... had to ask five times for my drink the food turned up followed by my drink after asking again, I had the scotch egg ploughman’s tasteless, so disappointed. Expensive and not worth it...

Visited here for the first time for Sunday lunch.What a fantastic place. The food was exceptional, I had roast pork that was served with various veg, lovely roast potatoes, huge Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, apple sauce and perfect crackling, with lashings of 'proper' gravy. For £13.50, I thought this was great value for money for a quaint restaurant in a beautiful village. I kept finding food!!!The staff were great, dogs are welcome and looked after with treats and water. A previous reviewer described the surroundings as scruffy, we found it to be decorated tastefully, very clean and the mis matched furniture fitted well with the style and age of the building.If you want cheaper and modern, stick to Wetherspoons...A fantastic experience that we cannot fault, thank you to the brilliant team.

Excellent service, friendly and helpful.The food was excellent we had warm scotch egg ploughman’s and the next night shepherds pie, salt and pepper squid and warm sausage roll. Easy to use app to order food in these covid times which worked really well.Best pub food we’ve had in a long time.

Completely different experience to the previous poor reviews. The staff were friendly and cheerful and the food was very good indeed. Between us we had Fish and Chips, Burger and Sea bass and all were well cooked and delicious. You can always argue about pricing when it comes to restaurant and pub food but I felt it was value for money.But credit to all the staff for making the lunchtime visit so enjoyable, and all while observing Covid protocols. Would certainly return if back this way again.

Like the previous reviewer the food served was awful it was very expensive certainly not value for money. Don't be fooled the food is nothing like the pictures online. The staff were pleasant but overall the experience was bad wont being going back.

The food was overpriced and badly presented. The Caesar salad was fine but the open sandwiches were just one soggy slice of bread with warmed up topping, limp lettuce and coleslaw. The burger was made of unidentifiable meat and cost nearly £14. As we were with friends we didn’t make a complaint but would not eat here again.The surroundings are very scruffy. Only saving grace is the charming staff.

Good food and wine , lovely pub restaurant. Service was pleasant and attentive. Friendly atmosphere. Would Recommend

Had dinner here last weekend, the food was really good especially the cottage pie; in a great location in the centre of Dedham village; really friendly staff and well organised.

Had a lovely lunch sitting in the walled garden of this pub. Adnams beers which is a bonus and situated in Dedham which itself is a lovely village. Had an open sandwich for lunch, chicken goujons. Superb, faultless. Staff friendly and efficient. Will be returning for sure.

What a great find this place is. Friendly helpful staff and the food was very, very good. Two of us had the sea bass and two had the cottage pie. Highly recommend.

Excellent young man serving us, he was so friendly and polite Gave us some dog biscuits for our little one who perched up under the table Food was good, shepherds pie with shredded lamb and open fish goujon sandwich and pasta dish for our daughter Could not fault it reallyYou order and pay for all you have on the online app which makes senseThanks again

Sunday 28th, Had not booked a table (Covid outside only dining) and it was very busy butthe very friendly host managed to squeeze us in.The service, drinks and food were all excellent! 3 of us had fish and chips and 1 had the Game pie ploughman’s. Really can’t fault anything.

Our first “night out” since we have been allowed and our visit to The Marlborough Head was amazing as it always is. They have the Virus precautions well rehearsed and it appears to work. The menu was as to be expected restricted, but the selection was impressive and very tempting. We shared the baked Camembert and both wished we had ordered one each as it’s amazing! Great staff, amazing food and as close to normality as we could get at this time.

Booked a last minute roast on the day and they managed to fit us in. One of the nicest roasts I’ve had in a very long time and the staff were lovely, will definitely be back after Christmas

A big thumbs up for the food here. I had beef curry (home cooked, gorgeous) and my family all had a vegetarian dish. All of us were very happy. Great service. Delightful location.

As a family, we haven’t been visiting pubs or restaurants this year but decided to revisit The Marlborough Head this evening and I’m pleased to say that the food was fantastic! None of us could fault our chosen meals. The waitress was friendly, efficient and my dog loved her too! Can’t wait to go back.

Amazing food, the Scotch Egg is to die for 🙂 Great portion size and friendly staff, also great Covid-19 controls that make you feel safe. Will be back if in the area again 👏😊

Just back from lunch with friends at the Marlborough. Both staff and food excellent. Once you have sorted the app it felt like a normal trip to the pub. Some pubs deal better than others with the current rules and regulations and the Marlborough was again excellent. We all felt very safe. The staff here are so good they deserve to do well in these difficult times

Lovely pub, great food and cosy atmosphere. Current circumstances catered for with faultless service. Dog friendly too!

Good location, pleasant staff but food not great. The pub has plenty of outside seating and a bonus during Covid. Controls were good but ordering was via an App, which the usual adding all your details etc which is getting tiresome.The food was ok, the usual uninspired pub grub.

We stopped on route to Suffolk with 2 friends for a bite to eat in Dedham. As we had dogs with us we sat outside the back of the Marborough Head. The food was pretty dreadful, my friends fish pie was practically all potato. The ploughmans was extremely lack lustre with stale bread and tasteless cheese and my husbands risotto was bland. I cant believe the good reviews!

We visited this lovely country pub today. It has an extensive and varied lunch menu on offer. However I somehow could not find anything I liked. So I asked for a vegan salad, which was not on the menu. When it arrived I was absolutely blown out of my mind . This salad was so carefully put together with all its flavours and ingredients, that I lack the words to describe the impact it made on me. There were avocado, apricots, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and salad leaves , cherry tomatoes cucumber and the most delicious chilli dressing . I can’t praise it enough. An explosion of flavours - at a very reasonable price. The chef deserves a Michelin star ( sadly I am not qualified to hand them out ) .

Went to Dedham today and popped into the pub for lunch and must say what a lovely meal , we had the Sunday roast and fish and chips and all meals were nice , will definitely visit again

Staff great, service great, food totally amazing!!! Was there for lunch with friends and staff were friendly and attentive, the drinks were also served to your table all with a friendly smile.

My mum, sister and I went to the Marlborough last Saturday night. For a start, the food was great, it is exactly what it says on the menu, good traditional bar food at an affordable price and very edible! But what set the Marlborough apart was the staff who were just fantastic, they squeezed us in without a booking, looked after us really well, had time to talk and were so lovely. We were served by 3 different staff and every single one of them took the time out to be really pleasant and exchange some chat whilst obviously really busy - which shows how good they are! I would go back there again for a really lovely relaxed and friendly evening with good quality pub food.

My own kitchen is currently closed to cooking roast dinners so seeing one was required after a disappointing dinner elsewhere we chose The Malborough. Booking was easy with an online booking. Our table was booked for 1.30pm and arrived shortly before. When arriving in Dedham especially in the peak season arrive in plenty of time to secure a parking space in the surrounding streets.We arrived shortly after our time slot and was greeted by a member of staff who took us to our table. He talked us through the covid procedures and i can highly praise the efforts that the pub has gone to to remain open and make people feel safe. A smart iPhone is a must for a visit here as all orders are made anfmd paid for online. I thought it was brilliant and would not be surprised if this facility is something they would keep. As a family of three visiting we all ordered a roast dinner. My husband and son ordering pork and myself ordering beef. It was noticeable that when the food arrived that we were going to thoroughly enjoy our meal. Fantastic ingredients, fresh produce and the food came out hot. It was an excellent dinner and I hate to say, it may have topped my own efforts. Yorkshire puddings come as standard regardless of what meat you have. If there was one thing I could give a little feedback on that would be the apple sauce for the pork. This is an acquired taste and comes on the dinner which some people may not like. We left happy and at eight pm at the time of writing this review, I am still full, very satisfied and really pleased with my meal. The service was great and the staff friendly, we will certainly return again and sample other delights on the menu.

We were here last week for a meal with our relatives. We were really impressed with everything, the food was super and the staff were very attentive and very helpful and we had a delightful banter with them, even though they were extremely busy they were always smiling. The conditions put in place due to Covid worked really efficiently and we felt extremely safe. We noticed the tables and chairs were wiped down as customers left ready for the next ones. We will definitely come back when we visit our relatives again as we live in the West Midlands.

They seemed to have Covid nailed as much as anyone can. The booking is easy as is the ordering via smart phone and web app. The food is excellent, we had the full range of vegan, children’s, meat and fish. The cooking, service and presentation was excellent. Thank you Marlborough Head for making the very of difficult circumstances.

Didn’t even bother to reply after sent a message saying discount hadn’t been applied to food. Think the staff need to proper cheer up

Had a super meal out on the 19th of August, and we were all impressed with the sanitising , the staff, and the food. We all felt really safe, and the staff were brilliant, and coped well with all the new rules that have been put in place. We will certainly be coming back in the near future. The prices were amazing, too.

We were staying in a holiday cottage about a 5 mins drive from Dedham and decided to come here for dinner one evening. We guessed it would be busy so made a booking for a table inside on their website but as it was a lovely evening we asked to sit outside when we arrived which they were happy and able to accommodate.The pub was very busy and the pub garden was pretty much full which gave it a nice ambience. Food was a bit slow to arrive (about 50 mins from ordering) but it was worth the wait as the food - fish and chips for me, burger for my husband - was very tasty.Waiting staff were very friendly and seemed very COVID aware.I would definitely recommend if you are I the area.

Visited here for our anniversary meal. Firstly booked an indoor table as for some reason I thought it would be cooler than sitting in the sun. Wrong. We were then kindly offered a position outside just as the sun went behind the nearby houses, fantastic. Clearly told how to order on the app and it all worked really well, wins and ghost ship delivered promptly. Warm scotch eggs next, lovely. Then onto the steak which was deliciously cooked throughout and wifey had the burger cooked to her liking (well done, go figure!‍♂️). Onto the cheese board for her and the fantastic cheesecake for me, and a final ghost ship and wine. Not one fault to write about and only positives throughout. What a fantastic meal and evening out, cannot wait to return again. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful to those struggling with the technology. The restaurant clearly marked with covid compliant markings, brilliant way of entering as well as it stops walkins from occurring and keeps the numbers to a manageable level. Apart from 2 guests that hasn’t booked and got turned away, the female thought it was fine to go through the barrier and into the toilets before coming out and wondering why they didn’t have a table. Thanks for walking in, not leaving details, using the facilities and leaving. YOU ARE THE PROBLEM!Thanks Marlborough, great evening out.

A warm welcome , great service and a great lunch . The staff are COVID aware and go above and beyond to make you feel at easel

Having seen this place rammed every time I have been in Dedham, it was a welcome change to see them with spaces on Saturday and we chose to dine in the garden for lunch. Good covid governance in place with bookings and table service only, and ordering food via app or website. Staff were courteous and efficient, and the food was very good - the burger looked amazing on another table but our fish & chips, chicken alfredo, wrap, and ham & cegg were delicious with excellent portions. Good drinks menu also, and a pleasant sit in the garden. Might be worth going no whilst its not so busy, and wouyld definitely recommend!

On my daily ride through Dedham we stopped at 11:00am to grab a drink in what looked like a lovely establishment.. until somebody (I assumed by the way he was dressed - the pot washer) walked over and I kindly asked “are you open?” To which he rudely answered “Do we look like we’re open mate?” It turns out after speaking with some of the locals, he runs he place! I understand Covid19 May have tightened his purse strings a little bit but there’s no need to treat a potential customer with such disrespect. I hope he’s more polite to the next group of people heading in. Good luck to you! Stay safe!

Absolutely delicious!! The best pasta I’ve ever had, scrumptious burgers and utterly delicious sticky toffee pudding! Lovely friendly staff made our visit perfect!

Went on a lovely sunny Saturday lunchtime and wasn’t expecting to get a table (post lockdown) - fortunately for us we did and couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Very well organised, you have to wait to be seated and hand sanitizer given as you go in the garden. Staff very friendly and explained how to order drinks/food through your phone. We were still chatting to the barman (loved the shirt by the way!!!) when our drinks turned up!! Very impressed. Sadly we couldn’t stay and have any food as already had booked somewhere else the food looked amazing and will definitely be back to try it thanks again

We were greeted by the really friendly owner who talked us through the new ordering system. He was lovely, as were all the waiting staff. The food was amazing. I had the vegetable curry, which was presented beautifully, with a homemade poppadum and chutneys. I would absolutely recommend this place!

Turned up on a very busy Sunny Sunday and didn’t expect to get a table, but they have a great system in place for social distancing, food and drink ordering and we were seated immediately. We placed our order via their app, drinks arrived within 5 minutes and food 5 minutes after! The staff were very welcoming and efficient and the food was excellent, highly recommended!

Great post lockdown lunch. This was only the Marlborough Head’s second day open after the lockdown but the new arrangements seemed to be working well despite a Broadband failure. The staff were lovely and the food was great. Well done team.

The food here was very good, and in a really nice setting. Staff here were very friendly and helpful too. Definitely would return if in the area.

The food and customer service at The Malborough is fantastic! The produce is clearly locally sourced and all of the team are warm and welcoming. If you haven't been already, go! You won't be disappointed. Its location is very convenient with Free parking at the rear. Happy to recommend following several positive experiences.

After our first trip to Dedham and walking all over the village for a couple of hours, a quick lunch was decided upon and as the Marlborough is very central it was chosen. Welcome and service was good and the atmosphere was very pleasant. Tables were large so we were not sitting on each other's laps and knocking elbows as happens in some establishments. Marlborough has a very good menu and sure to be to everybody's taste as was shown when our group chose 4 different meals.Three of our meals were extremely tasty as we enjoyed our various pies and veg or liver. The flavours were great and food was served nice and hot. Unfortunately, the 4th meal of curry was rather a sloppy mess and ran around the plate more like a bowl of gravy. It was tasty but definitely not curry - more of a spicy stew.

After a 35 mile cycle ride finishing post 2 pm we were saved from starvation by the Marlborough. Burger and Chips were the answer. The burger was good and tasty as were the chips although the serving a chips was quite small. For lunch, there were enough but hopefully the serving of chips would be larger for a dinner. Costs were reasonable and the pub itself is a very pleasant and comfortable venue. If Trip Advisor had a "Good" setting I'd have picked it.

We popped in on the off chance for a table for two, it looked very busy but we were offered to come back or sit at a high table with stools. That was fine for us, we had great service throughout our visit and the Sunday roast was amazing, not to mention the Sticky toffee pudding. We will come again!

Food was superb as was service and atmosphere. Will definitely visit again. I had 2 starters (salmon and then the beetroot & goats cheese), partner had braised beef - prices very reasonable. Excellent all round.

Service was excellent. The food was really superb. The fish and chips were the best I have eaten in a pub. The seafood special was a great tasting meal. Home made bread and tartare sauce were special. The servings are generous and excellent value. Will return and highly recommended. (Love the way they accommodated our very muddy walking boots with their covers too.)

First time here, had lunch with family, was very impressed with the food which was delicious and the friendly service. Nice atmosphere all round.

Very nice welcome, nice pub and decor. We were first seated in the back room which was a little cold and not so cosy, we asked to move and this wasn’t a problem. They seem to encourage couples to sit in this area as it has mainly smaller tables. Very nice lunch, all freshly prepared, I can recommend the scotch egg ploughman’s. Nice people good service and a delicious lunch which was enjoyed whilst sitting by the fire which was very cosy

Really nice pub restaurant in the centre of Dedham. It was our first time to try it as we usually meet our friends in The Sun Inn but we fancied trying somewhere else for a change. We really liked the decor and ambience and had a really helpful server who was happy to change some of the dishes slightly to accommodate our dietary preferences. All the food we ordered was delicious and clearly all made from scratch on the premises. Everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed what they had and we will most certainly return when we are next in Dedham.

An overnight business trip and a great friend from the local area suggested I nip in. Glad I did as pidgeon and belly pork washed down with a pint of Ghost Ship was as tasty as tasty could be. Lovely staff and an all round great place.

Have dined at the Marlborough Head before but never with the whole family for Sunday Lunch . Everything was perfect , food Service and the atmosphere quality from start to finish

Just had Sunday Lunch at the Marlborough Head, it was excellent. Great staff, food was wonderful. Especially enjoyed the mushroom and goats cheese starter. Roast dinners were very good as was the Scampi. Puds great but we had eaten so much my family struggled with the sticky toffee pudding as portions were generous, I had the rice pud with jam very good. Good beer as well.

The restaurant was really busy Sunday lunchtime but we were found a table quickly, we both ordered the roast, I had the beef and my husband had the chicken, it was gorgeous couldn’t fault it, we the had the rice pudding, it was a really big portion and probably could have shared but we managed it! Very yummy

Just popped in for the Italian theme night Staff fantastic and the chef Steve is a magician food was just phenomenal so many amazing flavours Would highly recommend this for food

The four of us could not fault the service, atmosphere and above all the amazing food, can’t wait to return!

I phoned up on 23rd December to book a table for 7pm on 26th December at 7pm. I was told that would be fine it's all booked in. I arrived at 6.55pm and they told me it wasnt booked in. Then I asked for the manager on duty. Well ..... what do I say..... very undressed manager looked like she has just woke up ... she got right in my face I told her get out of my face.... she was so rude .. I'm never going to return again. Been visiting gir the past 3-4years with family and friends but will never have my business again ......

I’ve had a beer here before but not eaten, so I chose The Marlborough for a lunch with friends on 18 Dec. Good choice.

I have eaten at the Marlborough on many occasions in the last year but our Christmas Lunch for 11 was undoubtedly the best for many years. Starting with the welcome, warm and cheery. Service throughout was attentive and the food excellent, everything we ordered was correct and for 11 of us with various dietary requirements faultless.

We came on a very busy evening but the services was very efficient, friendly and attentive. The food was inventive and delicious. Four of had a most enjoyable evening with the starter of crispy pork we being the star on the menu.

It was a birthday party, 30+ for dinner with perfectly cooked and hot options and another 30+ for drinks with unbelievably good finger food for all guests into the night. Two rooms, one for dining and partying and one for socializing with a gorgeous log fire. The staff were legends, on-point and attentive to the nth degree. The Marlborough Head has been saved from mediocrity and closure - it is so worth a visit. The recipe is simple, Simple Food Done Well. The bar area is larger than many pubs, it is smaller than many others. I can't put my finger on it, but the layout feels odd if you are with a group, hence 4 stars and not 5 (this is probably more to do with constraints from being a 500 year old listed building).

Visited this pub for a lunch with family and was very pleased with the food and service. For starters I had the belly pork which was a bit disappointing and very salty. However for the main I had a scotch egg ploughmans and it was exceptional. Home made scotch egg, a large piece of tasty cheddar, home made picalilli, chunky bread and salad. A large portion which I surprisingly couldnt finish. I had to leave room for afters which was very good as well; cheesecake. The staff were very friendly and attentive and made this visit very pleasant.

Went here on recommendation and have to say we werent disappointed. The pub is lovely and cosy with plenty of tables although you dont feel on top of other diners. The staff are friendly and extremely helpful and the food is superb. I had the pigeon which was some of the best ive ever tasted, followed by the pork belly (again superbly cooked and very tasty) and finally the cheesecake. Everyone else had different plates and all agreed that the food wss fantastic and tasty and the portion sizes were perfect. 4 three course meals and wine for £140 - you cant go wrong. I habe to congratulate the chef and all the staff on a super experience.

Very busy restaurant and there was a problem with our booking but the staff sorted it out swiftly and found us a table. The food was good but could be improved as the roast dinner was not particularly well cooked.

Visited the pub as part of a Schnauzerfest walk and we received great hospitality throughout our visit. Our waitress, Francesca, was excellent - very attentive and efficient. Enjoyed the food very much - will definitely return.

We visited here as a family in the evening, their was a good atmosphere and very spacious tables.

We were just passing through Dedham and found this pub. Really nice friendly team and a good choice of dishes. There had a couple of nice vegetarian dishes. The food came quite quickly which was helpful as we were on our way to Stalham for a short break. Also the pub had some parking which was handy.