Sole Bay Inn in Waveney

Great place, old style pub in the heart of Southwold town. We ate in the evening. Lovely food, not sophisticated but very well cooked, sensible portion size and served quickly. Bar had a broad selection of Adnams ales, all in all an excellent evening. Friendly to humans and dogs.

Lunch was lovely, not an extensive menu, but it is a pub! Wife had fish and chips, she reported that it was fresh and non greasy,( praise indeed), I had the Korean chicken burger, batter was crispy, sauce piquant and pickles were lovely. Needless to say the pint of Broadside was exceptional!

Great fish and chips! Have to say our expectations were not high as the pub would probably survive on location alone without trying too hard, but we were pleasantly surprised. Food was good and quick to arrive, and the service was spot on.

I first visited the Sole Bay Inn in 1978 on a rugby tour and had a great time. I've been back lots of times since though not for a few years. Our visit on Saturday reminded me what I've been missing. The best beer and food and the most helpful and friendly staff. Well worth a detour for anyone who appreciates a great British pub. We'll be back!

We had a drink voucher from the lighthouse tour opposite. The girl who served us was rather sullen, no smile or chat, maybe she wasn’t feeling well. We had our drinks but agreed that the pub lacked atmosphere and didn’t seem to match the standards of the other pubs in Southwold. However, what we both noticed was the lack of cleanliness, the chairs were dusty, the floor stained and sticky. The grimy, finger marked door to the toilets. The toilets were ‘ok’ but not ‘fresh’. All in all with some tlc and elbow grease this pub could be a great asset to the town.

On my second visit to Southwold, I finally had the opportunity to sample the fare at this iconic venue, just next to Southwold's famous lighthouse. I had already scoped the place out having had my free drink after completing the lighthouse tour - you are given a voucher at the end of the tour. It can be a struggle to find a table for meals however, as they don't take advanced bookings. It seems to be busy all day long so you may need to be patient. The service is friendly and quite laid back, but the ambience is very relaxed and family oriented. In terms of the food, the starters were excellent. We had a variety of breaded whitebait and shell-on prawns with lemon & dill mayo. I opted for the pork terrine with red onion marmalade. I think I was unlucky in my choice of main course, however. Having decided on something from the specials menu - a chalk board on the wall - I went for the Korean glazed buttermilk chicken burger. This turned out to be not as good in the execution as the description implied. But the rest of my party enjoyed theirs - fish & chips and a mac & cheese rarebit topped with crispy onions, which was very highly rated. Desserts were chocolate brownie and sticky toffee pudding (see pictures). With the final bill coming in at £126 for four, including drinks, prices are quite reasonable, and there is no cynical 'discretionary' service charge, which is always a bonus.

This is a busy pub/ restaurant but we managed to bag two outside tables for Sunday lunch and eight of us dined. This is an Adnams’ venue and the beer selection is diverse and excellent. If anyone is interested, I can recommend Blackshore Stout, Regatta and Dry Hopped Lager. We were served quickly by friendly attentive staff. Four had the chicken burger , two had fresh dressed crab and two steak burgers. The portion sizes were generous albeit the crabs were smallish and I thought it was good value at £135 for the main courses. I look forward to eating here again.

Saw this pub whilst out walking in Southwold and decided to go in for dinner later that day, as we couldn’t get a table at our restaurant choice. We had to wait at the bar for a short while to get a table, as they were full when we went in. Quite a few others came in after us, so it is obviously a popular place. The staff were friendly and attentive. When we got a table, our food came quite quickly and was delicious and good value for money. It is perhaps not the most attractive on the outside, but the welcome is warm and it was very pleasant inside. Would recommend giving it a try.

The most stunning fish & chips my partner has ever eaten, still raving about it now😊 accompanied by mushy peas and a Katsu sauce! I must admit I did pinch a bit and couldn't agree more as to how delicious it was☺ I opted for the dressed crab and although fabulous, I was just too jealous of the fish & chips☺Sat outside on a glorious day for lunch and a couple of shandies, absolutely perfect ☺ Fabulous service by the super friendly waitress... just a perfect couple of hours, Thank You very much☺

We visited on Christmas Eve for lunch. We had brancaster mussels to start which were really tasty I had fish and chips for a main, and my mother in law had a medium steak which was perfectly seasoned and just pink in the middle as a medium steak should be. To drink I had a adman’s G&T which was perfect being in earshot of the distillery. The bar staff where friendly and made us feel really welcome.The pub is quaint and idilic it’s right next to the working lighthouse. Sole bay really is a must for any visitors to southwold. Highly recommend!!

We visited here on a warm eveing late summer and were very pleased to get a table outside what was a very busy pub. I was also extremely pleased to be able to order Gluten free food and both the fish & chips and burger that we had were excellent.The only negative was paying £4.40 for a pink of Coke, seriously!!We would certainly go back but may just order water to drink rather than being charged such ridiculous prices for a soft drink. ( A pint of Orange Juice and lemonade was £3.50)

We wandered in hoping to find quick easy meal, totally blown away by place. Limited but excellent menu (do less things but much better) both had steak, perfectly cooked/seasoned with great sides. Lovely atmosphere and service, shared a dessert as I didn’t have room but so yummy are more than my share. For a chilled but quality evening a must

What a lovely pub. The staff were so friendly and helpful.As you can’t book they advised us what time to come in for an evening meal.Worked well as we didn’t have to wait long.The team cleaned and turned tables around quickly. The entire place was spotless.The meals arrived very fast , well presented and tasty.Fantastic atmosphere.100% recommend.

Brilliant pub / restaurant. Excellent food, quick service and lovely staff. It's a busy place and they don't take bookings so it's pot luck if there is a table available. We were lucky enough to arrive just as one table had finished.

We went for tea on the last Friday of half term jusy before 5pm. It was busy but we got a table within 20 minutes. The staff went above and beyond to cater for my 6 year old son with autism sourcing sausages even though they had sold out of pigs in blankets. This avoided a meltdown and was very much appreciated!! Food was lovely and great price. We adults had the special rogan josh chicken curry. Would definitely recommend and go back.

We ate here twice. The first time I ordered rump steak it was cooked spot on on and presented beautifully . My wife had Tuna which again was cooked super. The second time we both had fish and chips great portions and the fish was ace, crispy batter not overly greasy and flaky fish. Staff and atmosphere friendly.

We visit Southwold every autumn and always have a wonderful meal at the Solebay Inn, it had been consistently great and a lovely atmosphere

Wifey popped into the local gin making distillery and I found myself in this quaint and easy going seaside pub. Good selection of ales and also the fizzy stuff which I like. I can't what on to taste the food. Yum. Check it out-man!

What a very pleasant surprise this place is!! Friendly staff, great food, a warm welcome, superb beer and gin. Our two teenagers loved it- no easy task!! Recommend the fish, steak and gammon and to finish the Adnams bread & butter pudding is superb, don’t miss out. We will definitely be back

Thank goodness for Matt and his team at The Sole Bay Inn…on a miserable rainy evening they provided the very warm welcome that seemed otherwise lacking in Southwold. They went out of their way to accommodate not just our family with young children but several others that came in after us ensuring that everyone got a table (no small achievement!). They couldn’t have been kinder or more attentive, food was served quickly and was delicious. Matt and his team are singlehandedly flying the Adnams flag, they are doing it so well that we will definitely be back again soon!

Lovely staff, great food, good beer and good value. Adnams, can’t fault them. Would rather not be sitting on old church chairs, but better then no chairs at all!

A lovely pub, which is definitely worth a visit, the pub is situated next to Southwold Lighthouse and can’t be missed, a great pub to sit outside on a sun drenched day and watch the world go by… Definitely a place to visit, the pub is well stocked with traditional Ales.

Just come back from a weekend at Southwold. The food at this pub was amazing, I have food intolerances, which can be a bit of a nightmare going out to eat, and the Head Chef Gavin and sous chef Brandon (It was such a good experience the first night of our stay we went back for the second) could not have been more helpful. All the staff were extremely friendly and courteous....with great sense of humour. This is such a cosy pub, well worth the wait for a table, you can have a drink outside whilst you wait. You can not pre-book but the bar staff keep a waiting list and it really is first come first served, people who try and jump the queue are politely informed that there is a waiting list. The Smoked Mackerel salad was delicious and so was the fish of the day. Highly recommend this lovely little gem, we will definitely be back as the Chef has promised to make me a Gluten Free desert if I give him some notice for next time we go back. Just lovely people.

Fantastic menu and great service &staff. Delicious choice and nothing too much trouble. We had a lovely evening and do visit this venue as it’s centrally located and worth a visit ! Thank you so much. Angela Stockwell & family xx

Had a couple of really lovely meals here recently. Lots of choice, all done really nicely - lovely salads and veg with main meals. Friendly and efficient service. They manage the limited number of table really well , with humour and patience. Lots of places could learn from the Sole Bay .

You are met with a warm welcome as soon as you walk in. If there are no tables free they help you to grab a drink until one is available to accommodate you. All the staff are friendly and fun whilst remaining professional. The food is tasty and remains warm throughout your meal. The atmosphere is always “electric!’

Chanced a walk in here this evening (expecting to not get a table) and were greeted with a very warm welcome and had a lovely Pinot Grigio whilst waiting for a table. We were fortunate to get a table pretty quickly and enjoyed a very chilled time with a drink. Ordered food for a family of 4 and we were all delighted with our meals. Amazing burgers, a great steak and even a ‘mezze’ fit for our 12 year old (made up of starters and sides!). If you can manage to gets a table here you won’t be disappointed!

Despite the chilly and wet August weather a warm welcome awaited us. Great food and drink. Nice atmosphere. Very friendly service.

Been here twice over past week for an impromptu dinner as managed to get a table. First time we all had fish and chips which were delicious and huge portions, second time I had the special curry (Goan) which was also delicious. We have visited the Sole Bay on many occasion for a quick drink, but on the past two occasions also loved the food. Staff are friendly and we just love the setting (and the fact that this is 30 seconds from where we stay in Southwold!).

Thank you Sole Bay staff for always looking after us so well. The food is always excellent, and you create a great atmosphere which is why the place is always nice and busy. Special mention to Jason, Matt, Tabby and Roxey for such great service last Saturday, we can't wait to see you all again soon

Drinks were perfect and reasonably priced. The food was very nice, I would recommend the burger. Despite the lifting of restrictions I still felt very safe as the staff wore masks. The staff were also very friendly and accommodating I would totally recommend!

Great pub/restaurant with professional staff serving good beer and drinks. Food delicious and all at fair prices would highly recommend a visit to this great pub

Started with flat shandy, then the food appeared which had anaemic calamari that was so rubbery I had to send back. Then my child's food came out which was sausage and chips, the sausages were burnt 🤢 think they need to pull there socks up.

Had al-fresco drinks 3 afternoons on the bounce. Terrific traditional pub by the lighthouse serving fantastic local Adnams beer and cider within 2 minutes walk from where it was brewed. Service was with a smile and very helpful and friendly. A terrific pub with a brilliant relaxed and traditional vibe.

Welcoming staff. Nice and clean environment. Adhered to all the Covid rules. Enjoyed a few drinks. Cheers

Food excellent. Service excellent (and with a smile). Covid safeguards excellent. A lovely evening, thanks to all of the staff.

Once again out done themselves again. Aamazing staff, beer and food. Couldnt do enough for us. Had to wait alittle bit for a table but well worth the wait.

We visited the Sole Bay twice during our week stay. The first visit was lovely. The food excellent, a great choice of specials on the board and the service was prompt and very friendly (a blonde lady...wish I knew her name!)The second visit didn’t go as well! We were sitting outside in glorious sunshine and after placing the food order and a few drinks orders we were asked to pay. Our response being we will be wanting plenty more drinks and desserts so why not pop our bank car behind the bar. The young, quite inexperienced waiter repeatedly apologised and took the card. 5 minutes later he appeared again saying that his manager (with a very snazzy shirt on) was not happy with this, returned the card and said we had to keep paying for individual drinks/courses. Apart from it being an absolute pain in the backside, we were made to feel like they were implying we were going to do a ‘runner’ and the response to this was ‘well we have had a few customers do this before’ Such a shame the blonde lady/manager as mentioned earlier, had finished her shift just as we were arriving because I’m sure she would have questioned the other manager’s inadequate, rude, untrustworthy approach to customer service. He needs to find another job in a completely different sector far away from public interaction.

Always welcoming, lovely staff, excellent food and service and delicious beer! Fantastic atmosphere and we always have a good laugh with the staff whenever we come. Looking forward to coming again next year. Best pub in Southwold! From those on "Table 2"

This is a pub with extremely rude, inexperienced Managers and bar staff! They brand themselves as being dog friendly, but quite frankly this is just a joke!! They were so rude, unprofessional and lack the basics of hospitality and Customer Service.Witnessed their rude approach to many people with dogs, dogs that were well behaved, and hostile to the odd dog that barked!!! DOGS BARK RIGHT??They were only interested in your custom if you was eating food with them, so we ate one evening, and the presentation was terrible for the price, quality of food was cheap and poorly cooked!! VERY POOR STANDARDS ALL ROUND!!

Initially we only intended to have a drink here but ended up staying for food.They were busy when we arrived but there was space for 2 on a long table to the side of the pub.We were served straight away and I tried the Wild wave Adnams cider which was lovely.Moved inside to eat about 20mins before they stopped serving for lunch time (2:45) not sure if this is down to COVID or is normal, as noticed a few places close early around the area.I had the fish and chips (skipped the peas) which was a great potion and my husband had the Korean Belly pork.The only niggle I have is that we asked to swap the rice for chips with the pork but got charged as if they were an extra side.Didn’t impact our experience but should have been told when ordering.Overall great service, drinks and food and would come back.

Living in South Norfolk and having visited Southwold and the Sole Bay Inn many times over the years I was gobsmacked to be charged £9.30 for a pint of lager and large Diet Coke .I do realise that the pub trade have had a torrid time of late and am prepared to support them where I can but this in my view is taking the “proverbial “ with this outrageous pricing .I would appreciate comments .

From what started off as a calm day by the beach, the rest of my day was ruined by the food prepared, my chicken was as dry as a flip flop and my friends salmon was £14 for two slices of wet smoked salmon and 5 sweet potato fries, not only that but the food took over an hour to arrive. We didn’t complain at the time as we were all hungry after a day outside exploring the area, so we went on our merry way and ate our food. Only to then find myself in agonising pain walking back to our tents, my lower abdomen was in excruciating pain and my friends manic laughing only satiated the chaos brewing inside me, the internal struggle of will to not explode onto the path was hard to fight, the constant grunts and stumbles along the costal path led me to a realisation, I was going to poo myself in front of my friends and that will never leave our memories. All thanks to the sole bay inns, overcooked “chicken” and soggy salmon. Will not be coming back here ever again.

As you approach the Sole Bay Inn, it appears to have a lighthouse growing out of it, surreal , due to covid restrictions, there are only five tables available for indoor dining, so be prepared to wait outside. The staff are excellent, helpful and informative. Good menu choice with battered cod to die for! Usual range of quality Adnams beers. Would have got 5* if it wasn't for the wait .

Only place that would serve alcohol in the rain over the half term weekend. We were served very quickly by a very happy man who couldn’t do enough for us.

This pub is virtually next door to the Adnams brewery but regrettably it does only first-come-first-serve dining, so no booking is available; we were not sure if this is due to covid or is general policy . Our group of 4 visited it in May 2021 and had to wait for about half an hour for a table, which wasn't too bad, as others were told anything from 45-60 minutes! One benefit was that we could order drinks and have them whilst waiting! We can understand why pubs do this, especially with the increasing number of no-shows, but they even turned down an offer of a deposit! Once inside, the pub was airy and well spaced. There are outside table available, but maybe not very comfortable on a chilly May evening!The menu is mid range pub grub with good portion sizes and a good selection of dietary needs. There should be something available for most tastes. Drinks were marginally more expensive than we expected, but the cellars are clearly kept in fine condition because the beer was excellent

Super friendly staff and beer. Cuedos to Laurence who was a busy bee looking after all the customers in as Covid safe a way as possible. Thanks and well done, guys.

Although capacity remains very limited due to government restrictions, if you’re lucky enough to get a table, try the Adnams beer-battered cod, fluffy chips, homemade tarter sauce, and minted peas. Fresh and delicious-worth writing home about! Very friendly and efficient staff as well.

Yummy, proper fish and chips!! Great kids options. Kids bits and chip were the best I have ever seen and tasted!

Popped in for lunch with our dog Gertie. Very welcoming and excellent Covid precautions. We had the Fish Pie and a burger and both were excellent. There was a queue forming outside but at no time did we feel pressured to hurry but due to the food arriving very quickly we didn't hog the table for too long. Really friendly service form the young man who served us, thank you.

Visited here during Covid-19 pandemic and were very impressed with their safety precautions. We were made very welcome and felt very secure. Plenty of space, very, very clean.We chose traditional haddock and chips and it was great. Plenty of it, with peas, and Adnams excellent Ghost Ship ale went with it very well. Thoroughly recommended.

We had only planned on having a light lunch but that was before we saw the fish and chips. They tasted as good as they looked! Extremely Covid aware and no need to book.

Southwold was very busy being half term and we had not been there before. The day we decided to go a lovely storm hit and we needed somewhere to eat. As we turned the corner there was the Sole Bay. We enquired at the door and the nice man said yes they had a table and for all of us to come in and get out of the rain. After doing the check in app and using hand sanitizer supplied we went to our table. Staff were so friendly and service was great. Fish and chips mandatory being at the sea side and wow well cooked, huge portion and very tasty. All is well organised and it was great to feel “normal” in these difficult times while still being in a compliant environment. Thanks guys for feeding and watering us and looking after our safety.

We knew it was half-term and we knew Southwold would be busy, but I had a rare day off and we decided to risk it anyway (our children are grown-up). And it was busy.... We love the Sole Bay and have eaten here many time before and know they don't take bookings. When we arrived (2PM), the lovely guy on the door advised us that if we were willing to wait 'up the ramp', he could sit us in about 20 mins. He did not disappoint (we were seated in 10 mins) and we were eating shortly after. He was so honest about timings and kept us informed by popping out onto the ramp to let us know where customers inside were up to. It all felt very calm and relaxed. Our waitress was also amazing (wish I had got her name): the service was excellent, and food was delivered quickly and was delicious. It was clear that she was very busy, but she still had time to chat to us and made us feel very welcome. The pub have a good one way system going with hand sanitisation and masks compulsory when moving. Staff advise you what to expect and enforce this in a very low key and friendly way. Oh yes, and best of all, the pub is super dog friendly - we had all three of our dogs with us and they were made to feel very welcome. Our visit today was so lovely and I want to thank the staff at The Sole Bay for making it so relaxed and enjoyable.

We had a lovely meal here last night and although we had to wait outside nearly an hour for a table we were served drinks and kept well informed about when a table would be ready. Very covid friendly and efficient with great food thank you

I went to this restaurant with my husband, son and coeliac daughter. I rang in advance to check they could cater and was told they had a separate fryer for chips. We looked at the allergy menu when we got there and my daughter just wanted chips. When the food arrived, we checked for a third time but this time was told that whilst there is a dedicated fryer for chips (i.e. gluten free) they couldn’t guarantee it was the same one as yesterday so could be contaminated. A very upset daughter who then opted for the safe but uninspiring option of jacket potato, beans and cheese. And our food went cold whilst we waited. Disappointing.

Friendly helpful staff great food. We visited on a busy Saturday lunch time and initially there were no tables available . The waiter was so helpful we had drinks on a bench outside and offered a table as soon as the first table was freeThe ale battered cod was delicious the pub spotless and social distancing well managedHighly recommend

Rather unusually this pub has a "walk in" policy rather than taking bookings, so we had a little walk to the pier while we waited for a table. Worth the wait - my scampi and my husband's curry were both excellent and service efficient and friendly.

Lovely old pub by the lighthouse. Good beer and service and good pub food, decent value and very tasty. A very nice evening

Firstly can we say how well prepared and organised the Sole Bay were for Covid, which was very reassuring. Furthermore, the staff were extremely friendly and obliging which is to their credit during these challenging times. The food was of the usual high standard, there was plenty of choice with vegetarian and vegan options (we also noticed a take away menu in the window). Beer spot on!

This was our first venture indoors in any pub or restaurant in this Covid19 hellscape. The queue was well managed by a nice chap on the door, and the tables were spaced far apart. So we felt comfortable. The beer, as usual, was excellent, and the food very good. The pie actually a pie (integral pastry bottom, sides and top) and not just a casserole with a pastry lid! Recommended.

Really nice pub. Excellent food & service. Delicious fish & chips and dreamy desserts! The staff are all clearly working hard to adhere to current guidelines but still provide a nice atmosphere. Highly recommend 5*

Fantastic service in difficult times. Short wait for table but worth the wait. Amazing pie. Staff very friendly and polite.

Visited after reading a fabulous review on trip advisor and it didn't disappoint. My boyfriend and I both had the Thai red snapper curry and it was one of the best Thai curries I've ever had, plenty of flaky moist fish, in an authentic Thai sauce with perfectly cooked rice. Absolutely delicious and very very reasonable. Covid 19 regs were followed to the letter and the staff were delightful. Definately one to come back to.

It’s blooming difficult to find anywhere to eat in southwold at the moment, covid plus a huge amount of people mean it’s almost impossible to get in anywhere. This excellent, friendly pub has got the whole thing very well sussed in terms of safety and also has helpful, welcoming staff. We asked them earlier in the afternoon when was a good time to try and get a table in the evening and the advice was bang on. A couple of minutes wait for a table to clear and we went straight in, table and chairs all sanitised before us, everything felt very safe.But at the end of the day it’s the quality of the food that was outstanding, really good high quality pub food with a little twist, excellent calamari and a fantastic red snapper curry, very good.We’d definitely recommend this place in a town that is clearly struggling to cope and has an awful lot of places not serving evening food. We hope to revisit in happier times and enjoy the hospitality of this lovely pub again.

There is the ideal place to go if you want a good takeaway pint of Adnams to take down to enjoy on the beach.The staff were approachable and friendly. The pub itself felt a little nervous because of the Covid restrictions, but the Sole Bay Inn hasn't lost much of its original character.

Visited this charming local during the Covid outbreak. So sad to see that, to stay safe, they had to reduce tables inside to five only. Must make it so difficult to earn a living. But everyone was cheerful and positive and it was a pleasure to spend time there. Close to Adnams Brewery and the old part of town. Very safe measures in place too. Hopefully when we're back in Southwold, everything will be back to normal.

We had Ghost Ship on arrival. It was clear and tasty. We then ordered another round and it was cloudy. We returned it to the bar and were brought 'replacement' Ghost Ship. We were told it was a new barrel ... again cloudy! I believe the barrel had been tapped and served too soon and not allowed to settle. What a shame from the home of Adnams

Great pub really nice staff and food. It was the 2 of us and dog and it was great. Curry of the day and the hake for mains great value and great food. Hopefully going back before we leave Southwold

We dipped in here out of the rain - at just the right time as a lot of people had to come back later to ensure distancing was in place. Staff dealt with wet customers outside whilst still advising us on local drinks and food. I did observe a female staff member say she would try to get an umbrella for a family waiting outside, and I was impressed. Excellent service and felt safe. Well done to the staff, will recommend. Also, great local drinks and sausage sandwich.

The Sole Bay Inn is a lovely pub. It is serves great food and the staff are very friendly and welcoming. There is a good one way system in place to accommodate Covid restrictions.

Excellent Adnams pub with great food and drink. We visited with COVID restrictions in place including a one way system and distancing etc and felt. Dry safe and welcomed. We both chose fish and chips and it was excellent with super crisp batter and excellent chips. Fantastic Adnams Ghost Ship beer was perfect with our meal.

Just had the best fish and chip takeaway from the pub. staying round the corner so very handy and welcome on our first night. The fish was so fresh and the chips crispy and tasty. Great service from friendly staff using good social distancing measures in the pub. Bonus being while you wait you can have a pint outside! Will definitely return while we are here on holiday.

My husband, two boys and I were staying in Southwold for the week and ended up eating here 3 times!! The staff were so friendly & welcoming. The food was fab too! Would most definitely recommend. Thanks to Sam, Dan & Team 😀

Went here a couple of times during our visit to Southwold for our evening meal and as always superb food cooked to a very high standard , the beer batter cod and chips are worth a try also the burgers and Delicious,staff are brilliant working so hard during these difficult times , keeping customers informed on how long they may have to wait for a table . Also don't forget a fabulous pint of Ghostship looking forward to going back in November

We turned up at 2.30pm for a late lunch and despite COVID and it being August we expected a good lunch as our friends had been before and had experienced good food and great service. Not this time. The guy on the door was nonchalant and couldn’t care less, promised a table in 15 minutes but 45 minutes later, waiting in the cold and shade outside, having refused to provide hot drinks and then gifting a table to a couple who arrived twenty minutes after us, we still hadn’t even been given a menu and it was only by lurking around a table in the sun when another party left, that we secured a table in exasperation. The food was passable and to be fair (it was sandwiches) the lunch plates arrived quickly but the service was abysmal. Staff were borderline rude and certainly charmless. Not what you’d expect in Southwold and a bad advert for Adnams. Don’t bother. It’s not ever good to take the punters for granted....

Our first time in a pub post covid, and the guys there couldn't have made us feel more comfortable. One way system in and out of the pub, comfortable seating space with clearly marked distancing areas and high rise dividers. Table service and lots of detailed considerations to make sure things were clean and safe. Plus, the beer was great (maybe becuase it was my first pint in 4 months) and the food was fantastic, too. Would highly recommend.

This is a pub that’s clearly thought out about social distancing and that’s to be applauded. The down side to the one way system is that if you’re eating outside you have to queue to go back in to go to the toilet - a wait of 15 mins in our case. The food was good, not great. Fish was full of bones, including the children’s portion, which kind of ruined the meal. That said, it was fresh and a generous size. Chips were undercooked. Nobody checked on us during the meal - this also meant that you couldn’t order another round of drinks without going round and queuing again. In sight of the Adnams brewery, the beer was good.

Good Covid procedures rigorously adhered to... excellent fish & chips, fine pint of Southwold Ale in sight of the brewery. Very friendly & attentive staff. Dog friendly.

Deliciously fresh fish and chips, lobster and shucked oysters. I defy anybody to find better. Thank you.

We didn't know anything about eating in Southwold so we picked this pub at random. We were impressed! It had a nice, friendly atmosphere and we enjoyed out food. We both had the brie, bacon and cranberry baguettes for lunch (I had the white bread and my wife the brown). They were served with a bit of salad. Drinks and coffee completed the meal. The puds looked very tempting but we don't have the appetites we once had!

busy place but undue attention paid to 18 year old without id owners should realise they can't be in breach of license conditions by serving 18-year-olds irrespective of how old they look

Being February and fairly quiet, we didn’t have to book. Burger was great! In summer or other holidays booking is essential. Dog friendly.

Fantastic cod and chip - beautifully cooked! My husband and I had toyed with the idea of ordering a starter, but were quite pleased we hadn’t when we saw the size of the portions. Very friendly and efficient staff too.

This place is so welcoming! The real ale was well kept and the staff helpful and friendly. I was there with 4 adults and 2 kids. We had baguette, soup, calamari, sharing dip platter and fish pie and we all agreed it was the best version of each dish we'd each tasted! Would definitely recommend for good kids options for food and excellent portions.

What a fantastic little find. Fresh home made top notch food and friendly welcoming staff. We had a group of 8 of us and we all thought it was the best food ever. The sharing dips were all home made and delicious!!! The bread that cane with them was warm and chewy and sooooooo good. I couldn’t recommend this place more highly. So welcoming and friendlyThank you

Small but very popular PUB/RESTAURANT. Good beer & so it should be next to the brewery. Food good generous portions & GVFM

Always good bet for a decent meal and great beer, and staff are always friendly and engaging. Super location close to beach.

Me and my wife dined here several times on a recent visit to Southwold. The food is basic pub food, but very nice. Nice cider on draught. Staff were friendly. We will visit again.

Second visit to this pub on a rare visit to Southwold. Arrived just after twelve and found a nice table in the bar. Friendly staff and excellent service. Good choice of menu, well cooked and presented food. Best draft pint of Broadside I have tasted. By the time we left approx half past one the place was rammed.with people waiting at the bar for a table. Very popular. I would recommend.

I was hoping to praise this pub but it is like a lot of modern pubs - no carpets or curtains to absorb others conversations so is a bit noisy. Beer and wine fine but the Cajun Chicken Strips were dry and tough and my salad dressing had the strangest flavour I have ever had , maybe it was close to it's sell by date? I will not write it off though but will give it another try not that managment will be bothered by me as it seems popular with others.

Brilliant little find, looked like it’s been done up recently and deceiving from the outside. Food was amazing and very good service. Highly recommended

Super find. Great beer and atmosphere. Delicious food...red snapper stir fry and fish and chips were delicious. Don't miss the sticky toffee pudding...mmmm

Another January holiday in Southwold and have eaten 4 times at The Sole Bay Inn. Friendly, helpful staff, very well kept real ales and fabulous food. Trying to work our way through the menu and have always had great food. Furnished in a modern style (no old settles etc) but as the pub is relatively small it is still very cosy. Used by a lot of locals who are happy to chat, especially if you make a fuss of their dogs.

We stayed in Southwold last week and ate here 3 times, food and service excellent, also good value for money. Would highly recommend paying a visit.

Visited here on Sat lunch. Lovely atmosphere had simple pub lunch /drinks. All served very quickly and food was very good. Loved it would definitely go again if in the area.

We paid what you would expect for a pub meal, however, we were really disappointed by the quality of the food. My vegetables were boiled and waterlogged, and my fish pie was microwaved to the point where any flavour had been zapped out of it. My partner had a special which was really just slop. The atmosphere in this pub wasn't great either. Considering The Nelson, which is also run by Adnams and the food is around the same price, the quality of the food here is worlds away. We won't be returning.

Can’t fault it - great food, obviously great beer/cider, and the atmosphere was prefect. My little 18month old loved it too!

My husband and I visited following a recommendation from a friend. Lovely atmosphere, friendly service and excellent food. Reasonably priced and thoroughly enjoyed. Would recommend both the burger and the sea bass.

Not many customers. Not cosy and welcoming. Stark lighting and seating making it worse. I shouldn't have ordered the seared Tuna because I had a feeling it wouldn't be any good and it wasn't. Seared????? It was very overcooked. Very dry and no taste whatsoever. Told the barmaid and she just said sorry and that she would tell the chef. Too late then and it was so lacking in any taste at all. All the people were at another pub because we went there the next night and it was great. Would not return as needs atmosphere, especially in the winter!!