The Golden Key in Suffolk Coastal

Friday evening treat meal Our well behaved dog was welcome Home made Steak & ale pie possibly THE BEST pie ever Eyes too big for our bellies the black forest Eton Mess would have fed us both. My apple & plum crumble was light & delicious Recommend & would definitely return Thank you

Wanted to try this place for a change. Not what we’d hoped unfortunately. Staff not unfriendly but not particularly friendly. The food was really not great at all, minimal effort. Cream mushrooms on toast, just one piece of toast no garnish or attempt at making most of it, should really have been 2 pieces. Salad on all plates very underwhelming. Garlic toast very basic. Best part of this pub though is nice little sun trap sat outside, unlike other snape pubs it’s not overlooking main road. So nice place for a drink.

Exactly what a British pub should be! Lovely menu which was very child friendly, added bonus that we could bring our dog. The staff were so accommodating when my hungry son wanted an adult size meal. We enjoyed a game of chess whilst waiting for our meal. We had the steak pie, chips and vegetables which were really lovely. Boys had dessert and the sticky toffee pudding was enjoyed! Thank you so much. Would definitely return in the future.

Had called into this pub on a few occasions and the restaurant was always busy which to me is always a good sign but how wrong I was….hoisin duck spring rolls for starters with some dry lettuce and spring onions, 3 battered ‘tempura’ prawns with again garnished with dry lifeless lettuce wasn’t a good start….handmade burgers were okay again dry lettuce leafs no dressing…limited vegetables seemed cabbage was the main ingredient…staff not really that attentive didn’t ask whether everything was okay and room was cold will not rush to go back

One of the best lunches we’ve had anywhere in a long, long time! We both had pork belly which was incredibly delicious along with all the perfect trimmings inc root vegetable purée and red cabbage ….yum! My husband followed up with the sticky toffee pudding which again was in a different league to the usual, the caramelised banana addition he said were amazing! The staff too were lovely, very professional and helpful. Hopefully we’ll be back very soon! X

Servings very ample, Staff very friendly Food & coffee could be better, after reading recent reviews it sounds like a completely different place as we were very disappointed

A delightful lunch whilst waiting for our car to be Mot’d at a nearby garage. We had fish and chips, which was delicious, light and plentiful. All washed down with a pint. A pub we have missed, having lived in Aldeburgh for a while. The staff were very welcoming and friendly….We most definitely will return.

Best Steak & Ale pie ever had by my local friend. I had delicious pan cooked Cod. Just lovely. Pleasant service, prompt, very enjoyable meal.

Booked last minute at this nice pub in Snape, very friendly staff welcomed us.It was evidently pie night , a pity for us as the special board had some very tempting dishes on it. However I chose one of the pies chicken, ham and leek served with chips and fresh cabbage, broccoli and mangetout plus gravy. Husband had smoked haddock bacon and onion mash with spinach. We really enjoyed both dishes and will have to go again to try the specials! My only gripe is the amount of dogs, wish we could go back to days when they were not allowed in establishments that serve food.

I had the best stay! the bed was so comfortable I slept like a log. You get a real Suffolk experience at the golden key. The room was very spacious, clean and really well decorated. The bathroom was especially lovely. I had a full English which was absolutely delicious! I loved my stay and would definitely stay again. All the staff were very chatty and really welcoming. I noticed this with other guests too not just myself.

Our room (Room 2) was spacious and clean. The en suite bathroom was also very spacious and clean. The pub has character and over all our room was as expected. However, there were a few hospitality issues which marred our stay and could easily be fixed. When we checked in we asked what time the bar would be closing, as we were going to an evening performance at Snape Maltings and would be returning later and looking forward to drinks to round the evening off. We were told the bar would be open until late, so thought this would be fine. However, when we returned to the pub at approx. 9.35pm the bar had obviously just shut with a group of staff sitting around a table getting ready to leave. We asked what time the bar was supposed to shut, as it seemed quite early, and was told they shut the bar when the last customer has left. We were not offered a drink to take to our room. As we were staying in a pub with rooms we expected this service to be available for usual licensing hours. The entrance to our room was around the back of the pub and up a small flight of stairs, next the the kitchen entrance. Unfortunately the entrance lobby was cluttered with a large bag of dirty laundry for two days and a pile of clean laundry taking space on an arm chair. The single table in the lobby seemed to be being used as a staff work table and the window sill as a shelf for cleaning products. The whole lobby area gave the impression of being a trade entrance, not a welcoming space for guests to feel at ease passing through. It would be simple to tidy up this area and make it more welcoming for guests. While using the back entrance we unfortunately heard loud foul mouthed conversions from some the staff and were almost locked out when the lunch shift left for a 2 hour unmanned period at the pub. The selection of tired tea bags, packet coffee and UHT milk made for a forlorn beverage offering. However, we did ask for a jug of fresh milk and were provided with it. It would be good to offer this option for guests, as well as making the tea and coffee options more premium. For breakfast we both ordered the smashed avocado and poached egg on toast. The bread was dry/stale, toasted like a crouton with no butter or oil, the avocado was plain and the poached egg was not runny. The dish was edible so we didn’t mention it as we don’t like to see food waste in the event of being offered a replacement. There was jam and honey but no toast was offered to any table. As there are only 3 rooms to cater for it should be manageable to provide a good quality breakfast, not one that lacked finesse and was disappointing. The staff vacate the premises over night and for two hours in the afternoon, so there is no one present. There is an emergency number to call should an incident occur. We did have a comfortable, quiet sleep, so that was good. We put all these points to the member of staff when we checked out and she politely listened. She confirmed that the bar does actually close when the last customer has left, but we were customers staying in a pub with rooms and it is reasonable to expect the bar to be open until ay least 10.30 or 11 as an interpretation of ‘late’ on the signage. She said she would be feeding back all our issues to the staff team. We hope these are taken on board, as the issues are simple to remedy.

We had a great meal and the service was excellent. Staff friendly, booked the day before and we had a very enjoyable evening. Varied menu, good fish choices, reasonable prices and good ambience.

Plenty of fish on the menu and specials board. Having ordered haddock and quiche behind 2 groups of 6, unfortunately it was an hour before we saw our food, for which the friendly staff were very apologetic. I probably should have asked for some additional vegetables to accompany my fish. Both meals were hot and flavoursome. Good beer too.

Whilst staying in Snape for the week we have eaten twice at The Golden Key. Great pub with a local feel, whilst obviously being popular judging by the number of people who’d travelled from further afield to eat there . A great range of beers including Adnams and an excellent menu with specials, which changes throughout the week. Would thoroughly recommend eating at the Golden Key . Would also recommend it’s sister pub The Plough and Sail (500 metres down the road at Snape Maltings)…

Good for a few nights. Only a few bedrooms so book ASAP. They have another restaurant about 12 minute walk. Food good at both venues.

Lovely pub for informal dining pre concert at Snape Maltings. Arrived around 6.30 when it was already busy with other concert goers. A helpful member of bar staff enquired if I was going to the concert and advised me to pick one of the cold options as they already had a lot of orders, and my 1st choice would take some time to prepare. Food (very good, plentiful and and tasty crab salad) came quickly. Adnams light ale to accompany was also a treat. Dining areas in and outdoors, and outdoors was lovely on a sunny summer evening. Was a solo diner, but felt no pressure or second class treatment because of this. Very popular pub, so prob a good idea to book unless you're planning to dine very early. One to remember for another time, as I love coming to Snape.

18/7/23-Spur of the moment decision to stop for lunch . Sat outside and enjoyed a fabulous meal. Quality was amazing and service excellent .Staff friendly and even gave our dog a treat. A lovely local pub. Would thoroughly recommend

Called in after a long walk for a bite of supper. Service was great and the food was delicious. Our visit was only slightly spoiled by flies in the restaurant - but appreciate it’s difficult to keep them out.

My wife and I were staying locally and decided to have dinner at this lovely traditional village pub. The welcome, food and beer was excellent so much so we ate here on four consecutive nights. The menu is extremely varied with daily specials that cater for all tastes. Special mention to Ellie and her colleagues who made our visits memorable. A big thank you and we hope to see you all again soon.

Bizarre experience. Ordered the lamb curry. It arrived without any lamb in it ! When I enquired whether this was right, the waitress told me they'd 'forgotten' to put the lamb in! She then brought me a plate of well cooked lamb, which had been nowhere near a curry, and asked me if I wanted her to mix it up with the curry sauce or could I do it myself? Their only saving grace is that they decided not to charge us for it, which is just as well as I would not have paid.

Lovely old traditional Suffolk pub…..but here for an early Father’s Day treat. I had Risotto with crusty cod and prawns. These so called 3or 4 prawns must have been baby shrimps at best. Cod was not the best, it was crunchy and the fish looked...

Lovely little pub. Very friendly staff. Superb menu with plenty of choice. Dog friendly too. We liked it so much we visited a couple of times. Indoor or outdoor seating. Plus a separate restaurant area.

Went in for dinner having walked the sailors' path from Aldeburgh. My friend had smoked haddock and spring onion fishcakes. These were vaguely fishy, no flakes of haddock noticeable and no spring onion . Salad tired and mayo not curried. Therefore a complete disappointment re...

Called in on the off chance (Easter Saturday) not expecting to be able to be seated. They found us a table and we ate and drank. The service from all the staff was great, very friendly and helpful. Food and ale was fab too. Pub...

Poor customer service. I ordered a steak pie. It came swamped in gravy. This was not mentioned on the menu. After the meal, I suggested that gravy would be best served in a jug. We were then ignored after saying we didn't want a dessert....

Really friendly staff. Out on a cycle and in need of a calorie top up, despite the kitchen having just closed they managed to put some food together for me. Felt very welcome and would certainly recommend.

Last minute Saturday evening meal, the service was awesome, the food was amazing. We often frequent this pub, never disappointed.

Visited this pub last night for an evening meal. The food, haddock and chips, was beautifully cooked and service was excellent. Beer was excellent as well.

I visited the pub last night for the first time ever and I have to say I was amazed. The pub its self was very cosy; an aspect admired in a traditional pub. The staff were very inviting, friendly and quick to seat us; the...

A warm welcome and appreciate them keeping the kitchen open us for when we’d arrived a little late after our trip. Great food, friendly service, good selection of drinks and a very comfortable room with lovely décor.

Returned to the Golden Key for a two night stay with our dogs. We opted for the annex again, which gave us accommodation with its own entrance. Once again we enjoyed the experience – the staff being so friendly and helpful. We chose to have...

Friendly staff, good customer service, amazing herb crusted cod. Lovely rustic room with beams. Super clean and tidy! Oh yeah and local reared sausages for breakfast. Super!

We arrived without a reservation at 1.45pm unsure if we would be able to get lunch but we needn’t have worried as we were warmly welcomed and immediately given a table . We were given quite an extensive menu, shown the specials board and informed...

Stayed a night in one of the rooms upstairs and had dinner in the restaurant. Really nice staff, super friendly, and the food was delicious. Best creme brulee my boyfriend has had in his life.

Lovely rustic pub with friendly helpful staff and very good food, looking forward to becoming a regular.

Lovely place to eat whether travelling or local. Kind staff, lots of variety on the menu, brilliant food and great specials

Very good food at reasonable prices. There are also specials to chose from extra to the main menu. It was a quiet evening we went but the staff were very friendly and couldn't do enough for you. Would recommend this to friends.

Have visited here several times in the past few weeks/months. Good beers. Excellent food. Not overpriced. Very friendly staff. But most especially the really outstanding service from Zoe at the bar. She even went to the trouble to tell the chef that my wife could...

Positives, the young man (maybe a manger) who greeted and served us was fantastic. Really friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, both here and the Plough and Sail have one of those case where reading the menu sets an expectation of food standard which is far from...

We had a fantastic stay here. Lovely, spacious room and a very comfortable bathroom too. Food was delicious and the beers were perfect. Breakfast was outstanding and everyone was so nice and helpful. We particularly enjoyed the fact that there was no music piped in....

Quick service, welcoming friendly staff but very average fayre with disappointing desserts. I am surprised it was so busy. My steak and ale pie was barely warm and congealed. My husband opted for the Sausages and mash but complained about the very tough skin. Veg...

A doctor friend was visiting me and we had dinner ( Cajun Caesar salad ) thought it was the best she had had and wished she could get similar in Germany. Thankyou for making her quick pub experience enjoyable

We came into the golden key for dinner and we’re told that the maybe a slight delay as they were busy and they unfortunately had a oven breakdown and where running on a reduced menu however the service was great and everyone was friendly! The...

We had several beautiful meals here last summer. Sadly this was not the case last night, what a shame. Our 7 year old asked if our main courses were starters… The main menu was very basic and uninspiring and there weren’t many specials to chose...

Visited tonight. Food was pretty bad. The bread order was dry, the two vegetarian options we ordered were stodgy and heavy. We ordered a steak and ale pie and when it came it was chicken, the kids pasta was almost inedible. The chips were ok...

We spent one night at this inn and was much satisfied. Warm welcome and nice and friendly staff. The room was perfect all though the sofabed could need a top matress, it was rock hard to sleep on. Brand new bath and coffee and tea...

A lovely few days in a beautiful setting. The staff at the Golden Key were friendly and welcoming, and the food was excellent. Although at times it was busy the staff handled it well and it felt relaxed. The golden key has a real family...

Really nice food, clean and friendly pub. Very welcoming to our small dog, even gave him a cold sausage! Only one small gripe - cold plate for the hot fish! Fish was delicious however, and didn’t last long anyway! It might benefit from some quiet...

The food is good the service is excellent Ellie runs a super operation and works very hard the team follow her lead, very impressed.

Just got back from an overnight stay in Snape at the Golden Keys. Quiet, well situated pub, ample car parking. Great little get away, will be going back! Chilled out location, nice staff, good breakfast and well situated for walks and surrounding towns especially Aldeburgh.

We stayed here for an evening as a stop over and could not have been more pleased with communication, welcome and room size. Moreover, the quality of the food and table service was spot on. The cod (both battered and pan fried) was beautiful and...

Four of us walked here and had lunch last Sunday. The Adnams bitter was absolutely excellent. It had a light hoppy nose that developed further whilst drinking it, was very well flavoured and not particularly strong (we had to walk back!) So we all had...

We rather lucked in here ! It was on our walking route and looked ok so we booked and really were not expecting the excellent dishes we were served especially the fish.Cod with wild garlic and samphire,some fish and chips with a batter that crunched...

A great pub with excellent menu choices. Dog friendly, easy parking. Spoilt for choice with the menu options. Filling and tasty, no room for dessert so can’t review that!

Stopped here during our walk and ordered carrot and ginger soup. Unfortunately the "chef" had added so much ground ginger it was burning hot, rather than giving a mellow warmth to the carrots as you'd expect. Also, the ground spice hadn't been cooked out resulting...

Having stumbled across this little gem while trying to find somewhere to stay for a short Spring break in the Aldeburgh area my partner and I spent 3 wonderful days here. The Staff were very welcoming/friendly indeed and nothing was too much trouble for them...

We spent 4 nights at the Golden Key which is located in a very quiet setting, walking distance from Snape Maltings and within short driving distances from some very picturesque areas. The room was large, clean and comfortable (one piece of feedback - lighting could...

Sunday roast with friends. The food was superb, as usual. Very pleasant staff provided excellent service.

Whilst visiting friends in Snape we ate here today (Sunday) / very friendly and accommodating staff plus the Roast Sirloin of Beef myself and my husband chose was superb - perfectly cooked and as tender as butter and with all the trimmings - wouldn’t hesitate...

Lost our booking, waitress tried to argue we hadn't booked! But did have space & set out a table for us. Later found to be their admin mistake. Not impressed with menu, although the specials board added some nice options. Atmosphere was lacking, although we...

We stayed at the Golden Key for one night following a mix up with our holiday accomodation in Snape. We were told to book into a B and B for the night and would be found alternative accommodation in the morning by the holiday booking...

We stayed for 2 nights with our dogs and had such a relaxing visit. The staff were really friendly and welcoming, taking us up to a quirky but spacious and comfy room. The pub is from the 15th century so some of the ceilings are...

Enjoyed a superb breakfast this morning. I had a generous full English breakfast and my partner chose a scrambled egg with smoked salmon on an English muffin, which was delicious! Thank you!

I dined in the evening with two friends, there were a few tables booked. The pub was warm and cosy with an open fire burning. Food was lovely and served fairly quickly. Staff were great, we had a laugh and a joke. Harry the Manager...

We booked a table at this restaurant for early dinner, 4 days ago, to celebrate the last evening of our short holiday. On arrival, we could see our table was occupied. Checked with woman behind the bar who readily said, without apology, that she'd given...

High hopes here after some good reviews. I ordered the Sunday Roast- Beef Sirloin. Plenty on the plate and the beef was good. Roast potatoes were inedible. Tough, leathery and just awful. It might have been because we were later for lunch, but that is...

Absolutely stunning food, and lovely staff! The smoked haddock was gorgeous as was the burger. My son said it was the best fish and chips he had ever eaten! Thank you 😊

Had a delicious meal of baked Bream. Perfectly cooked. Accompanied by good bottle of Spanish white. Highly recommend. We were made very welcome as was our dog. Cosy local pub.

This was our 1st time away taking our 3 year old black lab with us ! We were so nervous but no need to be , Tara at the golden key 🔑 was so welcoming to us , so nice to have lovely food by...

Wonderful experience at the Golden Key. Staff really friendly and helpful. Food was so delicious and beautifully prepared. Very good value for the high standard of preparation, really impressive would really recommend. Not an issue but our only negative comment would be that for a...

We came for an evening meal whilst on holiday and the pub looked just our place to eat. However the pint of beer my partner had was tainted so needed to be replaced with another beer. There was a long wait for food. The chicken...

Five of us spent the weekend in Snape. We twice visited the Golden Key as the pies were so delicious the first time we had to go back. The staff were friendly and accommodating and the food tasty. A local pub at its best.

Arrived for lunch today. The staff seemed surly and no one was at the bar to take orders, despite the pub being pretty quiet. After waiting for 10 minutes we decided to leave.

I have given this one less mark only because we encountered room issues, beyond the control of the staff, which were handled really well by the manager and staff in every case. Every attempt was made to rectify our concerns as soon as they were...

Stayed at the Golden Key for 2 nights and also had a dinner and 2 breakfasts there. A really authentic and cosy place! Our room was really lovely! Really quirky and homely. The staff were brilliant (especially Harry) and the food was superb. Highly recommend...

A lovely pub. We went here after being let down at The Crown and they managed to fit us in at short notice. Great beer and food, highly recommended.

Alex - I had shoulder of lamb yesterday served with roasted root vegetables and rosemary mash. It was excellent. Also a very warm welcome from the staff.

Stayed overnight very comfortable. Great dinner and breakfast. Very friendly . Character of the old pub has been kept- hope it stays like that. Pleased to have found a great place to stay when we need to escape.

This is quickly becoming a local lunch date for the current Mrs A and I, as a confirmed vegetarian/vegan, she takes some impressing with these options when we visit eateries. However on the three occasions we have visited here, she clears her plate and when...

I don't normally give 5 stars but we literally couldn't fault our stay here. The food, beer, rooms and staff were exceptional. Well done guys!

My partner and I would like to thank Harry and his team for an excellent family lunch at the Golden Key. Our original booking was cancelled at short notice, and the Golden Key was the only pub in our area that could accommodate our party...

Many thanks to the team on Saturday 7 August for stepping in last minute to accommodate a 70th birthday party. Previous booking cancelled due to COVID alert 30 minutes before 18 of us were due to sit down for lunch. Family members were coming from...

We have frequented The Golden Key a few times. Weather today meant a meal inside. Always friendly, always super fast service. Excellent selection of drinks too. Tucked away just off the main road, a hidden gem. The roasts we had today were perfect. Whilst nine...

I would like to thank Harry, Zoe and team for their amazing efforts yesterday. They saved the day when our party of 18 needed a venue and lunch. We'd originally booked with another pub locally that had to closed due to positive Covid test of...

At incredibly short notice, after a very short notice covid cancellation, the Golden Keys agreed to host 17 of us, travelling from all corners of the East so we could all clap eyes on each other to celebrate my brothers 70th. Excellent food, great service...

We were lucky enough to have booked on Tapas night. The food was top quality, delicious. A lovely pint of Adnams' Best Bitter as well.

Had initially booked for dinner but changed to lunch as the weather was pretty miserable , good decision as it looks and feels much more like a good pub lunch venue. We really enjoyed our lunch here which was pub grub at its best ,...

Every time we visit Snape, we go to The Golden Key. Food is very good & the service is friendly. The choices range from smaller snacks to full on fish & chips, sausage & mash or burgers to name a few. There are daily specials...

Very helpful and friendly staff, reasonably quick service and the food is absolutely perfect every time me and my partner come here. Also very accommodating for vegetarian/vegan customers

Ate here last night. Very friendly team and great service. We had the pork, herb crusted cod and the beef burger, all of which were delicious. They were very accommodating with the changes we asked for! The deserts were delicious, with my dad particularly enjoying...

Lovely meet and greet and help with bikes. large airy room (1). Bathroom clearly been refurbed but a few scruffy bits let it down - hole in laminate floor, poly filler around window. Delicious dinner - was nice to have had a table provisionally booked...

During our holiday at a nearby holiday let, we ate here on several occasions. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The people at the bar were friendly and very helpful. Can't wait to be back in Suffolk and will definitely be making...

We visited here for mid day lunch after making reservations to eat inside the pub, (which was empty as the few customers they had sat outside). We arrived a little early & there was a slight delay before our drinks order was taken & there...

We booked for dinner during our week's holiday in the area. We usually stick a bit further up the coast, but glad we ventured down to the Key! The food was delicious, we both really enjoyed our dinner - I had the haddock fishcake (more...

Lovely pub, excellent room with en suite bathroom,both bedroom and bathroom beautiful,lovely decor and well kitted out.Pub service food, and staff top class,lovely easy to find location with parking to rear Great base to discover nearby Snape and Aldeburgh,and ten miles from Southwold .Lovely quality...

We stopped on the Tuesday after May Bank holiday for an evening meal, no booking, despite being full they fit us in, excellent service and food, well recommended.

First week open since lockdown and booked for me, mum and sister to stay. Quirky but immaculate rooms with nothing too much trouble for Harry and the team. Fabulous evening meal and great breakfast. Even the sun managed to shine.

An excellent Sunday roast with the best roast beef we've had for a long time. Friendly staff , good atmosphere. Thanks Harry for local information

Recommended by the pub round the corner that was closed! Four meals ordered just before they closed but was no trouble! Great food and good service, will use again!

Visited today for lunch with friends and my two labs, lovely welcome from the staff. We all had different main courses from the special boards and they were all delicious followed by desserts and coffee,wonderful food and service we will be back thank you