The Sail Loft in Waveney

I’d seen good things about this place so I took my family there for a birthday dinner, and it definitely wasn’t what we were expecting. While my fish and chips tasted great, the server (who I believed to be called Tim or Tom) was incredibly rude to both me and my son. I asked for a server to take a drinks order, just to be met with a rude “not now, I’m busy”. The same gentleman also ignored my son when he asked for the deserts menu, he asked again and the gentlemen answered “just give me a minute”. I’m willing to assume we met him on a bad day, but this ruined the entire experience for me and equally for my family. The food all around was amazing, just a shame it was let down but such poor service. Susan

Perfect for our party of 8 (4 couples). We had a one vegetarian and a GF in our party so wanted to find a place that did plenty of options. Great menu here and a good variety of choice for everyone. Fantastic service and really good food. Would definitely recommend and look forward to going back.

The Sailloft was lovely and the food was delicious and the room was beautiful with stunning view towards Blythburgh and the staff were why friendly and went above and beyond after a mixup with our beds in our room. The service with the room was excellent and the room always smelled nice when we returned after we had been out.

Food was on point and staff were attentive and friendly. I showed up 30 mins before food service began and they were happy to accommodate me for an early lunch. New menu just arrived. I had the Rossi burger from the specials menu. Delicious food with quick service

Our good fortune tried to book the Crown to meet up with friends but they did not have room, found the Sail Loft on line. Comfortable room very friendly staff & in my opinion, having eaten at both, far better food than the Crown. Highly recommend only downside was the weather which of course they had no control over unfortunately.

We came here for lunch, we had booked and were first in at 12pm. lovely restaurant, and the food was very good. We had burgers (noted as their speciality) and these were both enormous and delicious! the truffle mac and cheese was also amazing. The kids food was also really good, with pasta and sausages freshly cooked and great quality. Service was less smiley at times, but very quick. We would recommend this place to anyone, although it is maybe better suited to a younger audience (not sure the grandparents would like it) Only one gripe is the number of spiders in the ladies loos... i'm not a fan and I know they are everywhere at the moment but it makes a difference.

Went for a pre-theatre supper and had moules mariner which was absolutely delicious with large moule and really perfectly cooked chips – some of the best moule that I have had in Europe. The staff could not have been more pleasant and helpful. I highly recommend.

We went for dinner tonight. The seafood Charing platter is so delicious. Beautiful food. Great value. Staff were knowledgeable and attentive. New server Evie was a delight.

Friendly and welcoming staff. Great menu choices including an extensive specials board. Something for everyone including those with special dietary requirements. Enjoyed our meal very much, staff were attentive yet we weren’t rushed

Evening Meal with my partner, we was disappointed to be moved from booked table in main restaurant to an empty cafe looking area although beautiful sunset views. Very disappointing starters green peppers with no dressings and stodgy pakoras, Thai red curry was very nice, main course steak and chips was good. Staff didn’t know about the food and seemed nervous and edgy.

We stayed here for two nights while on a mini break in the area. The room was spacious, comfortable and well equipped. We received a warm, friendly reception and service throughout was polite and efficient. The restaurant is more casual than fine dining, with wooden tables and chairs giving a rustic feel. The food was well cooked and presented and was very tasty. However, beware, the portions are large and we ordered too much food!! Breakfast choice was a bit limited and came from a menu rather than a buffet-style, but it was delicious and the portions were generous. We would not hesitate to recommend The Sail Loft to others and would consider staying here again ourselves.

Stopped here for a coffee & desert. Staff were very friendly and welcoming and the deserts were delicious. They are dog friendly too, which is a bonus. Would visit again!

Delicious fish and chips! We were staying at the campsite just a short walk away, it was perfect. Able to call and order ahead to collect, staff were friendly and helpful. Would recommend!

Lovely walk down the lane here from Southwold - it’s a nice venue and food is from a wide ranging menu. Good service. Potted smoked mackerel starter and chicken escalopes v good. Lamb shawarma tasty but it was Mexican spiced not Middle Eastern. Would recommend, esp if you have folks with big appetites.

Very convenient location for dog walkers. Baked crab claws were delicious - super fresh. Service good and reasonable price.

Booked and paid for our stay in October. Had a reminder email about our stay last week. Turned up today but place is locked up. No notification about being shut, they have our money and we have no room

Booked it months ago and was very much looking forward to going with my wife. I wanted to surprise her with a romantic gateaway at the end of autumn: the sea, fish and chips, hand-in-hand walks on the sea shore. But they cancelled on me with no explanation a week before going. That’s a shame.

We booked lunch here on the last day of our stay, Good food, decent beer and helpful service catering for all our group's mixed tastes.

Absolute life-saver as the Sail Loft put us up at short notice when the weather made our camping holiday impossible. We were greeted and looked after by a really friendly team. The restaurant staff served us really good pub food and the room was clean, comfortable and cosy. The kind lady who cleans the rooms even snuck our 5 year old some extra biscuits to keep her spirits up in the wind and rain. Smart, trendy restaurant, everything you need in the room and totally unpretentious to boot.

One of the best burgers I have had in a long while. I had the burger with king prawns , prawns were not overcooked as I usually find when part of a meal. Service quick Staff polite

Food was okay, service was awful. The waitresses were too busy talking to their friends at the bar. We were about the third table that got tired of waiting and just paid at the bar and left. Really disappointed as previous reviews sounded so good. I guess the manager was out of town tonight.

Wednesday 4th October 2023. Booked a table for two using their online booking service. Received a confirmation email. Decided to walk to the Restaurant; a 15 minute walk. Arrived to find the whole place closed. They hadn’t the customer respect to update their booking system.

The location is great on a stroll around Southwold but the coffee is soooo strong! Needed extra hot water.

Disappointing- stick to the basics We were really look forward to our meal, the online booking service had indicated it was full but a phone call put us through to a very helpful manager who slotted us in. We went for the “special” board, - they were far from being remotely special. The lobster on a pad Thai salad was so salty it was impossible to eat. The pad Thai salad was dominated by too much fish sauce in the dressing. When I expressed this the waitress said “ oh , no worries then” I was left slightly dumbfounded. Turbot , with linguine with rocket and Parmesan was far from expectations. Basically turbot and linguine in a sort of cheese soup. Bizarre, and we thought, fairly inedible. To be fair money was taken off the bill, but no apologies or follow up by manager. We won’t be returning.

Fantastic find, will definitely re-visit. I had the lobster bisque risotto, hubby had the Korean Squealer burger, didn't want the food to end as it was so good. They were pretty busy, but we only waited about 10-15 minutes for our food. The bonus - incredibly dog friendly, even when your dog is a knob!

All 3 courses we had looked & tasted amazing. Prices were reasonable and service was wonderful. I found the staff to be professional, hardworking and accommodating. Dogs were welcome and toilets were clean. Would recommend a visit and probably worth booking first as inside was busy. Would go again.

Forgot to leave a review. Have resided in Southwold for many years. Would thoroughly recommend avoiding this place. Service isn’t a priority and food is below average and over-priced. Some of the worst staff I’ve experienced in the UK.

We called first and was told we didn’t need to book to sit outside. We drove 45 minutes, arrived at 8.30pm for dinner. On arrival “the kitchen closed at 8pm”. The website and printed menu says 9pm. “It’s a mistake”. No apology. Grudgingly persuaded the kitchen to make us dinner. “But decide quickly”. On departure we spoke to Dan (Front of House), and said he made us feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. No apology. Argued that he’d done us a big favour to serve us at all. Never been treated so badly and disrespectfully by a restaurant in 40 years. Extremely upsetting experience.

Love the food and views over the marshes BUT PLEASE CAN YOU SIMPLY CLEAN UP THE PLACE - OUTSIDE EATING AREA; LOOS; INSIDE, EVEN. HAVE A DAY WITH BRUSHES, AN HOOVER AND GIVE IT A GOOD GOING OVER. Also, rather than have staff standing around not doing a lot, persuade them that doing ‘simple’ housekeeping things like clear tables, wash glasses, so there is not a ‘mountain’ of them on the bar, would go a long way to making customers feeling they are going into a classy place, rather a fast food joint. Our preferred place to eat, but it’s getting a bit tedious sitting and eating amongst the detritus.

Loved this place - they managed to get us in (4 adults, one baby in pram and one dog!) at about 10 minutes notice and I could hear them the other end of the phone trying to figure out a way to fit us in, they were really accommodating. Nice atmosphere and it was busy for a Thursday early evening. Starters looked tasty but we saved ourselves for dessert! We all had burgers - 2 had the Krabby Patty burger from the specials board (wagyu burgers with tempura soft shell crab - heavenly). One Truffle Pig burger and one Hog Roast burger - again both went down very well. The hog roast burger has 4 slices of pork in! All burgers served with a LOT of chips and coleslaw, all very tasty. 10/10. Dessert was 2x apple crumble which is served with marshmallows caramelised with a blow torch, I’m told both will now refuse to eat crumble without marshmallows. I had the sticky toffee banoffee pudding which I’m pretty sure was the best sticky toffee I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a lot). Last dessert was the banoffee sundae which was chosen as the sticky toffee sounded too big but it was still a really good size. Service was great and I’m sad we don’t live closer (here on holiday!) as it definitely would have become a regular.

Booked after reading reviews, lived up to expectations ,great for vegetarians,large portions of tasty food, highly recommend.

The food was absolutely delicious and the service was good at times. The issue was the environment. Everything felt, including the staff sad to say, grubby. The place needs a deep clean and the staff need to attend to their personal hygiene. All the staff...

The food was not good. We were four adults who all had different main courses and agreed it was average at very best. The place was also ‘grubby’ with dirt, cutlery and food on the floor. To be fair to the staff they were very...

Service OK, (lack of cutlery and asking if we wanted more drinks) not very attentive but some staff polite (had four different members of staff) Steak was shockingly poor at £32, macaroni cheese watery, Bernaise congealed and cold at £2.50!! Chips dry! Children enjoyed their...

Excellent burgers. The staff were friendly and service was quick. We liked the relaxed ambiance and atmosphere.

Booked a table, arrived a few minutes early they had made a mistake and booked 2 instead of three, I was accused of booking the wrong number, made to feel very awkward whilst they had to rearrange.. Nice young lad serving but all rather slow...

We have been going to the Sail Loft once a year since it opened while camping with friends. It continues to improve - the staff are very pleasant and hardworking. The menu was even more varied this year and they helpfully warn of large portions....

Came here for an early dinner as a party of 5 adults and 2 children during our holiday in Southwold. Good, service and setting were great. Kids meals tasty and plentiful, adults meals including starters and mains were excellent. Worth mentioning were the mussels, seafood...

The restaurant has a nice vibe and the meals were ok, bar one. Tbh as soon as we saw such an extensive menu (huge) we were concerned. How can you serve so many meals well. The answer is - you can't. Starters came very quickly,...

Ate at the sail loft a couple of times during a weeks stay in Southwold. Great choice of food. Over the course of 2 evenings my husband, daughter and I ate our way through Sri Lanka chicken curry (my favourite meal- Hubble wishes he’d ordered...

The weather was awful! The Sail Loft was a haven. Fantastic views across the marshes,(when the rain stopped). The bedroom was very comfortable and well appointed. The food was excellent and very tasty. We were only there for two nights but managed to ignore the...

This review is in respect of accommodation and dining. I booked the superior suite (room 5) as a surprise for my partner’s Birthday. The roll top bath feature was the main draw, as she has a thing about tubs in bedrooms. I was a little...

We've had eaten here 2 days in a row. Outstanding food and all for around £20. Even on the second visit it was much busier, we didn't have to wait very long. I highly recommend the Fish Laksa when available, perfectly cooked fish and mussels...

We had a fantastic meal at this dog-friendly restaurant in the dunes at Southwold beach. I started with the potted mackerel pate which came with toast and a sweet chutney. It was delicious. My husband had grilled goats cheese on roasted vegetable coucous with a...

Called in for breakfast after checking out of our accommodation at the end of our Southwold holiday. The Sail Loft has a lovely atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food as well as serving great coffee. We were spoiled for choice as there were so many...

My partner and I called in for a bite to eat after our walk from Walberswick, we were absolutely delighted with the service and Calamari. Oh my goodness its the Best Calamari we've had in many,many years, Compliments to the chef indeed. We saw other...

Used to come here for family meal when visiting Southwold but disappointed with value for money. All had burgers which were not as good as they used to be and more expensive.

Dropped by for lunch last sunday whilst walking past. What a lovely find. The menu was absolutely great, traditional and contemporary. We had a Hog roast meal and a seafood platter which were both plentiful, delicious and well presented. The seafood was so good and...

I pick romp steak ask veg £25 and extra for veg . My god disappointed rip off took a bite of broccoli and it was off the chips came in a bowl and the tomato s was off never again the hygiene was terrible .a...

What a treat this casual restaurant is! We had walked there from Southwold - a 15 minute walk along the coast path, and had a wonderful dinner, the best fish and chips we had had in years! The fish was well cooked and piping hot...

On the good side: large portions and decent service. I enjoyed my starter - the mackerel pate. Some of my friends ordered the steak which was pretty well cooked, although the Roquefort butter which accompanied it was rather a disaster. My lobster bisque risotto was...

Around 15 of us came here for dinner to celebrate one of the group, finishing her final exam at university. Everything about the food, service, and ambience was spot-on and we all had a very enjoyable evening. However, the one slight irritant came at the...

tremendous meal, excellent value, staff most welcoming, we will visit again when we are next in Southwold

Oh wow! 7 of us plus a dog, brilliant service, wagu burgers,meaty and filled to the brim with toppings, Malaysian laska sea bass to die for, fish and chips rated as top 3 I’ve had and wings tasty and sticky as they should be. A...

1st June 2023. My family and I had an extremely disappointing evening here tonight having had it recommended by various people around Southwold. I'm always suspicious when restaurants tout 'Wagyu' beef and especially burgers as it seems just a way of charging double but I...

A great place to eat and also to stay - had two nights with a friend, room plus breakfast and dinner both days. We had booked a twin but when we arrived the room was set up as a double - the staff changed it...

Very family friendly and catered well for my autistic son - his favourite restaurant. 😃 Also swapped cheese for vegan cheese as I am diary intolerant. We will be back - our third visit this time.

In the words of the late Tina Turner the fish’n’chips were “Simply the best”. Great place to dine, good food selection, friendly staff and will return.

Lovely setting, lovely staff serving us as we sat outside. Menu very good & the food was not disappointing BUT during my mean the Lamb Schwarma I chomped on a lamb splinter bone about an inch long - fair enough it’s lamb & the bone...

Very Welcoming staff, great food, good service, in a nice location and dog friendly! I'd definitely recommend the Sail Loft!

Excellent in every way! Great staff, fantastic food and service. Could not fault a single thing and will go back at every opportunity. A jewel in Southwold. We’ll done and thank you

Excellent food, excellent service! My wife and I together with our two closest friends thought we’d give this place a try as it was near the campsite we were staying on. We asked for a high table as my wife has a back problem and...

Good for a couple of vegan dishes but… We ate here for dinner on a Saturday night. A couple of vegan options which are few and far between in Southwold so we were happy. The vegan ramen was delicious as was the cauliflower starter. We...

We were a group of 10 people. Booking was easy on the website. Had a table in the back room which was ideal. Service was excellent. Chose to eat here as it had been recommended by a friend and the menu online looked great -...

We were delighted that our dog was welcomed into this spacious restaurant and looking around at the generous portions others were being served we could see we'd not go hungry The started of wings we ordered was wonderfully seasoned and would have been considered a...

We stayed in a room overlooking the sand flats with a small terrace which is nice. View is not so good as you can see a massive piece of engineering relating to the restaurant. Our room was on a slant and dated. windows needed a...

We booked for an evening meal as the website and sample menus looked promising. We arrived at what was a very tired, grubby version of the nice bright restaurant we’d seen on the website. We waited patiently at the bar for a previous diner to...

We made a point of visiting as the website painted such an enticing picture of the location and food. Whilst it was okay, it was fairly mediocre - sells high, delivers low. We wouldn't go back

Easy to find and a nice walk from the main area of Southwold. The food was good, and the staff friendly. It just needs a really good clean throughout, including window ledges etc. And a general makeover ready for the new season. I bet it...

We have eaten here in previous years whilst on holiday and always enjoyed the food and ambiance of the place. Unfortunately this visit was poor. Place looked dirty, plastic glasses and £16 for a mediocre burger no fries, no sides and service chaotic.

Booked for Sunday lunch . Unlike some reviews the restaurant was warm and welcoming . Very efficient and friendly waiting staff . We had the roast which was sirloin of beef and was delicious . Looking forward to returning on our next visit to Southwold...

Called in without a reservation and were accommodated easily, although it was off season. I imagine in the summer the place will be heaving. Lovely food and great service. Dog friendly, too.

Went for Mother’s Day Sunday lunch. Wonderful meal. My daughter and I had the roast beef, hubby had the lamb. Could not fault it, lovely veg, gravy amazing, plenty of meat and potatoes. Would recommend and definitely visit again.

Nothing special. Food ok but limited menu. We hadn’t booked but asked if there was a table for two, the staff had to consult a book to check. We were in luck. However, within about 30-45 minutes it was nearly empty so the book gazing...

We came in for lunch on the 8th March. Service was really good and food very tasty. The Sail Loft is also very dog friendly. Very good vegan and vegetarian options too. Overall a lovely lunch.

Booked for a Sunday lunch and had heard the food was good! Totally disappointing, cold inside and service was dreadful waited ages to be served for drinks then even longer for our food order to be taken. Our waitress was doing you a favour and...

Visited as a party of 4. No greeting as we arrived not even a hello. Had to ask about our booking. Left at the table for sometime before staff came over and asked for drinks order. When we ordered food it was £16 for a...

Very few meals for vegetarians . Loads of burgers , steaks, why not a bean chili or a veggie curry ? Very little on the specials board.

Menu has a few choices but we went for the fish platter which we were told wasn't available only when we went to order not as we sat down. Not advised of any specials. Staff weren't friendly the waiter really looked like it was an...

Like other reviewers a bit of a mixed bag. The burgers were very good and quite a lot of different offerings on the menu. Service was a little on the slower side but it was a busy evening. Not going to lie felt a little...

Excellent food and very friendly staff, unfortunately the room was a bit of a disappointment. If the view was outstanding on one side, the other window of the room was nothing great! ( Kitchen roof and vents). Also the bath by the bed was very...

We spent 2 nights at the Sail loft for a birthday weekend break. Our room was clean bright and comfortable with excellent views. The food was delicious, I particular liked the variety on the breakfast menu. Service was swift and friendly and yet not over...

Dropped in for lunch after a long walk to find the meal deal 2 course for £10.00 available Wed to Friday lunch time. Super choice and good service was astounding the quality of the food an value and will be back to try the full...

Dinner for 6 people. All from a la caste menu, read the description for lobster and prawn risotto stating it only had butter and Parmesan added. Took only one mouthful and tasted chille which was not stated. Called the manager who checked with kitchen and...

Last visited a year ago and loved it. This time it was disappointing, mainly because of the veggie main, plus the restaurant was really cold (radiators were off). On the good side - the spicy cauliflower wings were incredibly spicy and superb! For my main,...

Had a number of meals at Sail Loft that have all been good. Particularly like the sea food platter which is a reason we go there. So disappointed not available. It was cold so had to put coats on. Womens toilets out of order. Also...

5 star lunch…. Lots of choices…. Portions very generous…. By the beach…… Friendly staff….. Good priced beer…. ☀️☀️.. Thank you.

Excellent accommodation and facilities, very friendly staff. Lovely breakfast as well. Spacious room and bathroom.

Booked a table for six people to celebrate our daughter’s birthday. Very relaxed, family friendly atmosphere with a good selection on the menu to suit all requirements, plus good choices of beers, lager and wines. Food was very good (large portions!!) and the service excellent...

Sad to say that the sail loft really has gone down hill! The experience was truly dreadful, with the manager on shift (perhaps called Kane?!) having no service skills at all. Food was good, burgers really good and the only reason we left a tip...

I’d love to tell you how great this place is . We walked into an empty room to ask for drinks only to be told we couldn’t be served due to “ an imminent rush of customers due any minute “ Basil fawlty has obviously...

My daughter and her partner visited The Sail Loft for a late lunch/early dinner. They are young but both mature and old enough to go out and enjoy a restaurant. On arrival the staff barely acknowledged them, did not show them to a table, and...

Nice venue in ideal position for walkers, dog friendly. Very enjoyable burgers Pity the staff were all miserable, not a smile between them.

I really liked this place. Nicely done and friendly feeling. Very polite staff and great food with one exception. The chilli on the vegan burger and cauliflower chunks was stratopheric! Much too hot and without any sweetness. Next time I will ask for the chilli...

Dining with 2 friends tonight. First we were charged £14 for a Vegan burger (no chips or side salad) with a salsa that blew our head off! Not sure how any person can call this edible. My other friend ordered a Char Grilled Chicken Salad...

i went to the sail loft on wednesday 5th Oct approx 5pm. I had not been for over a year due to poor service. I visit Southwold every 3 weeks-so I thought lets see if things have improved . I ordered a clam linguine, tasted...

Not good. Room was perfect and clean. Breakfast was OK. Cleanliness of the restaurant was not good. Staff not very friendly

Been here a couple of years ago for evening meal which was good but thought we'd try the two courses for £10 offer for lunch. We opted for a mains and a pudding. Nice selection of choices. Husband had bean burger and I had fish...

Went for lunch. Tried out the new 2 courses for £10, menu was.....interesting. No atmosphere in the bar at all. Tables in a terrible state, they were being sprayed and wiped BUT the varnish was sticky and peeling off, no chance of elbows on tables...

A lovely venue located just outside Southwold. Nicely renovated with a nice ambience….not too noisy and family friendly. The walls are decorated with various, extensive menus (with occasional spelling mistakes) So…..looks good, feels good and the menu (we went in the evening) held much promise....