A scanned, framed historic photograph of the front of The Peacock Inn, Chelsworth — its half-timbered 14th-century façade as it has stood for generations

Since the 14th century

Our Story

A 14th-century Suffolk inn with soul — six centuries of timber, fire and good company on the north shore of the River Brett.

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The Peacock Inn

Six centuries on the north shore of the River Brett.

A Grade II listed inn in one of England's prettiest villages

The timber-framed front of The Peacock Inn today, hung with flower baskets, in the village of Chelsworth — The inn on The Street

The Inn

One of the oldest buildings in the village.

The Peacock Inn is a beautiful 14th-century half-timbered, Grade II listed hostelry. According to analysis of its wood carvings, it is one of the oldest buildings in the picturesque village of Chelsworth — a place that has changed remarkably little in the six hundred years since.

The earliest record of the pub indicates that it was launched by George Gage, the village grocer and beer-house keeper. The inn takes its name from Mary Peacock, who married George Gage in the mid-18th century — a name it has carried ever since.

For most of its life the building did double duty. The front eastern half was the village shop, serving Chelsworth right up until 1977, while the other half poured the beer. Stand inside today and the two stories are still woven together: low beams, worn timber and a fireplace that has warmed travellers for centuries.

See the inn in pictures

Black-and-white photograph of hands at work in the kitchen at The Peacock Inn

The village

"I have a perfect village of my own finding, which I pride myself is quite unknown. It is Chelsworth… It lies completely hidden in a little valley. I can't tell you why I think it is perfect. Perhaps it is because Chelsworth has been left to itself."

Julian Tennyson — great-grandson of Queen Victoria's Poet Laureate

Little has changed since he wrote it. Medieval timber-framed cottages line a quiet, reedy stream; an ancient humpback bridge — built in 1754 — still arches over the River Brett, with water meadows and great old trees beyond. The whole village is a conservation area, and often called one of the prettiest in England.

The Kitchen

Cooked by Sam Clover, rooted in Suffolk.

The inn may be old, but the kitchen is firmly of the moment. Head Chef Sam Clover and his team cook to the season and the day's catch — building menus from the best local, sustainable produce the county has to offer.

Nearby farms, day-boat fish and free-range meat and game arrive at the door; dedicated vegetarian and vegan menus sit alongside the à la carte. The cooking is careful and generous rather than showy — which is exactly why Michelin awarded it a Bib Gourmand, with two AA Rosettes alongside.

Explore the menus

A plate of delicate petit fours — dark chocolate macaron, white chocolate lemon, yuzu pastille and pâte de fruits — at The Peacock Inn — From the kitchen

03 · The Team

The people behind the Peacock.

A kitchen led with curiosity, and a front of house that makes everyone feel at home.

A chef's hands finishing a plated dish in the kitchen at The Peacock Inn

Head Chef

Sam Clover

Food has always been a central part of Sam Clover's life. Inspired by his mother's cooking and his stepfather, who was a chef, Sam began working in kitchens at just fourteen.

After studying at catering college in Colchester, he went on to cook in a number of restaurants — among them the renowned Pied à Terre in Fitzrovia — learning from experienced chefs such as Herbert Berger.

Sam's cooking combines traditional technique with creativity, with a particular interest in fermentation and bold, flavourful food. At The Peacock his menus celebrate elevated pub classics alongside a popular tasting menu, with a firm focus on seasonal ingredients, local suppliers and good value.

It is an approach that helped earn the inn its Michelin Bib Gourmand. Looking ahead, Sam hopes to grow more produce on site — and to keep the dining here memorable while staying true to fresh, local, seasonal cooking.

A cocktail being strained at the bar at The Peacock Inn

General Manager

Jack Butler

Jack Butler, our General Manager, makes sure every guest feels welcome and looked after from the moment they step through the door. (Just mind your head — as a 14th-century timber-framed inn, our ceilings come with a little history.)

With a natural flair for hospitality and a warm, approachable style, Jack helps create the relaxed yet lively atmosphere that keeps guests coming back.

More recently he has been working towards his sommelier accreditations, sharing what he learns with the team and continuing to raise the bar for the service The Peacock is known for.

A warm, beamed corner of The Peacock Inn with relaxed country furnishings — a quiet base for exploring Suffolk — A quiet base in Suffolk

The Village & Beyond

A modern countryside escape.

Chelsworth sits in the gentle Brett valley, deep in the heart of rural Suffolk — the kind of place you come to slow down. Riverside walks and water meadows begin at the door; borrow our house bikes and the lanes open out into miles of quiet countryside.

Beyond the village lie some of the loveliest corners of the county. Lavenham, England's finest medieval wool town, is a short drive away, as is the timber-framed hamlet of Kersey with its famous ford. Constable country, Sutton Hoo and the Suffolk coast are all within easy reach.

It makes the perfect weekend: dinner by the fire, a quiet room upstairs, a cooked breakfast, and a day spent wandering the prettiest stretch of Suffolk.

Stay the night

Come and stay

Stay a while on the Brett.

Dinner, bed & breakfast from the à la carte, a freshly cooked breakfast, and the use of our house bikes to explore the valley.

Come and stay Book a table