The Deben Inns story began in 1992 whilst the Lomas family was running the The Wilford Bridge at Melton. The next step came when the business acquired the lease of The Maybush Inn, Waldringfield, in October of 1997. Seen by many as the flagship of Deben Inns, the success of the Maybush lead to a further acquisition in 2001, in the form of the Butt & Oyster at Pin Mill. Four years later, The Fox Inn at Newbourne came on board and The Coach & Horses at Melton was procured in early 2011. Most recently, in the summer of 2013, the Swan at Westerfield has joined the group as the business continues to grow.

All of the properties have been subject to substantial investment upon acquisition. The facilities have been modernised, allowing for a more pleasant working environment and a better customer experience, and the decor has been crafted to reflect the history and individuality of each of the Inns. From the cosy, cottage like feel of the fox – where horseshoes adorn a grand open fireplace – to the Maybush – bedecked with navigational wallpaper and a strong maritime theme – each Inn has a unique charm.

Our ethos at Deben Inns is to run each pub with the emphasis very much focused on providing great food, with friendly service, at good value. In addition to this, beautiful and peaceful surroundings will only enhance the experience of visiting a Deben Inn.

We believe it’s very important to keep the individuality of each pub intact. Each team of chefs are encouraged to incorporate their own ideas and style of cooking, under no constraints and this means when visiting each of our Inns, there is always a variety of choices, prepared in an original style.

Making the most of local produce and ingredients keeps our food fresh and ensures quality. We use fish that’s caught off the Suffolk coast and our meats come from local butchers and farmers. Strawberries picked in Newbourne go from plant to plate in a matter of hours. We believe all of this makes a big difference to our food and continue to use locally sourced products where possible.

Real ales and fine wines are chosen to complement our settings and menus. Guest ales are a feature of ours Inns and each pub has a different range to choose from. These are mainly sourced from Adnams of Southwold and with each sip, you can almost smell the fresh sea air. In addition to the ales, we have a varied selection of wines originating from New Zealand, Chile, Australia, Italy and France, and our range is sure to appeal to the palette.

All of the pubs welcome families and dogs, cater for the disabled and have ample parking on site. We also offer a range of coffees and teas, even hot chocolates for the children.