The Wheelhouse

Website: http://www.thewheelhouseatnaughton.co.uk Address: Whatfield Road Naughton, Suffolk IP7 7BS  Telephone: (01449) 740496

Opening Hours Monday 17:00 to 21:00 Tuesday 17:00 to 20:00 Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 17:00 to 23:00 Saturday 18:00 to 23:00 Sunday 12:00 to 22:30

The Wheelhouse at Naughton, just a few miles from Ipswich and Needham Market is an exceptionally dog friendly pub.  The long low building was once a working wheelwright, and has the particular rural charm of a working building, with steps and floors smoothed by the passage of many visitors.  Nancy, the landlady, has been in residence for over a decade and her care and attention for the pub is evident throughout.  Immaculately kept and tastefully refurbished with plain and appropriate period detail, the pub features two main bars and a long side room, with additional and generous spaces for playing pool and darts.   To the rear of the pub is a large, well-kept garden with beautiful views across the fields. Nancy actively welcomes well-behaved dogs and keeps house with her own Border terrier, Ash.  So fond is she of our canine friends that Nancy runs an impromptu book lending service, where all donations are given over to Support-dogs.org.uk a charity training disability assistance dogs including seizure alert dogs and medical assistance dogs and Hearing-dogs.org.uk the British charity that trains and places canines with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing at no cost. Whilst we were there we also met up with Ollie, a black Highland terrier, and his owner and it was really nice for the dogs to be able to mingle without censure as we chatted away.  Sharing conversation and great ale is at the heart of Nancy’s management of the Wheelhouse, and her efforts have earned the pub a reputation for well-kept beer and for bringing in an exceptional range of guest beers.  The pub remains a traditional heart of the community, though Nancy herself admits it’s been tough to adapt to recent economic times.  In response to the pub’s somewhat isolated location, the pub currently does not offer meals and opens in the evenings only on weekdays and Saturdays, and all day on Sunday.  Despite this a visit to the Wheelhouse should be on every dog walker’s agenda. The pub offers ample parking and is a great place to start and end a country walk.  The surrounding countryside is peppered with plentiful footpaths and ancient woodland, and Nancy and regulars alike can offer directions to lots good walks in the area.  Whether taking an amble on a sunny day or warming up by the stove in less clement weather the Wheelhouse offers a peaceful, friendly focal point from which to enjoy more of the beautiful Suffolk landscape around us.  We loved the Wheelhouse, and wish Nancy every success for the future.

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