Eight great places in Suffolk to take mum on Mother’s Day 2018.

Mother’s Day is a little earlier in 2018, with Mothering Sunday falling on Sunday, March 11.

It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate that special lady in your life and let her know you’re thinking of her.

If you haven’t booked anything yet, why not try one of these much-loved Suffolk options?

The Mill Bar and Grill

This spacious restaurant has garnered a solid reputation for inventive, tasty dishes and has become very popular on Sundays.

On Mother’s Day a set menu has been planned at £19.95 for two courses or £24.95 for three.

Start with smooth chicken liver parfait with toast and house chutney, mini arancini risotto balls, soup of the day or goats’ cheese and red onion cheesecake.

This is followed by your choice of roast chicken, beef, pork or nut roast, served with crispy thyme and garlic roasties, seasonal veg, a giant Yorkshire pudding and cauliflower cheese, with a fish and vegetarian alternative available.

Puds stick to the classics with the options of textures of chocolate, a duo of lemon, cheese or apple tart.

The Moon and Mushroom, Swilland

A really welcoming traditional pub, with a plethora of original features and a genuinely cosy, warm feel.

There’ll be a special Mother’s Day roast on March 11, with three courses priced at £18.95 per person.

All food is home cooked and made using good quality local ingredients.

If your mum is a beer lover, she’ll be right at home as the award-winning pub offers a wide range of real ales from East Anglian breweries, stored and served from the tap room.

Fynn Valley Golf Club, Witnesham

The large, bright dining room of the Valley Restaurant & Terrace is all set to put a smile on mum’s face this Mother’s day. A set lunch has been planned, priced at £19.95 per person or £10 for children under 12.

Why not treat her to a round of golf beforehand?

The Orwell Hotel, Felixstowe

This grand hotel has been undergoing a series of renovations to its public rooms that will really put it on the map this year.

Why not treat mum to the Mother’s Day menu in the traditionally decorated Westerfield Suite? It’s £23 for two courses or £28 for three. Or opt for afternoon tea which, at £16.95, includes bubbles on arrival.

Suffolk Food Hall, Wherstead

Take mum on a walk in the Area of Outstanding Beauty surrounding Suffolk Food Hall before sitting down to a specially designed menu, priced at £21.50 for two courses or £26.50 for three.

Starters include ham hock terrine with piccalilli and sourdough, and chicory and endive salad with Binham Blue cheese, toasted walnuts and sherry vinaigrette.

In the middle there’s roast pork or beef with all the trimmings, a wild mushroom tart, or fillet of gilt head bream with crushed potato, spinach and roasted fennel.

Finish up with warm chocolate brownies with praline ice cream, rhubarb fool with whipped cream and shortbread, a Suffolk cheeseboard or sticky toffee pudding.

The Black Tiles, Martlesham

Mums dining here on Mother’s Day will be treated to a free glass of bubbles to celebrate their special day.

All food is carefully cooked from scratch by the food-loving chefs, who offer separate dairy and gluten-free menus, so everyone, no matter their dietary requirements, has plenty of choice.

While the menu for the day hasn’t been decided yet, recent dishes have included deep-fried brie with cranberry and orange sauce, roast beef, pork, chicken or lamb served with real gravy and traditional accompaniments, Jaffa cake with chocolate sauce, and a black forest ice cream sandwich.

Orwell River Cruises, Ipswich

The Orwell Lady regularly cruises from Ipswich along Suffolk’s river Orwell, past Pin Mill and down to the UK’s largest container port at Felixstowe, as well as the historic Port of Harwich. For an alternative Mother’s Day gift, why not pre-book an English afternoon tea aboard Orwell Lady during the summer?

Step aboard for a famously generous spread of sandwiches, cakes and scones, all homemade, served with tea and coffee. Cruises are either two and a half or three and a half hours long, beginning at 2pm on Thursdays.

The Turks Head, Hasketon

On Mother’s Day, this very popular Suffolk pub is offering four sittings for families - 12noon, 2.30pm, 5pm and 7.30pm.

The delicious Sunday roast menu will be set at £19 for two courses or £24 for three, including a special of beef Wellington for a £5 supplement.

Food at The Turks Head is always made with fresh, seasonal, local ingredients, with some very very interesting options.

Recently customers have enjoyed Indian style roast Simper’s rock eel with toasted focaccia, Gressingham duck salad with grilled spring onion and five spice dressing, and brioche bread and butter pudding with stem ginger ice cream.

There will be homemade truffles for all mums and grandmothers on Mothering Sunday.