Ipswich Star's pub of the week: Isaacs on the Quay

Situated along the Ipswich Waterfront, Isaacs on the Quay is a stunning venue, with great food and fantastic beer at a reasonable price. 

This was my partner and I's first trip to Isaacs together, and we decided to head to the pub on a Friday evening for a drink and a spot to eat. 

The upstairs balcony portion of Isaacs was starting to fill up at about 6pm (Image: Oli Picton) On tap is a selection of classic beers and local brews (Image: Oli Picton) Having heading in the central entrance, we got a little bit lost with the multiple staircases, courtyards and different bars tucked away in every nook and cranny in the former warehouse. 

The building itself is of course stunning, with some parts of the property dating back to the 15th century, which have been given a fresh lease of life as a pub. 

We found our way to one of the upstairs bars, with my partner choosing a bottled fruit cider and myself choosing a hazy IPA brewed behind Isaacs at Briarbank Brewing Company. 

Ipswich Star reporter Oli Picton enjoying the scenery and beverages on offer (Image: Oli Picton) I was pretty happy with the price of £11 for both drinks, having expected the appeal of a riverside pub to inflate the prices, but this is actually below average for most of the town centre. 

We made camp at an upstairs table on the balcony overlooking the Waterfront, so it is probably time to talk about the view. 

The Ipswich Waterfront is my favourite part of town. When the sun is shining and the boats are swaying, there is no place I would rather be in Ipswich.

The views from Isaacs (Image: Oli Picton) My partner was incredibly impressed by the whole venue and I must say I was as well, pitching up with a refreshing pint in the sun, with the river behind me with food on the way. I have had worse Fridays!

Speaking of food, we decided on the small plates deal - three dishes for £21 and some fries on the side, the chorizo scotch egg, salmon bruschetta and calamari. 

The food was delicious, especially the bruschetta, and very reasonably priced at £25 for everything meant that we were full and satisfied and our wallets refreshingly unviolated. 

While the small plates were on the smaller side, they were delicious (Image: Oli Picton)

The atmosphere on a Friday evening with the sun overhead was nothing short of fantastic, with friends, colleagues, couples and families sharing in the good vibes.

Ipswich has felt great recently, with the town feeling incredibly positive as new businesses have opened and a host of events in the town have brought the town to life. 

The courtyard of Isaacs was lively (Image: Oli Picton)

A Friday night at Isaacs embodied that brilliantly, with everyone having a smile on their face and enjoying the evening. 

I also include in that the staff, who were lovely and attentive despite a very busy pub requiring their attention. 

Overall, Isaacs is a fantastic pub, with great beer, delicious food with one visit showing you exactly why it is such a popular venue.