The Alex

The Alex is a bar/restaurant at Undercliff Road, Felixstowe. Built recently it offers a new experience, for it is not a conventional English 'pub', but has something of a continental flavour. On two floors there is a well-appointed restaurant on the first floor, with access by life or staircase. One side of the restaurant is fully-glazed allowing an uniterrupted view of the sea, looking out towards Holland and Belgium, which are barely 40 miles away.

The ground floor is a bar, with heavy wooden tables and a covered terrace that leads to the pavement. In the evening this terrace is heated with overhead heaters, allowing the sea air to be enjoyed, while sipping a drink.

The charm of The Alex comes from its flexibility and open environment. Anyone can use the place, and everyone does. A woman can sit alone, without fear of disturbance, and all day long the changing scene contains people of all ages.

The menu, most of which is served on both floors, is varied and very well-prepared. There is good variety, have a snack with a drink - perhaps just a few nuts and olives (both delicious and good portions), or scrambled egg on toast, fish and chips, tagliatelle or whatever takes your fancy. They serve food all day long, and are content to provide a coffee and biscuit or several courses for a dozen people.

This is now the most popular bar (pub) in Felixstowe. What is difficult to understand is why other pubs cannot see how to make their own premises successful. Felixstowe is a young town, and does not have any traditional pubs, all have been built in the last 100 years or so, so they can be adapted, but somehow the publicans don't seem to get their acts together.

Only one criticism can really be levelled at The Alex. It still allows smoking, albeit not at the bar or the raised seating area in the lower bar, nor in the restaurant. Having gone this far why don't they ban it everywhere?

Great place, that seems to be maintaining its standards. May they last for ever.