I stayed at one of the best hotels in the UK – here is what it was like

IT’S remarkable what a sea view can do for your spirits first thing in the morning.

Peeling back the curtains in my room at the Crown and Castle hotel in the Suffolk village of Orford, I felt calm and relaxed, ready to take on the day ahead.

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The excellent night’s sleep I’d had probably helped as well.

It’s not just me who has been impressed by the hotel recently either.

This little gem of a restaurant with rooms picked up the East of England Small Hotel of the Year Gold Tourism Award for 2022-23.

That is due in part to £200,000 worth of refurbishment, which has seen seven of the hotel’s rooms re-styled in recognition of well-known local landmarks.

The newly decorated rooms each feature bold accent colours and decorations that reflect the area’s heritage.

We stayed in the deluxe sea view or “Lighthouse” room, revamped in red and white to mimic Orford’s lighthouse which, before its demolition in 2020, would have been visible through the room’s vast bay window.

There are plenty of touches reminding visitors of the monument, including a small lighthouse lamp that sits on a table between two armchairs in front of the window.

Meanwhile, the king bed had a mattress that was the perfect mix of firm yet squashy.

Great to sink into following a day exploring the local surroundings.

And there’s much more to see out and about than first meets the eye.

Orford is the personification of quaintness, with its toy-town cottages and village pubs cute enough to adorn the front of any postcard.

None, however, are more twee than the pastel-pink Pump Street bakery, whose chocolates and eccles cakes alone are worth a visit to the village.

You’ll find the bakery’s delicacies in the lovely picnic hamper the Crown and Castle offer guests who want to head off exploring.

From £45 per couple, head chef Jake Lawrence has put together a basket of goodies including bread, smoked salmon and prawns, pressed ham, homemade sausage rolls, pickles and fruit plus a delicious Eton Mess in a jar for dessert.

The hotel is just a short walk from the harbour, where you can jump aboard cruisers that offer trips to discover the Rivers Alde, Ore and Deben.

Head downriver from Orford on a one-hour tour to discover the RSPB reserve at Havergate Island where you’ll be able to spot all sorts of birds and possibly even glimpse harbour seals.

Perfect pick-me-up

On the seaward side of the river, Orford Ness, a 10-mile long strip of land mainly made of shingle, offers a chance to explore the area’s role in our nation’s military history with a plethora of buildings built during the Cold War.

There’s also plenty to do in the surrounding towns and villages.

Ryan Gray

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We opted to take the short drive to Sutton Hoo, the site of a famous Anglo-Saxon ship burial that archaeologists uncovered in 1938, now run by the National Trust.

A trip to the museum and a tour of the site would make a great day out for families, or anyone interested in learning about the area’s rich history.

Our day’s explorations were followed up by a meal at the Crown and Castle, which promises “unpretentious” food.

Chef Jake delivered on his pledge, with a menu comprising of Suffolk produce, including Orford-caught seafood and locally reared meats.

The Pump Street bakery’s bread is also served to guests before meals.

Classics such as fish and chips and beef, pork and chicken are on offer for roasts on Sunday, although the wild mushroom, garlic and truffle linguine was the standout of the dishes we tried.

Desserts were equally as exciting, in particular the chocolate fondant with pistachio and honeycomb.

The Crown and Castle proved the perfect pick-me-up for those looking to celebrate the start of spring in style with cosy, comforting food, lovely rooms and of course, those fabulous sea views.

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Ryan Gray