Kesgrave Hall

Hotel review

Less than a minute up the drive through woodlands and Kesgrave Hall comes into view. One of East Anglia's best places to stay Kesgrave Hall is perfectly positioned just outside Ipswich and is popular with both Londoners and locals. The 23 rooms are stylish and contemporary some of which have been recently refurbished. The largest rooms are One and Two which feature roll top baths, large showers and garden views. No time wasting looking for plugs here, there are plenty to go round! The beds are huge, pillows fluffly and bed linen white and crisp, just the way we like it. Dogs are welcome in the courtyard rooms.

The Gate House opened in August 2023 - the three rooms can be taken over exclusively (which starts at £1000 per night for 6 people) - the Master Suite includes a sitting room and modern, fully-fitted kitchen. Or, you can book a room separately.

As you would expect as part of the Milsoms Hotel Group the food is fresh and full of flavour with daily specials and the restaurant has undergone a stunning transformation with wooden tables and banquettes, giving it a fresh, modern feel. It's worth noting that bookings aren't taken in the bar or restaurant; orders are written down on a pad which the staff then come and take from the table, a method which is a little bit like marmite. Weekends are busy and the restaurant is open all day, lunch on the terrace on a sunny summer's day is the perfect way to while away the day and if accompanied by children they can play on the expanse of lawn.

Once a private school and previously an American Air force base during the Second World War, Kesgrave Hall features a large furnished hanger, complete with dance floor, seating area and lighting, the perfect spot for a wedding, party or celebration. New for 2023 is a new concert quality sound system together with a 5m x 3m LED screen, enhanced light show and laser packages are now available too.

New for 2022 is the Kesgrave Spa, already Suffolk's best destinaton spa. Camouflaged within the woodlands as you enter the estate the Elemis Spa is a stunning modern building made from wood and glass. Cleverly designed to incorporate inside and outside living it has an interior space with woodburner during the winter months which unzips to become an outdoor terrace in the summer months. The large open-air hot tub is open all year round and the spacious sauna has windows across the lawn to the main house. If you're not staying the night make the most of the spa and book in a half day spa day which includes facial or massage, use of the sauna and hot tub and lunch in the hotel restaurant. Need a short break that packs a punch but doesn't cost the earth? Look no further than Kesgrave Hall.

Lulu Townsend Review published: 2024-10-21