Crown and Castle

Room 4 was warm, spacious and nicely decorated, with double glazing and radiators that worked well. There was no socket beside the bed, so charging a phone on the bedside table wasn't possible, but there were plenty of thoughtful touches: lots of tea and coffee for the Nespresso-style machine and kettle, bathroom shelves, a non-slip bath mat, mirrors everywhere, a huge floor fan in the cupboard, and wonderfully big, fluffy white towels. The old pub itself has plenty of character, with crooked beams and creaky floors. I even spotted a 2-amp three-pin socket, remember those? We enjoyed our one-night stay. The staff were lovely and helpful, and dinner was excellent. We hadn't booked, but were lucky to get a table because the place was full. We both had Chicken Schnitzel. Breakfast is included with the room, and the Full English is enormous. The car park was full when we arrived at 6 pm, though there was unrestricted street parking about 200 metres away.

We won't be returning. A week before Christmas, we booked lunch at The Crown because it was the only place with availability, paying £150 each. At the side entrance, a loose rubber door strip was lying across the floor and was awkward to step over. We pointed out that it was dangerous, but nobody seemed concerned. The food was a letdown: the beef Wellington was mostly mushroom filling, with very tough beef, and my monkfish was cold, dry, rubbery and overcooked. We ate what we could without raising it during the meal because we didn't want to spoil the day. When the organiser later asked how it was, we answered honestly. She looked angry and upset, said other diners had enjoyed the same dishes, then walked away in a huff, as if we'd done something wrong. After that, the rest of the staff's attitude changed too. Now we understand how a table was still available at such short notice.

The room felt below what I'd expect for £155. It was spacious, but dated, with walls and woodwork needing fresh paint, no sockets by the bed, a worn-looking plastic shower curtain, a tired carpet that wasn't quite spotless, a tiny TV and curtains that had lost their shape. The bathroom was clean, though it could use an update. The hotel's public rooms downstairs were atmospheric and relaxed, and the fresh, tasty food was a plus. Staff were friendly and accommodating, check-in was easy, and the traditional courtyard made a good first impression. It's in the town centre and parking was easy. The building and public areas are lovely; I was just surprised by the room standard. A light refresh would have made me much happier.

Biscuit the hotel dog won me over, and the reception team were very sweet. The location and the hotel's atmosphere are hard to beat, and as a woman travelling alone I never felt unsafe. My room had carpet, which wouldn't be my first choice, though it suited the cosy English countryside feel. The bed was a little too soft for me, but I still slept well. The shower was amazing; coming from Amsterdam, that water pressure was the best I'd had in years. The rooms are what you'd expect from a three-star hotel: good, not perfect, which is what you'd chosen. I was there alone over Valentine's weekend and couldn't get a restaurant table, or even a corner. In a small village that felt really shitty. I'm from Amsterdam, so I'm spoiled when it comes to restaurants and bars, but the hotel should try to make sure guests can get something to eat when they ask. Just a bit of advice, with love. On ordinary weekends, amazing, and DOG FRIENDLY! Hard to hate that unless you're heartless. I will come back, just not around a holiday, when the restaurant service, and the bars and restaurants in Framlingham generally, couldn't handle the busy days. I tried, and went to bed hungry.