Lavenham Great House Hotel & Restaurant

Room 3 was stunning, more like a suite than a bedroom. The huge bed was so comfortable, and the historic beams looked lovely with the contemporary decor and sumptuous furnishings. There was plenty provided: toiletries, slippers and robes in the bathroom, plus tea, coffee, biscuits, bottled water and wine in the comfortable lounge area. They’d even thought of a hair dryer and iron. Lucy and Onur made us feel very welcome. Breakfast was lovely, and they catered perfectly for the dietary requirements we’d mentioned before arriving. We had a wonderful stay and are already looking forward to coming back.

The hotel’s concept is lovely, and the city is beautiful, but the rooms were run down and the mattresses especially uncomfortable. Hygiene could have been better, and some equipment wasn’t accessible. Comfort overall was only average, and the photos gave us the wrong impression. On top of that, the manager’s casual attitude and the poor service continued despite our repeated requests. We were a couple and won’t stay here again. We ended up changing hotels to find the comfort we wanted.

The owner made us feel so welcome, and the evening dinner and breakfast are both well worth having. Our room was spacious and beautiful, with every amenity we could need and lovely attention to detail. We’ll definitely return. Thanks for such a memorable stay!

The biggest letdown was how the birthday plans were handled. I emailed a week ahead to book the restaurant for my partner’s birthday and to ask about the Rolls-Royce experience, which the website describes as complimentary. I had to chase for a reply. When they finally got back to me, they asked where to pick us up and said they’d tell me the price, which didn’t match the offer. The day before our visit, they replied again to my original email, apologising for the late response and saying the table was booked for lunch, but the Rolls-Royce wasn’t possible because of staff sickness. The house itself is beautiful, and we had a lovely time in the Red Room. It was cosy, nicely decorated, and had everything we needed. The food was okay, though nothing special for the price, especially since it’s essentially pub food. I wouldn’t recommend the breakfast yoghurt and granola either, as the granola tasted old. At lunch, I brought candles and asked the manager if the kitchen could put one on my partner’s dessert, and they did, though they kept all my candles. I would have appreciated a small birthday gesture, like a piece of cake or something for my partner. There wasn’t even a happy birthday or any acknowledgement. Those little touches matter to the guest experience, and it all felt lacking in warmth.