Best Western Ipswich Hotel

The room itself was nice, if a little cold, and at least there was somewhere to hang towels to dry. The bathroom could use some maintenance. We’d hoped to have dinner on New Year’s Eve, but the instructions didn’t line up: the check-in bill said dinner ran from 6 to 8, while the 8pm order to reception didn’t work. It would have been nice to eat something good at this otherwise pleasant hotel. The pool and fitness area were closed that evening too, which was frustrating. We also weren’t expecting online check-in. The machine rejected our surname and every number we tried, until a woman from the bar helped us and did it for £1.

I stayed here during lockdown, when they weren’t serving food or really having much to do with visitors. After walking for eight hours to raise money for Colchester Zoo, I was completely exhausted, so the bath and bed were just what I needed. I had to get food delivered so I’d have something to eat. I left at 11am the next day to walk back to Colchester as planned, and raised £480, though it was brutal! The hotel was okay from what I remember, a bit dated and without any sparkle, but it did the job for one night. Maybe my view is a little harsh given the circumstances.

The staff were superb and a real credit to the company. It’s a generally pleasant hotel in a good spot, easy to get to, though it could use a little care and attention. An exit sign would help too.

There’s a gym, though I missed breakfast, so I can’t say what it’s like. My room was fine, with a good bath, but the shower was underpowered. There’s no air conditioning or fridge, but they did provide a fan, and there’s plenty of parking. It’s an older hotel in a rather isolated spot, so I could hear the floor above creak and noise from the hallway. I was okay with it, though some people in our group didn’t like the place.