The Westleton Crown, Suffolk

Overview

Midway between the Suffolk staples of Aldeburgh and Southwold, this rambling old coaching inn proves popular for its excellent food and elegant, contemporary rooms. It was given a stylish makeover by the Chestnut Group in 2020.

The hub of the charming village of Westleton, the brick building extends from the welcoming traditional bar to the light and airy Garden Room. Think log fires, eclectic furniture, stripped boards and a real sense of rural chic. Huge glass doors in the Garden Room peel back in summer to reveal the fabulous landscaped terraced patio garden, replete with teak tables and chairs and colourful flower borders

The Crown boasts a serene village setting close to the reed-fringed marshes and cliffs of Suffolk's Heritage Coastline - making it the perfect place from which to explore the local countryside. With the ornithological delights of the RSPB's flagship Minsmere reserve just two miles away, there's plenty to keep the whole family busy. This is a great choice for dog-lovers too - pooches will love the walks across Dunwich Heath and are welcome throughout the inn.

Rooms from

34 doubles/twins: £135

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Disabled access
Alfresco & private dining
Parking available
Dogs welcome overnight

Dog-friendly
Four-legged friends are welcome in the bar, lounge areas and a number of rooms, where you'll find blankets, treats and bowls.

Scenic and serene
Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Westleton Crown is set in a sleepy village - perfect for those seeking some R&R.

Outdoor adventures
Walkers will love the long hikes across Dunwich Heath or beach and the Suffolk lanes are perfect for exploring by bike.

Rooms

Losing none of their soul or age-old charm, the luxurious yet simply elegant bedrooms, like the rest of this seductively relaxing building, exude all the sophistication and comforts of contemporary living.

The feel is simple, light, neutral and stylish, with a clever blend of the modern design and the original period charm of each different part of this property. Rooms above the old inn feature low eaves, steep wide staircases, beams and sloping floors. All have White Company toiletries, Fired Earth bathrooms and Egyptian cotton linen on sprung mattresses, as well as fresh coffee, milk and homemade biscuits.

The bigger 'King Rooms' have extra touches including larger TVs, four poster or nickel-framed Rochester beds, seating areas, and huge freestanding baths in the bedrooms. Two-storey family rooms feature built-in bunk beds.

Restaurant & bar

Whether dressing up for dinner in the swish Garden Room restaurant or in walking kit straight from the beach for a light bite in the bar, the single menu covers it all.

Expect simple treats like salt beef and horseradish sandwiches and hearty ale battered fish and hand-cut chips with mushy peas and tartare sauce, to the likes of pan-fried bream, saffron and chorizo risotto, picked fennel, and spiced rice pudding, poached raspberries and hazelnut. With an eye for presentation and flavours, cooking is definitely style and substance, using fresh, seasonal produce from some super local producers to great effect, including Blythburgh pork and local estate game,

Don't miss the afternoon teas and the excellent Sunday roast lunches - booking advised. Beer drinkers will be pleased cracking Adnams ales (Southwold Bitter) among the handpumps on the bar. Alternatively, there's a good list of well-chosen wines (19 by the glass).

Things to do

Whether you are an experienced birdwatcher or simply eager to get close to nature, build in some time to visit RSPB Minsmere, a nature reserve on the Suffolk Coast with plenty of accessible wildlife. Owned and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, is a 2.500 acre site of wetland, woodland and coast that's home to some of the UK's rarest and most beautiful wildlife

The charming Suffolk seaside town of Southwold is well worth a visit, best known for its beach huts, historic pier and iconic lighthouse. A horse-drawn dray is still used through the streets and there is always a faint whiff of malt from the Adnam's Brewery mixed in with the sea-salty air.