Only booked three days or thereabouts before departure, so a ‘rushed’ reservation, but a two night break at the Wentworth Hotel is certainly not ‘radical’ as we have stayed there many times before. It was however disconcerting to note that our last visit was around two years ago. Far too long a gap before a return visit to our favourite Aldeburgh abode.
This particular last minute deal was their customary (for this time of year) dinner, B&B package and on this occasion we were in room 5. Many might argue a little cramped but it was fine for our needs, with a lovely bathroom with walk-in shower and I don’t think I’m in error to suggest we both slept well on both nights. It was also of import to note that the meals (breakfast and dinner) were of the same excellent standard as previous visits. Those pesky three courses at dinner are nonetheless proving troublesome for our ageing stomachs sadly. Whatever happened to those heady days of ample appetites! Even then, after only two nights of considered restraint, outrageously we both came back weightier than when we went.
As for the rest of the stay, it was very much business as usual. Walked the Aldeburgh high street, where we happened upon an art exhibition on the Thursday morning. BallroomArts is a dramatic and relatively new project space for the arts and events in a town known for its many cultural connections. Currently, it was showing ‘Art For Art’s Saké‘, described as a 10 week revolving, evolving art exhibition. I saw much that in another life that I could have happily accommodated 🖼️🖌️. We also went to the afternoon matinee at Aldeburgh Cinema, which is now a bit of a tradition. On this occasion, it was the Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain“. The film stars Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin as mismatched cousins who reunite for a heritage tour through Poland in honour of their late grandmother, but their old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. Variously described as a “masterpiece” and “A Delightful, Funny and Beautiful Odyssey“, it was certainly both heartfelt and funny and as writer/director/star Jesse Eisenberg proved himself brilliantly adept at all three.
As is often the case, we managed to make a couple of purchases whilst on our wanders and again commented on how soon we relaxed into the combination of Wentworth charm and Aldeburgh’s seaside ambience. It was a tad chilly however and when the London centric hordes descend the town tends to lose a great deal of its underlying charm. It’s certainly worth the colder weather to visit out of season. We won’t leave it so long next time!!