Two short breaks, either side of Denise’s birthday. Both very local, hence the title. Am also aware that I’ve been more than a little remiss on the updating front, although this entry is reasonably timely. The first of the breaks was a fortnight ago and the second was Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. As for the Covid ‘breakout’ holidays of late last year, a little judicious editing will ensure they are chronologically sequenced correctly when they are finally written up. đŸ™‚
The pre birthday break found us at the Wentworth Hotel in Aldeburgh, a place we have stayed at before but so long ago it was prior to this blog finding life on the interweb. Pleased to report that it was as lovely as we remembered and although we could only get an ‘inland’ double on this occasion, we both found it delightful. There was a time when I would have said that the hotel was a little pricey but I’m way beyond that now and the BB&D rate was very fine value for money, especially as it was gratifying to find that the standard of food (breakfast and dinner) was excellent. A very relaxing week, and we included a two hour morning walk and a matinĂ©e cinema trip to see Branagh’s ‘Belfast‘, which we both enjoyed. Our third visit then, but certainly not our last.
We followed the Wentworth with a long promised foray to the Ickworth hotel, which is the East Wing of the National Trust property we know as Ickworth House and Gardens, an Italianate Palace in the heart of Suffolk (not far from Bury St. Edmunds but officially in the village of Horringer). Obviously, as National Trust members we have been to the house and tried out the country walks many times before, but this was our first time in the hotel. It certainly has that relaxed country house vibe and, again, the double room was spacious with a lovely en-suite bathroom. Sorry to sound horrendously repetitious, but we again thoroughly enjoyed the break. We managed to fit in one of the countryside trails, Mrs. No Name had a birthday back massage in the hotel spa and we also squeezed in a game of table tennis and table football in the games room in the basement.
There were a couple of niggles – there seemed to be a shortage of experienced staff and the loss (temporary??) of Frederick’s restaurant was a disappointment, although the dinner setting (the conservatory) and the food was satisfactory, although not Wentworth standard. Absolutely nothing that would prevent us returning. We did both wonder whether, although it was far from empty, it would present the same experience if it was packed with kids (it showcases as a family hotel). We have the luxury of choice, so if and when we return, we will simply avoid the holidays and half-terms.
I won’t mention the purchase of a particular item of clothing, the return of said clothing the next day and then the return of second item of clothing in Bury St. Edmunds where we finally got the correct size, followed by two lovely cups of coffee with complimentary cookies in a very fine hotel in Newmarket. So, I won’t mention that then, but it did give us an intriguing idea for our next break!!