The Place
A converted country mansion with a long history, having been a boarding school and a wartime RAF base, Kesgrave Hall’s impressive white exterior stands in 38 acres of grounds on the outskirts of Ipswich, and looks out on to a vast lawn.
Its 23 rooms, split between the main house and outbuildings, are clean and contemporary, with top bathrooms (the best rooms come with free-standing bathtubs) and pleasant views across the grounds.
The restaurant is open all day and leads on locally sourced meat and seafood. It’s a relaxed place, with a no-bookings policy, an open kitchen and an unusual method of ordering: guests write down their choices on a notepad and pass it to a waiter. This won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it’s a novel idea that makes you feel under less pressure to order quickly.
Kesgrave Hall is also ideal for private functions, having three event rooms for birthdays, meetings and corporate away days, as well as The Hangar, a separate building for weddings and large parties. A luxury spa opened at the end of March 2020.