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The Great House - Lavenham

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Stunning Suffolk restaurant-with-rooms

There aren’t many people who wouldn’t be impressed with what The Great House in Lavenham has to offer – it’s one of the prettiest hotels, in one of the prettiest towns, with one of the best restaurants in the UK. Restaurant and hotel critics alike have raved about this place, and it’s no wonder. French owners, Regis and Martine Crepy, have made this restaurant-with-rooms the perfect place for a romantic getaway.

The Great House restaurant has become a local legend, with proper French dishes and proper French cooking making it stand out from the crowd – even the photos on their website will make your mouth water. And with great lunch and dinner set menus, eating here won’t ruin the romantic atmosphere by taking your wallet hostage.

Upstairs, five beautiful bedrooms, with original beams and stunning antique furniture (the French are just so good at this kind of stuff!), are the perfect place to round off a candlelit evening. Most have a separate sitting area, and all have a sumptuous bathroom. And if the comfy décor doesn’t warm your cockles, a decanter of sherry in each room should help.

Where is it?

Lavenham is one of Suffolk’s most romantic locations. Like the town that time forgot, its crooked streets are lined with the finest collection of timber-framed houses in England, sitting alongside pretty pink, thatched cottages an impressive, 16th century guildhall - in all, some 300 buildings are listed. Of course, it’s now the domain of curiosity shops, antiques emporiums, cute little inns and the odd period-drama film crew, but Lavenham manages to side-step the issue of chintz with skill. It’s all a bit wonky, but very, very pretty.

The area surrounding Lavenham is typically Suffolk. A patchwork of fields, country lanes and small villages, it’s a great area for a bracing walk. The historic market town of Bury St Edmunds is a short drive away and is definitely worth a look-in, if only to visit the uber-cute The Nutshell (Tel: 01284 764867) – Britain’s smallest pub. At less than 5m by 2m big, there’s only room for about 6 people at the bar! And on the subject of ale, Bury is a bit of a beer-lover’s treat as the Greene King brewery (www.greeneking.co.uk Tel: 01284 714297) is famously situated, Willy Wonka-like, in the centre of town. Their visitor centre is the place to taste the stuff. Otherwise, Bury’s stunning cathedral, picturesque medieval ruins, lovely Georgian architecture and regular, bustling markets, are more than enough to make it a fascinating place to visit.

Or you could visit beautiful Ickworth House (www.nationaltrust.org.uk Tel: 01284 735270), an amazing Italianate palace 13 miles from Lavenham, with its huge (and a bit eccentric) rotunda stuck in the middle. There are paintings by Titian, Velazquez and Gainsborough, immaculate State apartments to ogle at, a vineyard, jaw-dropping gardens, designed in part by Capability Brown and 1800 acres of parkland. All in all, it’s pretty amazing and spot-on for a summer picnic.

Five miles from Lavenham is the very pretty village of Long Melford, 12 miles from Bury St Edmunds and just 50 from London, is the perfect place for an idyllic weekend escape. With its historical connections - the village played a big part in The Peasants Revolt, then became increasingly rich through its cloth and weaving exports - it’s unsurprising that the place is full of amazing buildings. From the half-timbered Bull Inn to Austen-esque Georgian facades and the two... yes, two huge stately homes in the village. Elizabethan Melford Hall (www.nationaltrust.org.uk Tel: 01787 376395) is open to the public from March to October, and is a fascinating place to wander around. Not only are there rooms furnished in styles from pretty much every century since Elizabeth I stayed there in 1578, but it’s also home to the original Jemima Puddle Duck (Beatrix Potter was a regular guest at the Hall). Edwardian-style gardens and 52 acres of parkland are great for picnics.

Independently-owned Kentwell (www.kentwell.co.uk Tel: 01787 310207) is a Tudor Hall that feels much more lived-in (because it is), and a bit more exciting as a result. From the castle made of Yew trees, to the camera obscura in the garden gazebo and Terry Gilliam’s original Baron Munchausen’s Galleon in the pond, the owners have really gone to town in making Kentwell a magical place. Film makers have also seen the appeal, using the house in films as diverse as the cult Witchfinder General in the late 60s and as Toad Hall in Terry Jones’ Wind in the Willows. Actors are also the order of the day in Kentwell’s year-round programme of re-enactments, including a brilliant World War II-era fete on Spring Bank Holiday, complete with Home Guard parade. Check the website for details of this year’s events.

Long Melford's idyllic spot in the heart of the Stour Valley means that the it's also a great base for some brisk weekend walks. A lovely 7-miler takes you through ancient woodland, across rolling pasture and past some lovely villages and Kentwell Hall. Log on to www.walkinginsuffolk.co.uk for a downloadable map and directions.

Where can I eat?

The Great House, of course. Not only is the food amazing, but there's nothing better than enjoying a great meal and a bottle (or two) of vino, all within stumbling distance of your bed.

Otherwise, the Angel Hotel in Lavenham (www.theangelhotel-lavenham.co.uk Tel: 01787 247388) is a local favourite. Great British dishes, with a twist of sophistication, are served in the restaurant, or in the bar for a more informal evening meal. Sunday lunches are cracking, and there are beautiful gardens to sit in when the weather is kind.

The Black Lion (www.blacklionhotel.net Tel: 01787 312356) in Long Melford is a cosy, foodie haven views out across the hotel's Victorian walled garden. Award-winning menus use the best in local and seasonal ingredients, with puddings to die for and a lovingly-chosen wine list to match. It’s one of the most popular places to eat in the county, and with the amazing Brit-led dishes and that location, it’s easy to see why.

For something a bit different, Scutchers (www.scutchers.com Tel: 01787 310200), also in Long Melford, owned and run by husband and wife team Nick and Diane Barrett, serves colourful and vibrant up-scale bistro food with influences from all over the world. Classic dishes are given the Scutchers ‘treatment’ - maybe a Mediterrean tweak there or a hint of Japan there - with mouthwatering results.

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There aren’t many people who wouldn’t be impressed with what The Great House in Lavenham has to offer – it’s one of the prettiest hotels, in one of the prettiest towns, with one of the best restaurants in the UK.