There has been a hostelry on the site of the Crown and Castle in Orford, for eight centuries. The Crown and Castle itself dates back to the C16th but, thanks to an act of architectural vandalism in 1896, you’d be hard-pressed to know that now. The story goes that the original inn was built into the walls of Orford castle, of which only the handsome Norman keep now remains standing. Sitting on our terrace (where you can have a drink on a hot summer’s day), it makes a wonderful sight, particularly when back-lit by the setting sun.
The HOTEL
The Crown and Castle has 18 light, stylish bedrooms all with modern en-suite bathrooms. Although extremely quietly positioned, it is not a country house hotel in the hackneyed, ruched-curtain, prohibitively expensive sense. Neither is it efficient but soulless, in the way modern, city-centre hotels can be.
Ruth and David Watson have set out to create a new concept in hospitality, offering a genial atmosphere, good food and well-designed, simple bedrooms at modest cost. The Watsons are well known restaurateurs and hoteliers in Suffolk, having previously owned Hintlesham Hall and the famous Fox and Goose Inn at Fressingfield.
Divided between the garden (11 rooms) and the main hotel, all the bedrooms have been completely refurbished and are airy and bright, with Fired Earth and Paint Library paints; Osborne & Little curtains or blinds, top quality beds, and Conran-cum-Ikea furniture. The garden rooms have undergone an external refurbishment and the internal décor is modern, good-looking and casually styled.They also have the added virtue of a semi-private terrace with a great view of the castle. Bathrooms throughout the hotel have been completely modernised and have both baths and power showers - with the exception of our two standard rooms, which have baths only.
FOOD
Good food is a core ingredient of the Crown and Castle. Part of the reason is that co-proprietor, Ruth Watson, is an award-winning food writer and a long-time contributor to Sainsbury’s Magazine and BBC Good Food. She has also written three best-selling books, The Really Helpful Cookbook, Fat Girl Slim and Something for the Weekend.
No wonder, then, that so much time and energy are devoted to sourcing wonderful local produce, and creating menus which offer interesting but not stupidly elaborate food. In the summer, you may find simple dishes such as dressed Cromer crab salad; Orford lobster with garlic butter; Snape asparagus with hollandaise sauce; or locally grown loganberries with Jersey cream, on the menu. In winter, it may be Suffolk pheasant with lentil ragout and wilted greens; slow-roast Gloucester Old Spot pork belly with mussels and shellfish broth; or hot bitter chocolate mousse.
Our restaurant, the Trinity, has a relaxed but lively ambience. Most importantly, it neither looks nor feels like a typical hotel restaurant. With 2 AA rosettes, a Michelin bib gourmand, and good write-ups in all the major guides, guests often cite the food as a major reason for staying with us. Our wine list has also won many plaudits in the guides, not least for the reasonable pricing structure.
10 good reasons for staying at the Crown and Castle
1 We actually like customers, which might account for the cheerful, friendly service and relaxed atmosphere
2 Our informal, lively Trinity bistro (AA 2 rosettes, Good Food Guide-rated and Michlein bib gourmand) where you can eat good, honest food, using lots of local produce such as Suffolk asparagus and Orford-caught lobster and crab, in season, as well as Lane Farm pork, Bob of Barsham's eggs, High House Farm fruits, Helena's bread, Church Farm yoghurt, etc.
3 The dinner, bed and breakfast rate is not based on a table d’hôte menu, but is a free choice of 2 or 3 courses (depending on the package) from our normal a la carte
4 It's little more than the cost of dinner in London for two people to have dinner AND stay overnight AND have a good breakfast
5 Our wine list is well-chosen, interesting and fairly priced. We also have some great sherries (and tapas), local cider and beers
6 The bedrooms are airy and light with a clean, stylish look and the bathrooms are modern with good plumbing.
7 We welcome (but not too many at any one time) well-behaved dogs and children in designated rooms
8 Orford is on the rivers Alde and Ore, complete with sailing boats, quay, lighthouse, shingle spit and island, and ...
9 ... it's part of the Suffolk Heritage Coast with its woods, nature reserves and unspoiled beaches
10....you'll have to visit our website to see this one!
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
"relaxed, friendly and making the very best of the abundant local produce, the Crown and Castle is the kind of mythical English hotel that everyone says doesn’t exist. Well, here it is"
Daily Telegraph
"the restaurant is sensational, this was one of the best meals we’ve had this year" Time Out
"the concept of the Trinity is exactly what you hope to come across when eating out in the English countryside and hardly ever do – cooked breakfasts so fabulous I was almost moved to tears – everything was well excecuted and pleasingly presented, and, as elsewhere in the hotel, served by very friendly but impressively professional staff." Evening Standard
For more local information, please see:
Orford Town Guide
Attractions in Orford Guide
Eating Out in Orford Guide
Woodbridge Town Guide
Attractions in Woodbridge Guide
Eating Out in Woodbridge Guide
Shopping in Woodbridge Guide
