Hotel Review
Location:
Aldeburgh is a seaside town in Suffolk, south east England situated between the county town of Ipswich and Norwich just across the border in Norfolk. The town has good road links being just off the A12 and for guests arriving by train, the nearest station is Saxmundham 7 miles away.
Arrival and check-in:
The Brudenell Hotel is located on the seafront and has a car park to one side of the building. We entered the hotel by its rear door which leads directly up to the reception. As we stepped inside we were immediately impressed with the seaside decor and ocean coloured paintwork.
The receptionist on duty was very efficient and after enquiring if we had travelled far she had us checked in speedily. We took one of the two lifts up to our room admiring the nautical themed wallpaper adorning the walls as we passed.
The Room:
We were booked into one of the hotel’s Superior Deluxe Seaview rooms on the first floor which had its own large entrance hall with doors to the bedroom and bathroom leading from it.
The room was gorgeous with a huge bay window looking out to sea, so close in fact that we could hear the relaxing sounds of the waves crashing onto the beach as we were so close to the shore.
The extremely comfortable twin beds were topped with cushions to match the large padded headboard. Bathrobes and slippers had been laid out and the hospitality tray came equipped with both a kettle and an espresso maker with a vast selection of luxury teas, coffee and biscuits.
A large settee and two armchairs faced the window enabling us to sit back and enjoy the view. The settee could be converted into a sofa-bed making it ideal for those travelling with children.
Other features included a large wall mounted Netflix enabled television, a circular coffee table complete with glossy magazines and a fridge containing complimentary water. The large wardrobe was illuminated when opened which is always a bonus as otherwise it’s sometimes hard to find things in dark corners.
The bathroom continued the seaside theme with its tiling in shades of blues and greens and came with both a bath and a separate shower. A full range of fragrant Temple Spa toiletries were waiting to pamper ourselves with and the wonderfully thick bath towels were almost as big as me.
On returning to our room late evening we were pleasantly surprised to discover that a turn down service had taken place with the cushions neatly tucked into the bedside cabinets and better still, our welcome tray had been re-stocked with more biscuits just in time for our bedtime cups of tea.
Dining:
Dinner is served in the hotel’s Seafood and Grill restaurant which continues the seaside feel with light blue upholstered seats and deeper blue painted walls. Large windows look out to sea with a large terrace outside for al-fresco dining during the summer months.
Holly introduced herself as our server and handed us our menus. These featured the best of local produce and naturally the freshest fish possible delivered straight from the boats that day. I adore fresh crab and savoured every forkful of my crab tian starter whist my son’s salmon gravadlax was equally well received.
Although the grilled meats looked tempting we were both tempted into also having fish for our mains with choices of whole baked lemon sole and sea bream.
We rounded off our meal with delicious sweet treats of apple and blackberry crumble and chocolate and salted caramel marquis and our verdict, superb.
The Facilities:
There’s an attractive bar overlooking the sea stocked with a range of local ales, wine and spirits including Fishers Gins whose distillery is located next door to the hotel. Additionally there are several lounges with deep filled sofas and comfy armchairs to rest after a day out exploring.
Complimentary newspapers and shelves filled with books and board games mean there’s no chance of ever becoming bored even if the weather isn’t at its best and with super fast Wi-Fi, everyone is happy.
Out and About:
Here are my suggestions of things to see and do in Aldeburgh and slightly further afield.
Aldeburgh
The beach is almost within touching distance of the hotel with just the narrow promenade separating it from the shore.
The promenade is lined with pastel coloured buildings with the town centre shops being set a few minutes walk behind.
We found a good collection of shops ranging from small independents to high street favourites such as Crew Clothing and Seasalt.
Martello Tower – walk eastwards a short distance to view the Martello Tower which has been recorded as being the largest in the country as it is made up of four towers joined together.
Nearly one million bricks were used in its construction to house its four heavy guns. The tower stands on the edge of the Orford Ness peninsula between the River Alde and the sea.
Scallop Sculpture – part way along the beach in the opposite direction is a large scallop sculpture which was created by sculptor Maggi Hambling as a tribute to the British composer Benjamin Britten who at one time was a resident in the town.
Aldeburgh Museum – located in the Moot Hall, a superb 16th century timber-framed building. Its galleries relate the town’s rich and varied history.
Thorpeness – this picturesque village is located two miles along the coast. We enjoyed walking there along the beach, breathing in the fresh sea air. Mock Tudor houses surround its boating lake and we popped into one of its two cosy cafes for warming mugs of hot chocolate.
The House in the Clouds – was once an old water tower that used to supply Thorpeness with water. The tank was disguised to resemble a cottage and in the 1970’s the tank was removed to create more living space.
From afar it really does look as if it is floating in the clouds. Across the lane from the House in the Clouds stands a windmill that used to grind corn in nearby Aldringham. In 1923 the mill was transferred to Thorpeness to pump water into the tower.
Snape Maltings – located six miles from Aldeburgh on the banks of the River Alde, the heritage site of the former Victoria Malthouse buildings have been converted into art studios, craft shops and cafes.
It’s a lovely place to look around and for a walk along the estuary as its marshes are home to an abundance of wildlife.
Leiston Abbey – situated just a ten minute drive from Aldeburgh is the 14th century remains of Leiston Abbey which is one of Suffolk’s most impressive monastic ruins. It is now owned by English Heritage with free entrance.
Southwold – is another charming seaside resort located a 30 minute drive up the coast. With streets filled with interesting shops, a historic pier and some colourful beach huts, it makes for a pleasant trip out.
Overall:
With its seaside vibe, newly refurbished rooms and public areas the hotel is a delightful place to spend a few days. Food served is top notch and with service to match the Brudenell is a definite winner in my book.
Details: The Brudenell Hotel, The Parade, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5BU.
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We were guests of The Brudenell Hotel and as always all views and opinions are my own.
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