The Bell Hotel Saxmundham

The small Suffolk town of Saxmundham often gets rather overlooked in favour of the more obvious tourist honeypots of the nearby coast, which is a shame because it has a terrific place to stay (and to eat) in The Bell –  a classic coaching inn in every sense, and one that has recently received a much-deserved makeover by new owners Beales – a family firm that's been in the hospitality trade for over 250 years, starting off as bakers and caterers. The Bell is one of multiple hotels they've owned since their first purchase back in 1945, so they have plenty of experience.

First of all the location, which is great. Saxmundham is a pleasant small town with two superpowers: it's home to a mainline station and is a brilliant base for the delights of Aldeburgh, Minsmere and nearby Suffolk Coast. The station is only a two-minute walk from the hotel, so The Bell is also an excellent choice if you prefer to leave the car at home.

The hotel has 10 guest rooms of various shapes and sizes, ranged across the two upper floors: all have generously sized beds with Hypnos mattresses, Smart TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities and complimentary biscuits and water. Some also have mini-fridges and Nespresso machines. Named after local towns and villages, the rooms are decorated in a contemporary style that evokes the nearby sea, and they divide into four categories –  ‘Cosy’, ‘Classic’, ‘Spacious’ and ‘Deluxe’ – although the main differences between them are floor space and bathrooms. Cosy and Classic doubles have walk-in showers, Spacious bedrooms have showers over a bath or a wet room for accessibility, while Deluxe rooms have rolltop baths and walk-in showers. The hotel has a lift, going to the first floor (but not the upper levels), and 'Orford' is a dual-aspect accessible room, with an extra-wide doorway, wet room and grab rails.

Dogs are welcome in some of the rooms, and have the run of the downstairs public spaces except the restaurant, which serves a menu focused on local ingredients, including Blythburgh pork and fresh fish and seafood from the nearby coast. On the other side of the flagstoned lobby, you can also eat in the Coast Lounge or in the popular River Bar, which is a cool and comfy place for an early evening beer, cocktail or glass of wine. Overall, the hotel couldn't be more comfortable, an old-fashioned sort of place with excellent, understated service and a quirky, contemporary vibe that makes it an ideal base for seeing both the Suffolk countryside and coast.