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The Bell Hotel Saxmundham

East Anglia Suffolk Saxmundham

From £130 a night
Ten Guest Rooms
Boutique Hotel
Coaching Inn

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A venerable yet contemporary Suffolk coaching inn with a busy bar, excellent restaurant and boutique rooms

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.

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Open all year.

Pricing

Double rooms with breakfast from £130 a night.

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Location

Contact Website 01728 602 331 The Bell Hotel Saxmundham, 31 High Street, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 1AF

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Getting There

The Bell Hotel Saxmundham is impossible to miss – just drive into Saxmundham from any direction and make for the High Street. The Bell is right in the middle of town on the corner of Station Road, just around the corner from the small Market Place. It's easy to reach from the station too, just a two-minute walk away.

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Reviews

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Rated ★★★★★ over 9 reviews

★★★★★

Best gnocchi I have ever had

Superb dinner at the Bell for my Dad's birthday. The best gnocchi I have ever had, absolutely delicious flavours. Generous-sized fish and chips for Dad. The food here is amazing! Such warm and welcoming staff, who went above and beyond to help my Dad feel special on his birthday. A really lovely place to come to. Thank you so much to all of the team - I can't emphasise enough how great the service was here - lovely lovely people.

Jun 10, 2024 by Anna and Andy

★★★★★

Amazing service

I held a business event at the Bell across two days which included use of their accommodation, facilities and their restaurant. Matthew and his team were so attentive, accommodating and nothing was too much trouble. Every single guest I had at the event was amazed by the service they received, from the rooms, to the food and the interactions they had with the staff. Without a doubt I believe everyone will return to the Bell following their positive experience during the event when they next need accommodation and I will not hesitate in returning if/when I host another event. Personal thanks to Matthew and his team, including the Chef and kitchen staff for the incredible food and amazing service throughout the last two days.

May 31, 2024 by Chloe

★★★★★

An absolute asset to the local area!

The Bell is an absolute asset to the local area! Such a beautiful hotel, the staff are so friendly and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. Our lunch was excellent, delivered quickly and well worth the money. Will definitely go again! The hotel is beautifully decorated, and the rooms are tastefully decorated. My new go-to hotel in Suffolk x

May 9, 2024 by Deborah

★★★★★

Gem!

If you are reading this and want to know if this is a good hotel to stay in I tell you look no further!! This is an absolute 4-star gem. A real traditional hotel away from the modern-day commercialism of the hotel chains. It is situated in the lovely town of Saxmundham with easy access to the coast and other places of interest. It is owned and run by a family who have really created a beautiful environment, like a family home really. It is tastefully furnished and decorated. Lovely blinds in the rooms. Sumptuous linen and towels. Practical shower/toilet en-suites with anti-slip floors and lighted mirrors. The rooms are spacious, the beds large and generous drawers and hanging provision is available. The dining room, breakfast room and bar are again tastefully decorated with lovely furniture: substantial chairs to sit in for a change!!! The food is excellent. Breakfast out of this world: try the "hearty Suffolk" platter... set you up for the day. The evening menu is limited but each dish exquisite and do try the Friday night fish and chips with a glass of prosecco!! The fish just melts in your mouth... And to really put the icing on the cake: the staff are so friendly and helpful. Always there to hope your stay is the best possible. Yes, this was one of the best hotel experiences we have had. I thoroughly recommend it...

Mar 30, 2024 by David H

★★★★★

Excellent stay

As per other reviews, this is a lovely, friendly hotel. The decor and furnishings are great, a comfy bed and immaculate bathroom with a good shower. Breakfast was superb as was dinner and the reasonably priced wine. The staff were very friendly and informative, especially Sharon who provided tips on where to visit and the best places to park. Overall an excellent stay and great location to explore the local area. Thank you for looking after us.

Mar 20, 2024 by Cade

★★★★★

Deserves 10 stars!

This place deserves 10 stars! THE most attentive service. Ashley and Matthew made us more than welcome, and the chef on the night we dined there, should get a Michelin star for the quality of the food. It was fantastic! In fact, the head of housekeeping gave us a tour of the unoccupied rooms and told us about the next phase of restoration and upgrading, including the installation of a lift...not something you find in most former coaching inns dating from the 18th century!

Aug 23, 2023 by Dave K

★★★★★

Gem of a hotel and restaurant!

The staff were friendly and helpful and couldn't have been more welcoming. The menu offered a number of dishes that I would have loved to try - the ones I did have were superb, and generously portioned. Our room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. Would highly recommend a stay here if you're in the area.

Aug 12, 2023 by Colin S

★★★★★

Tremendous value for money

It was a really enjoyable experience from start to finish. Polite, friendly, helpful staff , a well-appointed clean room with an excellent en suite bathroom and very good food to be had at dinner and for breakfast. Tremendous value for money in this present expensive climate for hotels. Will definitely be recommending to friends and returning later on in the year.

Aug 11, 2023 by Andy A

★★★★★

Beautiful decor and very comfortable

Exceeded our expectations. Matt and his team were very warm and welcoming. The Bell is super dog friendly, and my little Poppy was given a lot of attention, possibly even more than us, but I'm not complaining. Thank you, guys, for a unique experience! And a wonderful weekend.

Jul 18, 2023 by Frances