The Red Lion
9.5/10 (Based on 50 reviews )
The Lion, The Street, East Bergholt, Colchester, Essex., East Bergholt, CO7 6TB, United Kingdom
Confirmed as The Lion in East Bergholt — a village gastropub that offers rooms (pub with boutique rooms) and an on-site brasserie. The property lists guestrooms, a restaurant and bar, free Wi‑fi and a walled garden/terrace; it sits in the centre of East Bergholt close to local Constable landmarks and a short drive from the A12. The hotel provides a free on‑site car park. While no dedicated EV charge points are listed on the hotel website, public EV chargers are available nearby on Stratford Road in Dedham (a short drive); those units are reported as two Type 2 chargers (≈22 kW each) and are typically pay-to-use and publicly accessible.
Detailed Ratings
ComparePositive reviews
- The ambience, room comfort and decor, luxury room accessories, including selection of top quality teas, hot chocolate and coffee machine with coffee pods. Very cosy and comfortable bed. Breakfast was included which was exceptional in quality, presentation and served hot with top quality tea or coffee included. Staff were very accommodating and friendly. Also had an evening meal which also was fantastic quality and very reasonably priced. Possibly the best Inn we’ve stayed in which ticked all the boxes one requires. I highly recommend it and will definitely be returning.
- Really lovely rooms, excellent restaurant, comfy sofas, staff were delightful. Walked around the gorgeous village loop. Close to Flatford Mill. Perfect spot for a relaxing weekend.
- Beautiful room and bathroom. Spotlessly clean. Very friendly and helpful staff. Delicious breakfast.
- Lively hotel, excellent bar and restaurant area. Great atmosphere. Exceptionally clean and well maintained. Staff were lovely and really helpful. Food good and the breakfast was very generous.
- Wonderful staff, beautiful room and breakfast, even our dog was spoilt.
Negative reviews
- The attic room 3, sloping walls so had to watch your head if you're a 6 footer. The widow in the bathroom meant no privacy when in there.
- Shower over bath (handheld) was difficult to use. You either had to sit in the bath or stand up. If you stood up the water went everywhere! If you were an older couple you might have trouble getting in and out of the bath.
- Unfortunately there was a problem with the sound system which came on loudly at 04:30 in a room directly below our bedroom. I did report it in the morning and the manager was very apologetic. It wouldn’t stop us staying there again.
- Couldn’t get radiator in room to work so it did feel cold but we let reception know.
- The waiting time for breakfast, over 1 hour. We understand busy times, perhaps limited staff but felt communication on timings could have been better.
The Angel Inn, Stoke-by-Nayland
9.4/10 (Based on 147 reviews )
Polestead Street, Stoke-by-Nayland, CO6 4SA, United Kingdom
The Angel Inn, Stoke-by-Nayland is a restored country inn offering a restaurant with rooms and eleven individually styled bedrooms in rural Suffolk. Facilities include a restaurant serving seasonally driven contemporary cuisine (dining generally open Wednesday–Sunday), a bar, garden and free Wi‑Fi. The property provides private guest parking accessed from the main road and electric vehicle charging points for guests; specific details about number, connector type or charges are not specified. Breakfast for staying guests is served at a nearby sister pub. One room is dog-friendly; the location sits in the village centre amid traditional countryside surroundings.
Detailed Ratings
ComparePositive reviews
- A lovey cosy hotel. Our room was beautiful. Shower was amazing.
- They felt like Royalty
- Staff welcoming. Food very good. Furnishings beautiful. Bed comfortable. Good position for exploring this lovely part of the country.
- Beautiful property, immaculate & welcoming
- Refurbished to a very high standard in the public areas and B&B rooms and lovely paved outside eating/drinking area. Staff very friendly and welcoming but professional with it. Superb food in the evening (sensational rare Onglet steak, cooked perfectly) and an exceptional breakfast – everything top quality. Two very good local ales on handpump plus plenty of other choices on tap, a very premium wine offering but also enough choice of affordable wines by the glass. Very good value overall given the quality of the accommodation and dining experience.
Negative reviews
- A couple of issues only: 1. Booking.com lead us to believe we were in an upgraded room but we struggled to classify the Stour room as an upgrade. In particular, both the room entry door and the bathroom were incredibly low in height. Both my wife and I, despite our best efforts to do otherwise cracked our heads on the door mantel and my wife was in tears for 20 minutes following her bang such was the pain. No end of warnings prepares one for this shock in the middle of the night when one is trying to reach the bathroom without trying to wake one's spouse. We understand this is the downside of staying in a truly old building, but it hurt and believe the door situation ought to have been identified at the time of booking, It seems, as a result of a conversation with the staff the following morning that those using booking.com get an inferior room selection because of their aggressive pricing position. That is understandable and probably suggests we should book direct next time. Finally, we had only a lukewarm response in terms of the bed quality. We understand people have different tastes in bed quality, but this wasn't a good solution for us. In consecutive stays in other hotels in the days directly following our visit to the Angel we had two excellent beds so its not as though we are impossible to please. I have elaborated in detail, not because we are deeply upset but because you deserve a chance to address our concerns. With the bed and low door height exceptions we had a lovely stay…thank you
- Clear view from bed into air conditioning ducting. Inexperienced staff in the evening, with lack of menu knowledge; breakfast waitress better, but venue understaffed (was told due to car breakdown of the other staff member). No milk in bedroom. Limited standard breakfast offering.
- Breakfast service very slow.
- They could not get the television to work properly, but we coped.
The Swan Hotel
9.1/10 (Based on 1256 reviews )
Market Place, Southwold, IP18 6EG, United Kingdom
The Swan Hotel is a four‑star boutique hotel on Southwold’s Market Place, mixing contemporary bedrooms with historic character. Onsite facilities include two restaurants (The Still Room and The Tap Room), a bar and direct proximity to the brewery and distillery. The hotel offers a private rear car park for residents accessed from Victoria Street. The property lists electric vehicle charging on site via Tesla Destination chargers (two units, circa 11 kW); these chargers are typically intended for guests, may require a user account or app, and charging fees may apply — guests are advised to check availability with reception. Reception can also arrange local transport and brewery tours.
Detailed Ratings
ComparePositive reviews
- Well located, friendly staff, very comfortable and clean. We asked for a room with a bath, and got one. Thank you.
- Perfect setting the furnishings were beautiful and together made for a very relaxing and enjoyable stay. The staff were all so personable. We really enjoyed our stay
- The comfort, the welcome, the warmth, the food.
- The welcome and reception and porter staff were polite, helpful and friendly. The room was wonderful, clean, comfortable with many extras.
- Love the lounge and restaurant rooms – so warm, cosy and yet contemporary (a rarity I find with English hotels) – the food and ambiance in the restaurant is amazing and having tea and scones in the lounge by the open fire exquisite. Peaceful night’s sleep in the very heart of a beautiful seaside town- and awesome English breakfast in the morning in the restaurant. Highly recommended hotel and restaurant (we will be back again for the amazing steak ). Best place to stay in or around southwold no question.
Negative reviews
- The fact we couldn't stay another night as they hiked the price up sadly.
- Staff generally good but occasional lapses in service.
- Room was too hot – tried turning down the heating and sleeping with the windows open but it remained stuffy unfortunately- suggest it’s turned down a notch or two! Also for the money I was surprised 1pr 2 of the chocolate bars in the room weren’t complimentary. Otherwise everything is exceptional.
- The hotel has an issue with Wi-Fi which affected the room TV but they did get it fixed the next day. Only complaint on the room is the bathroom floor is very cold , shame underfloor heating wasn’t added when it was refurbished.
- Shower required a screen to stop the splashing of water across the floor.
Hintlesham Hall Hotel
9/10 (Based on 782 reviews )
Hintlesham, George Street, Ipswich, IP8 3NS, United Kingdom
Hintlesham Hall is a Grade I listed country‑house hotel in rural Suffolk, set within about 12 acres of gardens and parkland a short drive from Ipswich. The 32-room, four‑star property combines historic architecture with modern comforts, offering a spa with treatment rooms, nearby golf facilities, and two‑rosette dining at Carrier’s Restaurant. On-site self-parking is provided; the hotel advertises on-site electric vehicle charging (three Tesla Destination chargers rated around 11 kW) and requests guests call ahead to confirm availability. Meeting facilities, a private helipad and marked countryside walks support leisure and event stays.
Detailed Ratings
ComparePositive reviews
- Very grand but welcoming not snooty.
- Lovely and historical property and phenomenal cuisine! Very friendly staff
- Lovely character property . Sympathetically modernised . Comfortable room . Sumptuous bed with lovely bed linens . Spacious bathroom with great shower. Nice toiletries . High quality tea and coffee making facilities . Good selection of teas .
- Staff very friendly- large comfortable rooms and excellent food. Loved the spa treatment
- Wonderful welcome, lovely room, great breakfast included in our price. Restaurant food amazing tho not cheap…but for special occasions perfect…. Great massage…lovely grounds…would happily go back there x
Negative reviews
- Maybe my fault but I didn’t pre book breakfast. Felt I was overcharged for it when I paid there.
- Rooms where a little cold and water didn’t get very warm, the bath and shower where brilliant which was let down by the water only getting warm
- Service was very mixed – in particular not enough attentiveness in the dining room. Some reception staff were lovely, others officious. Silly snobby dinner dress code……this ain't the Ritz! Cold in the restaurant and bedrooms.
- Smelt damp
- The side panel of the bath was rather in disrepair.
The Abbey Hotel & Apartments
9/10 (Based on 389 reviews )
35 Southgate Street, Bury Saint Edmunds, IP33 2AZ, United Kingdom
The Abbey Hotel & Apartments is a centrally located country‑house style hotel offering rooms, self‑contained apartments and cottages within historic Tudor and medieval buildings. Facilities include an extensive cooked‑to‑order breakfast, a small garden for guests, complimentary high‑speed Wi‑Fi and USB points in rooms. The property provides off‑road courtyard parking (limited spaces) and an on‑site ROLEC electric vehicle charging point (7.4 kW) available at a flat rate; guests are asked to arrange use with reception. For leisure, guests may use a nearby health club by arrangement (additional charges may apply). The hotel is adult‑oriented and a short walk from Bury St Edmunds town centre.
Detailed Ratings
ComparePositive reviews
- Room very clean with tea and coffee available.
- The location, friendly staff, comfy bed and amazing breakfast
- Friendly staff to greet us, quirky decor, beautiful historic building, very comfortable mattress and clean room
- Great room – we had one of the rooms with a kitchen, which was excellent. The room was very comfy; light, bright bathroom. The dressing gowns were great to have. This was our third stay at this B&B – I really like its look and feel, the staff are always reallly friendly and the breakfast is excellent. Will definitely stay again. It's an easy walk into town for the market, Abbey Gardens and the many restaurants and coffee shops, as well as the independent cinema. And within walking distance of the Parkrun at Nowton Park!
- Beautiful place great location staff so kind allowing us to have a early breakfast.
Negative reviews
- Bed was a little uncomfortable as mattress bit lumpy
- The bathroom mirror was broken and some of the furnishings felt in need of modernisation
- The bathroom fan/shower was a little noisy Particularly when we were trying to settle down to sleep However it wouldn’t stop us booking again
- Room in the attic with very sloping ceilings and a steep last flight of stairs.
- WiFi was very slow or nothing
Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa
8.7/10 (Based on 1495 reviews )
Bury Road, Newmarket, Newmarket, CB8 7BX, United Kingdom
Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa is a spa hotel in central Newmarket set within manicured grounds and close to the town’s racecourse area. The property offers hotel accommodation with an adjacent luxury spa complex featuring a hydrotherapy pool, rooftop hot tub, thermal area (sauna/steam) and multiple treatment rooms, plus an indoor pool and fitness facilities. Onsite dining is available through the hotel’s restaurant and bar. The hotel provides onsite car parking with a limited number of spaces; public listings indicate electric vehicle charging is available on the property, though type, number, cost and reservation rules are not specified—guests should confirm charging details and parking arrangements directly with the hotel. The location is convenient for road access (A14/A11) and town centre amenities.
Detailed Ratings
ComparePositive reviews
- The decor is beautiful, all the staff are so helpful and friendly
- Breakfast and the pool
- Everything. Breakfast was superb!
- Comfy rooms, convenient for the racing yards, nice breakfast and friendly staff
- Lovely big room, comfortable bed, great bathroom. Excellent facilities – spa and health centre. Easy parking and easy location to get to.
Negative reviews
- There was nothing not to like
- Pillows too soft
- The Pool area is cold
- Room too hot and aircon not working. Pillows too thin and no extra pillows
- No fan in the bathroom so very steamy. Breakfast room was way too crowded the tables were basically stacked next to each other, some very close to the food counter. Just seems a completely inappropriate space to host breakfast if you don't have enough room to seat the guests comfortably? Prices at the restaurant for dinner were very expensive so we ate elsewhere.
Milsoms Kesgrave Hall
8.6/10 (Based on 740 reviews )
Hall Road, Ipswich, IP5 2PU, United Kingdom
Milsoms Kesgrave Hall is a country-house boutique hotel set on substantial grounds on the eastern outskirts of Ipswich, offering a mix of period character and contemporary facilities. The property provides around 23 en-suite bedrooms, a brasserie-style restaurant and bar, and a spa complex with treatment rooms and a hot tub. The hotel operates event and wedding spaces, including a larger function venue. On-site parking is available for guests and self-parking is normally free; electric vehicle charging is explicitly listed as available at the property — public ChargePoint units are installed on-site (multiple 22 kW devices/connectors) and charging is typically pay-to-use. The location sits close to Adastral Park and local transport links while remaining in a semi-rural setting.
Detailed Ratings
ComparePositive reviews
- The location was lovely and very relaxing
- Super quiet room. Great breakfast. Lovely staff.
- We enjoyed our overnight stay at Kesgrave Hall. We found the staff friendly and welcoming at both reception and in the restaurant. The food was superb, the room was spacious with comfy beds, luxurious bedding and a great shower.
- Staff were great throughout the whole stay. Very attentive and efficient. Room was comfy, well laid out, quiet and very clean. Food (Dinner and Breakfast) was 8/10. Would defintately consider staying here again.
- Breakfast was very good. Thank you!
Negative reviews
- The spa facilities are separate from the main building and an extra cost. We expected access to sauna and hot tub to be included which was not immidiately clear from booking. The sauna was also malfunctioning, but the staff tried to sort that, but was the end of the day. There was subsequently no charge.
- Personal taste- we found the decor a bit dated and dull. Could do with a touch more elegance.
- While I'm sure the breakfast was great – £27 x 4 was too much for my budget and too much food for smaller appetites and on weekends the brunch option did not start until 10, which was a bit late for our activities.
- Had to look for staff at check in and out! Room was small but adequate. Limited range of teabags in the room.
- The tv in the room was so complicated to find a channel and some fresh milk in the fridge would have been a real bonus xx
Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa
8.5/10 (Based on 927 reviews )
Seckford Hall Road, Woodbridge, IP13 6NU, United Kingdom
Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa is a historic Tudor country hotel and spa on Seckford Hall Road near Woodbridge in Suffolk. The property combines restored period accommodation with a spa offering a pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor spa garden and treatment rooms. Dining focuses on seasonal, locally sourced dishes in the hotel restaurant and bar. Complimentary on-site parking is provided; official hotel information does not explicitly list dedicated EV charging on the property, though public charging stations are available within a short drive. Rooms offer modern comforts within a heritage setting, and the hotel sits in a rural countryside location a short drive from Woodbridge and the Suffolk coast.
Detailed Ratings
ComparePositive reviews
- Staff, the room #24. Dinner, the food was excellent. The place was cosy and warm with nice intimate areas.
- Very well kept and in a beautiful setting.
- Breakfast was freshly cooked to order and was excellent
- jnr suite was lovely, clean, beautifully decorated, warm and comfortable Spa was fantastic, treatments and pool, Staff were very friendly and helpful Food was fantastic
- Very comfortable & staff really were excellent
Negative reviews
- The breakfast was disappointing. I had poached egg with avocado on sourdough toast. I had to remove the avocado which was not ripe but brown in parts. The sourdough toast was cut too thick making it hrs to cut on the crust.
- No lift.
- Our room was very hot even after turning the radiators down
- Room 29 heating noisy and unreliable
- Water pressure in shower was poor.
Novotel Ipswich Centre
8.4/10 (Based on 1055 reviews )
Greyfriars Rd, Ipswich, IP1 1UP, United Kingdom
Novotel Ipswich Centre is a four-star city-centre hotel on Greyfriars Road, within easy walking distance of Ipswich station and the waterfront. The property provides modern guest rooms, an on-site restaurant and bar, meeting and conference facilities and a compact fitness room. There is a limited on-site car park (typically paid) and an on-site public EV charging point offering AC and DC connectors (Type 2, CCS and CHAdeMO) accessible via the charging network/app; availability may vary. Practical for business and leisure stays, the hotel also offers 24-hour reception and complimentary Wi‑Fi.
Detailed Ratings
ComparePositive reviews
- Really great value for money, good location and always parking
- Friendly staff – good breakfast
- location and refurbished rooms
- Good location. Very quiet.
- Larger than average room with a big comfortable bed and well equipped bathroom. Plenty of tea and coffee provided. Excellent Internet connectivity. We initially chose the hotel for its proximity to our concert venue at St Peters by the Waterfront which is literally a 2 minute walk away.
Negative reviews
- Only one EV charger with maximum 2 hours
- No gluten free options in the menu of the restaurant
- Separate loo with no adjoining sink. Need more electric charging points .
- Heating in room was very loud, had to turn it off to sleep.
- Not enough parking for a large hotel.
Guinness Arms
8.3/10 (Based on 33 reviews )
The Street, Icklingham, IP28 6PS, United Kingdom
The Guinness Arms is a 16th-century coaching inn in the village of Icklingham offering boutique bedrooms in adjoining barns and an on-site pub and restaurant. Facilities include two bars, a conservatory-style dining area, breakfast service and free guest Wi‑Fi; rooms have en-suite bathrooms and climate control. The property sits with a large landscaped garden sloping to the River Lark, providing a rural setting on the edge of the Brecks. Public charging maps list an electric-vehicle charge point at the property postcode (Pod network; two connectors, commonly accessed via the network app), though the official site does not detail parking or charging terms—guests should confirm availability and fees directly with the property.
Detailed Ratings
ComparePositive reviews
- The location, the cleanliness and the food and drink.
- The room was pretty & it was lovely and warm when we arrived. Very good meal in the restaurant
- Barns like rooms, with nice little decor. Restaurant was excellent!
- Really nice venue. Staff were very friendly and service was good. Enjoyed the food and drink
- Air con in room. Great shower. Coffee machine. Good food in restaurant. Just far enough away from town and good location.
Negative reviews
- Service was the only thing that let the stay down. Other than one or two staff members who stood out, the best way I can describe the service is wishy washy. Unfortunately one of the staff members was rude and what she perceived to be banter was actually quite offensive.
- The bed was really uncomfortable, a very cheap mattress and hard pillows. Very bad night sleep. Also had a meal in the restaurant & the waitress said the tip was optional so we asked for it to be taken off as these days all staff are paid at least the living wage if not more, I don’t tip my cleaner and my ironing lady each week, nor the extremely helpful salesperson etc etc. So we feel that they are doing their job just the same as the other people. So when the lady took it off my husbands half, she added it on to my friends half, so when my friend asked for it to be taken off the waitress got extremely sulky. We had thought of leaving a small tip at the table, but after her attitude we obviously didn’t want to leave anything. You should train your staff not to be so sullen with customers then they might receive a tip at the table.
- The bed were not comfortable at all, and one of the room the heating wasnt working..
- the service in the restaurant was appalling, The manager was serving the table next to me and basically forgot I was there on the table next to them, I waited 1/2 hour between the starter and main, and was not even offered a sweet or coffee. When I went to pay and challenged him about his service, the look on his face when I spoke to him about my service was ( WHY ARE YOU COMPLAINING),!! he looked at me as if I was talking another language, Not once did he apologise or try to rectify the situation, Will never stay again and if I treated my customers like this We wouldn't have a business VERY POOR SERVICE
- Disappointed in room due to being switched from orig all room due to loss of key
Summary Table
| Position | Hotel | Rating | #Reviews | Stars | Staff | Cleanliness | Comfort | Location | Value for money | Facilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Red Lion | 9.5▲ | 50 | 5▲ | 9.8▲ | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.4 | 9.5▲ | 9.5 |
| 2 | The Angel Inn, Stoke-by-Nayland | 9.4 | 147 | 5▲ | 9.6 | 9.9▲ | 9.9▲ | 9.7 | 9.1 | 9.6▲ |
| 3 | The Swan Hotel | 9.1 | 1256 | 4▼ | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.8▲ | 8.3 | 9.3 |
| 4 | Hintlesham Hall Hotel | 9 | 782 | 4▼ | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 8.6 | 9.0 |
| 5 | The Abbey Hotel & Apartments | 9 | 389 | 4▼ | 9.7 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 8.8 | 8.9 |
| 6 | Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa | 8.7 | 1495▲ | 4▼ | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.3 | 8.2 | 9.0 |
| 7 | Milsoms Kesgrave Hall | 8.6 | 740 | 4▼ | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 8.5 | 8.8 |
| 8 | Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa | 8.5 | 927 | 4▼ | 9.3 | 8.9▼ | 9.0 | 9.2 | 7.9▼ | 8.7 |
| 9 | Novotel Ipswich Centre | 8.4 | 1055 | 4▼ | 9.1▼ | 8.9▼ | 8.9▼ | 9.0 | 8.4 | 8.5▼ |
| 10 | Guinness Arms | 8.3▼ | 33▼ | 4▼ | 9.1▼ | 9.1 | 9.3 | 8.8▼ | 8.4 | 8.7 |
FAQ
Milsoms Kesgrave Hall lists on-site ChargePoint units described as multiple 22 kW devices, the highest explicit power stated among these hotels. Novotel Ipswich Centre also offers AC and DC connectors (Type 2, CCS and CHAdeMO) but specific power for those chargers isn’t given, so confirm with the hotel if you need faster DC charging.
Hintlesham Hall is a Grade I listed country‑house hotel with spa facilities and three Tesla Destination chargers rated around 11 kW; the property asks guests to call ahead to confirm availability. Its historic setting, gardens and two‑rosette dining make it the top luxury choice among the listed properties.
The Angel Inn in Stoke‑by‑Nayland is a restored country inn with eleven individually styled bedrooms, private guest parking and electric vehicle charging points for guests, making it an excellent boutique countryside option. Charger number, connector type and any fees aren’t specified on the listing, so contact the inn to confirm details before travelling.
The Abbey Hotel & Apartments in Bury St Edmunds provides an on‑site ROLEC charger rated at 7.4 kW, available at a flat rate of £10 per charge and usable by arrangement with reception. Courtyard parking is limited, so guests should book the charging slot with reception ahead of arrival.
The Swan Hotel in Southwold offers two Tesla Destination chargers of around 11 kW each in its private rear car park, making it the top coastal option for Tesla drivers. Charging may require a Tesla account or app and fees can apply, so check availability with reception before you travel.