Kesgrave Hall | A Luxury Boutique Hotel in Suffolk

Located in the village of Kesgrave, on the outskirts of Ipswich, is Kesgrave Hall Hotel. Dating back to 1812 when it was constructed by William Cunliffe-Shawe, the building was bought by Milsom Hotel Group in 2007 and converted to a hotel. Today Kesgrave Hall is one of the finest boutique hotels in Suffolk.

Set in 38 acres of grounds (which includes woodlands and a lovely stream) the hotel is situated between Ipswich and the riverside town of Woodbridge. It is less than an hour's drive from the Suffolk coastline making it an ideal base to explore the area.

Towards the end of June, we had stayed at Kesgrave Hall for a short break. It was the first time we were staying at Kesgrave Hall but not the first time at a Milsom Hotel and we received the same warm hospitality that we experienced at Maison Talbooth (another of Milsom's hotels). We were made to feel welcome from the very start. It all began even before we arrived at the hotel. About a week before our visit, we received an email from the hotel with some suggestions on things to do and see in the area. The pre-arrival email was helpful and it is something I wish more hotels would send out.

Guest Rooms

With 23 en-suite guest rooms ranging from standard ones to the top ones boasting of bathtubs in the rooms, the hotel has a homely and inviting feel. We stayed in one of the top rooms which was on the first floor, at the front of the hotel and offered lovely views of the sweeping lawns. The top rooms are incredibly spacious with beautiful lighting and furnishings.

The bedroom we stayed in boasted of a free standing, roll top bathtub. Other amenities in the room included a very comfortable super-king size beds, a comfortable sofa to relax on and a huge walk-in shower. There was plenty of storage area in the room. Additional facilities in the room were Sky In-Room (with all the Sky channels in HD including BT Sport), free Wi-Fi access, a lovely desk, in-room telephone and safe, tea and coffee making facilities, a minibar (with complimentary soft drinks and water which was very welcome because the weather was sweltering when we arrived), Bose music system and lots of magazines. The staff had also very thoughtfully placed a Dyson CoolAir in the room.

In addition to the roll top bathtub, there was a huge walk-in shower and his and her's basins. Toiletries from Aromatherapy Associates were provided.

Overall, we loved the room we stayed in. It was luxurious, spacious and beautifully designed to ensure that guests have a comfortable stay.

Dining

The all-day restaurant at Kesgrave Hall is located on the ground floor. The restaurant does not take reservations as they serve all day but as a resident guest, you do have priority over any outside diners. When we checked-in, we were asked for our preferred dining time and when we walked into the restaurant in the evening, our room number was taken and we were escorted to the dining area without any delay. The restaurant has an open kitchen (The Engine Room) and an unexpected self-ordering system. A notepad and pencil are provided on each table for guests to write down their selections.

I enjoyed a starter of crispy Haloumi, Israeli Cous Couse, Harissa, Orange and Mouli Salad - very moreish. Bhavin opted for Butternut Squash Tortellini with Brown Butter & Sage. It was delicious! For the main course, we both chose roasted Spinach Gnocchi with Artichokes, Puy Lentils and Baby Vegetables. The flavour was lovely but it was tad watery. A little bit thicker and it would have been perfect. There was a nice selection of puddings. I picked Orange Posset with Orange Jelly, Shortbread Crumb and Orange Sorbet. It looked very inviting and tasted delicious too. Bhavin ordered Raspberry Cheesecake with Yoghurt Sorbet which he enjoyed. Overall, a nice dining experience in a relaxed, informal environment.

Good to know 

The hotel and grounds were amazing. I loved the well-tended lawns. And there were surprises around every corner like this traditional vintage style swing put in one of the trees in the garden. It was ages since I had seen a proper tree swing and I loved this as well. There were other activities like outdoor table tennis and boules etc.

Other facilities at Kesgrave Hall include:

- The Hangar: East Anglia's leading wedding venue for up to 300 guests
- Outside (all day) dining
- Afternoon tea served between 3 pm and 5 pm every day
- 3 meeting / private dining rooms for birthday parties, anniversary celebrations or business meetings
- Complimentary on-site parking
- Wedding licence

Out & About

Located on the eastern edge of Ipswich. Kesgrave Hall is perfect for both business and leisure travellers alike. Woodbridge, Sutton Hoo, Ipswich, Aldeburgh and Southwold are all in close proximity. The home of horseracing, Newmarket, is a little over an hour away. Exploring the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is also easy with Kesgrave Hall as your base.

Our Verdict

Kesgrave Hall is truly a gem in the Suffolk countryside. The hotel is impressive, the atmosphere relaxed and the staff very helpful and friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the hotel and would recommend that you consider staying here should you be planning a visit to Ipswich or the Suffolk countryside. It definitely makes for a special weekend away.

Rooms at Kesgrave Hall start from £110 onwards including breakfast. Packages with dinner are also available.

To find out more and to book your stay, please use the details below.

Kesgrave Hall | Hall Road, Kesgrave, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP5 2PU
Phone | 01473 333741

We were hosted by Kesgrave Hall in exchange for the review. All opinions, however, as always, are genuine and solely our own.