Somewhere to stay: Bedford Lodge Hotel, Newmarket, Suffolk
A gem in the Suffolk countryside, Bedford Lodge Hotel is a charming, luxurious hotel that's a treat to visit. By Carol Muskoron
What's the hotel like?
Bedford Lodge is an extremely luxurious country house hotel in Newmarket, a town nestled deep in beautiful Suffolk and famous for its horse racing. It's a spacious hotel with 77 rooms and suites and lots of comfortable sitting rooms. There's also a wonderful restaurant, a good-sized swimming pool, with a separate whirlpool, a sauna room and a steam room and an exercise room with a full range of gym equipment. The decor is modern and plush within a traditional building. Bedford Lodge is an hour from London and makes for a real treat as an overnight stay - and it's fun to visit a town where at certain times of day it seems as if there are almost as many horses as there are people!
What are the bedrooms like?
Our bedroom was warm and cosy and extremely comfortable, with armchairs, a desk and fresh flowers on the side table. There was free mineral water, a kettle and lots of tea bags, coffee and biscuits, plus a TV. There was also a thermostat to control the heating and we were wonderfully warm all night.
How's the bed?
We had a comfortably big double bed and lots of trendy, warm and luxurious bed-linen. The bed was firm and we had a great night's sleep.
What's in the bathroom?
The bathroom had a bath with a strong shower attachment, and was well stocked with shampoos, soaps and moisturisers.
What about eating and drinking?
The restaurant was superb. Everything was very beautifully presented and fresh. We had top quality steaks - the ribeye was absolutely delicious. There was also a great range of fish - we can recommend the scallops and the sea bass. There was a full range of puddings - we loved the figs and port. The food has a distinctive English feel about it, with most being locally sourced. The breakfasts were exceptional and as Newmarket is famous for its sausages, it's worth trying the full English breakfast, with thick cut bacon and local sausages. The service was delightful - attentive but not overbearing.
Anything else
The hotel has a separate spa on the grounds - which we have reviewed in full here with a hydrotherapy pool and a full range of treatments.
What's nearby?
Newmarket is a historic Georgian town, which houses the National Horse Racing Museum. The hotel is a five-minute walk from the famous 'gallops' where hundreds of the country's top horses are trained every day. It's a spectacular sight to see thoroughbred horses being taken through their paces. And of course, throughout the racing season there are regular meetings at Newmarket's prestigious race tracks, which attract some of the best known (and richest) owners in the world. Newmarket is only a short drive from historic Cambridge (with its famous colleges), and Bury St Edmunds with its mediaeval town centre. The local area has fine fishing lakes and, because it is very flat, it is ideal for cycling.
Find out more
Bedford Lodge Hotel is at Bury Road, Newmarket, Suffolk DB8 7BX, tel: 0800 652 2991 or 01638 663175. Email: info@bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk or go to www.bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk/special-offers.
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