The Westleton Crown Inn Southwold

A pleasant enough pub and accommodation which charges luxury prices but doesn't quite deliver.

The rooms are provided on 3 standards - ranging from 'good' to best. We opted to pay for 'better' (ie mid price.) This was supposed to provide a bigger room than a standard room, better views and a few extras such as a cafetiere. We got a room that was small, overlooked the main road and the bed was too soft to be comfortable. We even had to ask for more coffee for the cafetiere (we only got one small sachet which was not replenished - neither were the toiletries as we only got two small bottles (one of shampoo and one body wash.) A bit cheeky given the price of the room...

The breakfasts were nice though. There were some lovely touches such as the homemade museli and fresh fruit salad. We loved that the fruit juice came in large glasses. Service was slow on the second day, even though there seemed to be plenty of staff.

We ate dinner in the hotel on one night only. The food was overpriced and nothing special. The crab salad I ordered was really not worth £12.50 - a dressed salad, some salad leaved and some new pototatoes was really not worth the money. It also came with three dips which tasted awful. The desserts were around £5 each but tended to be rather too sweet. My husband ordered the liquour coffee (which fortunately we didn't receive as when we got the bill we found that we have been charged for a 10-13 year old whiskey and coffee which was far more expensive than the menu price. Who puts very expensive whiskey in coffee!!!!) Anyway, as we never got the coffees were ordered we were able to get it taken off. The alcohol was expensive but we were getting used to this!

Service was mediocre and given the luxury prices being charged we felt that it was an overpriced weekend.

Only stayed here one night and that was more than enough! Room was adequate altho quite pokey, sloping roof, nice bathroom, bathrobes etc. However, it was widely overpriced and they used the Easter wknd as an excuse to rake up the prices for the Sunday night.

We had dinner in the restaurant and was told it was very popular and well thought of. I must sadly disagree. The food was mediocre at best and the service was soooooo slow! It took 2.5 hours to have a 3 course meal and after each course we had to remind them we were still there! Portions were paltry and I begrudged paying the overpriced bill at the end.

Breakfast time came and yes you guessed it we were left waiting again. To put in an order we had to remind them we were waiting, we then sat there for 30 mins waiting, we then had to remind them again that we were still waiting and finally it arrives - I was so bored and annoyed I could hardly be bothered to eat it!

I would say do not waste your money on this place or more importantly your time. Altho the serving staff are extremely polite this does not erase the fact that the service is the slowest I have ever experienced and spoilt my stay.

Far too expensive. Rooms very small. Bedroom window opens straight on to the road so very noisy and anybody could see in the top half of the window. Anybody walking past the back passageway could also see straight in to the bathroom. Shower did not work so had to go outside in dressing gown to use shower in another room. Ordered eggs benedict for breakfast. muffin not toasted and sauce cold. Would not recommend.

I stayed here due to business in the area on a Thusday night. Upon arrival I walked into the bar area, which was lit by candlelight (very atmospherpic). Thebar that night was not hearving in fact there were only two people eating. At reception, a very warm welcom was given to me by Gemma, the lady who had taken my booking. I was shown to the Kingfisher room which was lovely situated in the converted barn, in addition to the Woodpecker on the 2nd floor. Both rooms were presented well.

The Woodpecker had a dobule bed in addition to a single bed. The bath is lovely and large, it was heaven to have a soak in it. The food was excellent. As I had been travelling all day, I simply wanted to have a bath, have some food and retire for the evening. Vicky arranged for my starter, main course and dessert to be brought to my bedroom. The food was exquisit! Full of different flavours all presented beautifully. I had the perfects night ssleep, no noise and very comfortable bed. My only criticsm is the internet links. Despite having a plug in the room for the internet, there was no lead. I have wireless access at home, so I was expecting a lead or some form of connection having been told they had internet facilities in the room. I was too tired to work anyway so no harm done. This is my only critisicm.

Breakfast was brilliant as well. Buffet in addition to full english or alternatives.

Overall an excellent building conversion, steeped in history, tastefully decorated, very friendly staff, comfortable rooms and quiet location, brilliant food.

This is an old coaching inn that has been refurbished to a high standard. There are 3 grades of room; good, better and best. We stayed in "Tern" on our first night, which was a "good" room. It was small, but nicely appointed. Lovely bathroom with Pecksniff toiletries. However, as we suffered from some noise from the bathroom next door we asked to be moved for our second night. We were upgraded without charge to "Oystercatcher", which is a "better" room. This room was larger and, again, nicely decorated. No complaints about this room at all. All the rooms are slightly different and some are in a separate annex outside. Both our rooms were inside the inn, but all have been refurbished very recently.

The staff at The Westleton Crown are professional and friendly. The food is excellent and service attentive.

We will definitely return.

NB : We travelled from London and stopped at The Anchor at Nayland for dinner on the way up. It was superb.

Whenever we happen to be down Suffolk way, we try and stay at the Crown at Westleton. It's a lovely old coaching inn in a delightful village not far from the RSPB Nature Reserve at Minsmere.

They have decorated since our last stay a couple of years back when the surnishings were beginning to llok a bit shabby. We stayed in the Little Owl room as it had an extra bed for our 5 year old son. The room was at the top of the main building, very nicely presented with a lovelu bathroom and big free-standing bath. The whole set up was modern, clean, comfortable and quiet.

The restaurant is deservedly popular with an ambitious menu, which to be honest does not always quite hit the mark but is refreshingly different. Breakfast in the conservatory is a pleasant start to the day.

In summary, not cheap but a treat if you are visiting Minsmere. It remains at the top of our list for this area.

We booked a Mid range room at £140 per night - this is supposed to be a larger room with nice view ++, whilst the fluffy towels etc were provided the room had no window - only a velux skylight, and there was only room to access the bed from each side under the sloping roof and no other space - the bathroom was high quality but also small - I would say the true value of this accommodation is half the amount paid - how do they get away with it?!! On the positive side the food was excellent, it is expensive but the quality warrants the prices. A word of warning - the restaurant was already fully booked when we arrived (2.30pm)and we were only able to get a table for 8.45pm but were not seated until 9.15pm - they take bookings from non-residents and do not give residents priority - you need to book your restaurant table when you book your room. The hotel is ideally situated for touring some of the most beautiful areas of Suffolk.

Great hotel, recently refurbished so room was smart and clean. Room may not have been big, although we were told this at time of booking, but had everything needed.

Food a delight, dinner was high bquality and served very nicely. breakfast kept us going all day.

Stayed here for 2 nights in August 2006. Nice rural village, reasonably comfortable, nothing special.

Excellent breakfast and friendly staff.

No hot water on the 2nd morning, room outside of the Hotel/pub.

Very, very excessive charges. Cost £140 per night B&B.

This is sleepy Suffolk, not London!

This is a pub/ motel, not even 3 star hotel calibre!

If you have no where else to stay in area, not too fussy & with very deep pockets - you will not be too disappointed!

Again we happened upon this hotel by accident and were offered a room with easy access for the less able. It was actually a new conversion of the old outbuildings which were still underway. It had a wet room type shower and a bath strangely in the bedroom.

There were minor design flaws in this arrangement but it had only been finished the day before so we were the 'guinea pigs' !!

The furnishings and decor are of a very high standard and I am sure the minor problems will be ironed out. The food was excellent, even if the service was a bit erratic and the conservatory and gardens make it a very good place to stay.