The Crown Inn

Lovely modern cosy room with a smart bathroom and a powerful hot shower. Comfy bed and large-sized wardrobes with a really good hospitality area (kettle, fridge, tea, coffee, biscuits, filtered water, corkscrew, wine glasses). Every detail seemed to have been considered! Breakfast was a little slow the first morning (30 mins' wait for a cooked breakfast) but was much slicker the next day. Fabulous cooked breakfast with lots of options. Dinner was excellent, highly recommended. Very friendly and helpful staff. Very quiet and tranquil area with options to walk along the Stour Valley trail and other footpaths, just what we wanted!

Check in is via the bar in the main restaurant and we had to wait a while. Admittedly it was a Saturday evening around 6pm but I would have preferred a dedicated Reception area. Also, the TV in our room was rather small compared to other hotels but, to be honest, we were out for most of the time so it wasn't really an issue.

Breakfast had a great choice from the menu and from the continental selection with fresh fruit and clearly labelled cereals. The dinner choices were outstanding. Everything I ate was fresh and well balanced. The fish choices and desserts were a particular favourite. The room was well decorated with a calming colour scheme and details considered such as the perfect curtain length. The outside space included various places to sit in the shade or sun, on the patio surrounded by plants or on the lawn with a view of the countryside. The plants brought nature to the rooms and meant I could watch birds and insects from my window. The rooms are away from the pub so piece can be found even on a busy night. Yet as it is such a short walk it won’t be a struggle for those who need step free access or little exertion.

Hard water has affected the shower and could deal with more effort to counter this.

The room was lovely. Large bed lovely bathroom. The hotel is also set in lovely grounds. .The rooms are in a separate building to the restaurant and bar so it was super quiet. There is also small lounge area in the bedroom building which was nice for being able to sit for a quiet drink in evening. Breakfast was tasty and my husbands coffee was made exactly to his preferred strength(strong black coffee).

On two of our mornings there was a problem with hot water supply. The first time I managed a wash but my husband had cold shower. The shower controls appear to be getting worn. The second time I had an almost cold wash and my husband just did not bother showering until much later as he could not face cold shower again. Also although breakfast was tasty it was a bit disappointing that the pastries ran out so quickly that not everybody could have one. The waitress did say some more could be cooked but it would take a while-so we declined. I do not know if other people asked about that or not.

Staff were polite, friendly and helpful. Breakfast was superb, lots of choice and papers made for a very lovely morning. Dinner in the pub was cozy some items were not great value like the pasta which was a tad bland but others were yummy like fish and chips. the room was a great size and had everything we needed. We left an item at the hotel and they kindly organised to send it back, again the staff were amazingly helpful. village was lovely and lots of parking Would definitely visit again.

Dinner in the pub was cozy some items were not great value like the pasta which was a tad bland but others were yummy like fish and chips.

The Breakfast was outstanding and included the rare appearance of grapefruit. The staff were all very helpful and hard working. We would particularly thank the manageress for her quiet understanding and other staff who were both hardworking and friendly. The gardener is to be congratulated for the upkeep of the patios and surrounding garden, The views from the Inn are of Constable quality and the village a gem.

The evening meal was dreadful and if the Crown gets a new chef we might return. The Crispy Duck was inedible and would cause a trip to the dentist and the skate was overcooked. The manageress was however understanding and did not charge us for these two dishes but it spoiled the evening,

The hotel is lovely, and the staff couldn't be more helpful. I regret having to give a low score for the facilities which, given a different set of circumstances, would I'm sure have been good to excellent. The hotel's kitchen was out of action (due to planned upgrading work) which left my party in a very difficult situation. The manager stepped up and paid for taxis to and from the nearest restaurant........a long way away! We were very grateful.

Apparently, the hotel's group HQ had chosen to close the kitchen without considering the impact on its customers. Closing on a Monday and Tuesday my be good timing for the hotel, but there is simply no where else to eat. The problem was compounded by only giving the customers a few days notice that they wouldn't be able to get any food on those evenings - far too late to make other plans. I'm afraid I'm rather unimpressed with an organisation that cares little for customers (but well done the local team for digging us out of a hole).

Lovely hotel rooms with nice garden to walk dogs or sit and have a drink.

As we only stay one night with our 2 dogs we felt £25 per dog rather excessive, it made it a very expensive one night stay. We were also promised for this extra £25 per dog, 2 dog beds, bowls & towels we only received one dog bowl & towel. When checking out we mentioned this a one of the dog fee was waived which soften the cost, thanks

Catered for all ages, additional outside facilities were a pleasant surprise.

The parking was extremely disappointing. Arrived in torrential rain, had to park on the street. Surely bays could be created for residents only. Every-time we went out we dreaded coming back, watching some people trying to manoeuvre their vehicles was an eye opener, trepidation about leaving the car.

Room was lovely and big, well furnished and decorated with a terrace. Bathroom was lovely looked newly done. Gardens beautiful, food and staff excellent.

Bed was a bit hard for older bones and we will need a super king next time as used to sleeping on one. Water in fridge great idea but neither of us could get stopper out when we went to get a drink before bed. Just little things.

Lovely room with comfy bed and great shower. Beautiful gardens and had a great meal in the restaurant both evenings. We didn’t sample the breakfast as still full from the nights before meals due and out early each morning. Good selection of beers and wine. Would return if visiting this area again.

Other half very excited by coffeemaker in the room but struggled to get a hot cup of coffee from it but could have been user error 🤣