The Crown & Castle is owned by Ruth and David Watson (lately of Hintlesham Hall - also a Signpost member hotel). It has been completely refurbished in the past two years to provide 18 modern bedrooms, 11 of which are in the new ground floor annexe (where dogs are allowed). All are bright and airy with Fired Earth and Paint Library colours, Osborne and Little curtains and blinds, top quality beds and Conran furniture. Ruth Watson being a food writer, the restaurant is at the heart of the operation: wonderful locally sourced produce including Cromer crab and Orford lobster, Snape asparagus, Suffolk pheasant or Old Spot pork belly according to season.
There is lots to do and see in the area: Orford Castle Keep faces the hotel; there are wonderful sea and woodland walks nearby and Orford Ness, a 12-mile long shingle spit is now a National Trust owned bird sanctuary. Woodbridge, Aldeburgh, Snape Maltings and the wide horizons of the East Suffolk countryside are all around.
> Rooms:
18
> Facilities nearby include golf, sea bathing, tennis and gardens.
> The Crown and Castle Hotel is open all year |
About Signpost
(£10 fee) 
Tel: 01280 850603