Hotel Review: The Mill Hotel, Sudbury

If you are looking for a waterside staycation this summer, this historic converted watermill on the bank of the River Stour makes the perfect base to explore Sudbury and its surrounding areas.

A mill has stood on this site for more than 1000 years and was in working operation until 1964.

Since then, it has become part of the Surya Hotel Group, the hotel is part of a collection of 13 venues – Surya Hotels which have other hotels in East Anglia such as The Kingscliff Hotel in Holland on Sea.

Meeting history with contemporary flourishes the mill’s original features have been preserved including the waterwheel itself, found in the restaurant and bar space.

Staying at The Mill

There are 62 rooms, some dog friendly too, so feel free have your four-legged friend tag along – you will have plenty of fun exploring the Suffolk countryside.

We stayed in room 2 which has gorgeous riverside views of the Stour. It was standard in size with warm tones and exposed beams, making it comfortable for a small family – including our two-year-old toddler Leo.

The room had a good-sized bed with a feature headboard, plus, plenty of time to keep the kids entertained as every room is equipped with a flat-screen TV with Freeview channels and complimentary Wi-Fi.

If you really want to treat yourself you can always request The Mill’s suite. This expansive space showcases a king size double bed and comfortable lounge area and regal roll-top bath, as well as a large bathroom with a luxurious rain shower. When the fancy takes you, allow your breath to catch on the Juliette balconies, as they serve up an unbroken vista of the Suffolk countryside over the mill pond.

Food and Drink

When it comes to dining at The Mill, allow the surrounding countryside to set the precedent.`

As this particular evening was so warm we decided to dine outside, looking out onto stunning water meadows and gently rolling hills.

The all day menu at The Mill delivers an imaginative modern British menu with an AA Rosette for culinary excellence. The same menu was being served in both the Meadow Bar and Riverside Restaurant.

Food and drink can also be served on the rooftop terrace, which has fantastic views over the Suffolk scenery.

First up – starters… my husband and I both ordered the warm beetroot and goats cheese salad.

You can’t get much better on a summer evening. It was packed full of fresh ingredients which are all locally sourced where possible. I also loved the added texture and flavours of the mandarin pieces! Leo ordered some cheesy garlic bread from the kids menu, which lasted all of five minutes, which then led us onto the main event.

For me being a vegetarian, I opted for the moving mountains BBQ vegan burger in a toasted pretzel bun, with pickles and fries. It was delicious and I am sure you will agree from the image below it looked like pretty impressive!

My husband chose a fish dish, and selected the pan fried cod and bombay cauliflower, curried mussels…

Whilst Leo indulged in a kids vegetable curry.

The desserts were delicious too and included a Mill-style Eton Mess and a selection of cheese from Essex and Suffolk.

Location and things to do…

You can’t beat a walk through Sudbury Common Lands, opposite the hotel. This ancient wetland spans more than 50 hectares and is managed by a local charity. It’s easy to get to – simply turn right out of the main hotel entrance and you’ll see a gate on the other side of the River Stour.

For art lovers (when restrictions allow), Gainsborough’s House explores the life and art of Thomas Gainsborough. One of the greatest artists of his age, he is renowned throughout the world for his portrait and landscape paintings.

If you love the river, why not book a boat trip? Check out how here > https://www.riverstourtrust.org/river-trips/

The verdict

A peaceful escape with the most gorgeous picturesque views around. A great place to use as a base for the weekend or a few days, with a strong food menu all set within a building steeped in history.

Check out special offers on the website for more details.

Things to note:

Look out for the mummified cat near reception. It is thought to date back to the 16th Century, when burying cats alive in a building was thought to protect it from evil spirits.

Parking, the hotel has its own car park but it can get full quickly – there is also on street parking near by.

Hotel Review: The George, Colchester, Essex

By Rachel Ducker

With history steeping back beyond 500 years, The George, sits proudly in the very heart of Colchester’s thriving town centre.

Having been such a prominent fixture of the high street, until recently The George has been closed for restoration works, but boy was it worth it.

With Surya Hotel Group now at the helm of the operation the hotel has been completely revamped whilst working with Colchester’s Council, a team of designers, restorers, and specialist contractors throughout the renovation process.

As a grade II listed property, this was no walk in the park, its new exterior has been painted in a classic sage green, meeting the historical guidelines but also giving the façade a real face lift. Behind it sits a timber framed building believed to be dated back to the 14th century.

The interior is full of unique touches such as murals painted by award winning local artist Lucy Tiffney, a new Moroccan-style partially covered courtyard and Victorian-inspired afternoon tearoom – called T at The George (opening in July 2021).

Staying at The George

There are 49 rooms all full of designer touches, period features and exposed beams. Suites are also available; one even has a freestanding bath.

During my visit I was lucky enough to stay in The Boudica Suite with my husband and two-year-old son Leo. The town and hotel have proven links to Queen Boudica hence the gentle nod in its name.

It was a spacious room with a contemporary décor, however with its beautiful beams and big sash windows it still maintained those period touches you would expect from a room of this age.

The room was sizeable with its own separate seating area, a luxurious gold velvet sofa made a perfect place to enjoy a coffee and read a book. There was also plenty of space for a travel cot for Leo, which was supplied by the hotel.

Food and Drink

Featuring a stylish bar, lounge, and restaurant there are plenty of zones to wine and dine.

From brunch, lunch to lighter bites there is also a Secret Courtyard with its beautiful Moroccan and floral décor all under a glass roof, so come rain or shine, you can enjoy all its charm.

The two tired restaurant offers a daily a la carte menu inspired by British and word cuisines using locally sourced and seasonal produce from award winning suppliers. There is even a little person’s menu so everything at The George is family friendly.

My starter, a heritage tomato salad with basil, bocconcini, rocket, shallot & caper dressing, took me back to a memorable trip I had away in Greece last year, where I picked fresh tomatoes from the farm to use in my dish. Absolutely packed full of flavour and bursting with delicious hints of sweet and sour this dish could have come straight from the garden.

My husband indulged in the haddock risotto, and as you can see, the star of the show was the golden yolk of the crispy duck egg, and for Leo, garlic dough balls of course.

For the main event as a vegetarian, I was delighted to see The George also offer a vegan menu, so I opted for the coconut braised curried lentils with roasted butternut squash, spinach pakoras and coriander. It’s hard to find places that do veggie food well, but I am happy to report The George is one of them.

Life changes when you become a parent, so fellow mums and dads can probably relate to having an over tired child with them at dinner, so as we passed the point of no return an unexpected service presented itself.

Not only was the food amazing, so too were the staff at The George and not just restaurant staff, but everyone including security. So, when our waitress suggested having dessert in our room – we jumped at the chance not just to try something different but also to save the room for toddler screams!

Ten minutes later, a knock at the door and in walks a smiling face with tray of two perfectly cooked chocolate fondants and a small brownie for Leo. Now that’s service.

Local Area

Colchester is full of history and is England’s oldest recorded town with events dating back over 2000 years. Visitor attractions include Colchester Castle, its well-known zoo and plenty of shops, parks and picturesque villages surrounding the town.

The Verdict

Having been a regular visitor to The George, (back in its day), I have to say I was in awe of its transformation.

A lot of care, attention and love has been put in to restoring this hotel back to its former glory. It feels alive again and after surviving a tough year it’s a pleasure to sit back and watch laughter and conversation return to one of the town’s most historic buildings.

As a family we enjoyed the whole experience The George had to offer, but most of all felt completely relaxed and welcome throughout our stay. It’s hard to find a place that ticks all of the boxes but we felt this hotel really did.

Things to note:

The George has its own pay and display car park situated at the back of the hotel so don’t be put off by worrying about parking on the high street.

The hotel is part of a collection of 13 venues – Surya Hotels which have other hotels in Essex such as The Kingscliff Hotel in Holland on Sea.

It’s in walking distance from the castle and there is a local train station with good travel links.

Sneak peak of The George Hotel in Colchester after £10m revamp

A HISTORIC town centre hotel will reopen its doors next week after a £10 million revamp, it has been announced.

The Grade-II George Hotel, in High Street, will reopen to the public for the first time on Friday, May 28, following a total refurbishment.

The hotel has been a hub of activity in Colchester for more than 500 years, but closed at the end of July 2019 as works on the renovation to begin.

In the run up to reopening, owner Surya Hotels, has given residents a sneak peak of the premises via the George Hotel Instagram account.

 
 
 
 

Designs for the new afternoon tea area

Photos posted include artists impressions of its new Moroccan-style partially covered courtyard and Victorian-inspired afternoon tea room – called T at The George – which will open this summer.

Posts of designers’ touches across the hotel have also been revealed including close-ups of luxury Sanderson fabrics and a partnership with high end audio brand Bang & Olufsen, which has been installing sound systems across the site.

Award-winning local artist Lucy Tiffney has even been commissioned to paint a stunning mural behind the reception desk.

The George Hotel has undergone a £10m revamp

The artist, who has over 70,000 followers on Instagram, is renowned for her colourful designs and has titled the bespoke work ‘Jaipur Sky’.

In the kitchen, award-winning chef Aaron Skerrit, former head chef of establishments like Milsoms Hotels & Restaurants, will be taking the helm at the George.

The restaurant will return from next Friday with a superior food offering and the owners want to see it become one of the town’s top dining destinations.

A hallway inside the revamp George Hotel

Suki Dulai, chief executive officer of the Flying Trade Group

Suki Dulai, chief executive officer of the Flying Trade Group, which is behind the Surya Hotels brand, said: “The George is a beautiful and nationally rare building and it is incredibly exciting to be on the verge of opening its doors once again.

“We feel greatly privileged to have been tasked with bringing this historic site into the 21st century while respecting its amazing heritage.

“Whilst we have brought the hotel back up to date with modern comforts our focus has always been to retain the charm and ambience of this beautiful hotel and preserve the historical atmosphere of the building.

“Despite unexpected set backs with the pandemic and the refurbishment going well over budget, and schedule, we have remained committed to getting this project spot on – funding the excess without cutting any corners.

“It has been a painstaking project but we are incredibly proud to have played a part in returning this magnificent site to its former glory and can’t wait to share the full details next week when we start welcoming our loyal customers back.”

How the new outside dining courtyard could look

Surya Hotels has worked with historians, Colchester Council, designers, restorers, joiners and specialist contractors throughout the renovation.

Bookings are available from Friday, May 28, with some first come first serve space available in the bar, lounge and courtyard.

To keep up to date with the latest news follow The George’s Instagram accounts @thegeorgecolchester and @teaatthegeorge.