Room with a view: The Brudenell Hotel

When I heard that I was assigned a review which was to take me to the fishing port and seaside resort of Aldeburgh to stay in a newly refurbished and restyled 4 star hotel and dine out at their 2 rosettes restaurant, I ran outside, embraced the first passer-by, came back in quickly and started researching The Brudenell’s rich and interesting history.

The Brudenell Hotel has breathtaking views of the North Sea due to its fabulous location right next to the town’s historic promenade on a beautiful stretch of the Suffolk Heritage coast. This top sea-side establishment underwent major refurbishment a year ago. It is a very large and impressive building with a bright white façade. The original incarnation dates from the 19th century and started life as a private house. An atmospheric copy of a black and white photograph which depicts the house in 1903, soon after this magnificent Georgian building became a hotel, has pride of place in the lounge.

In 1999 Trust House Forte sold The Brudenell and, to this day, it remains privately-owned by Thorpeness & Aldeburgh Hotels Ltd. The company’s eclectic portfolio includes five distinct and individual boutique hotels situated in Suffolk: The Thorpeness Hotel Golf & Country Club, the iconic Swan Hotel in medieval Lavenham, The Crown at Woodbridge, The White Lion and The Budenell in Aldeburgh.

There is a whole series of reasons why The Brudenell is special. Firmly, at the top of that list is the staff. They just can’t do enough to make your stay memorable, comfortable and relaxing. As always, first impressions count.

The Brudenell’s  Deluxe Sea View bedroom is amazing;  “Luxurious” and “spacious” doesn’t even begin to describe it.  The wow factor is provided by the large bay window offering a panoramic sea view. Imagine waking up, to gaze into that expanse of sea.

Then there is the silence. The room is so, so, quite. The stillness is broken only by the sound of the waves gently rolling on the shingle beach. The bedrooms at the back of the building enjoy beautiful views of the River Alde and the surrounding countryside. There’s no two ways about it, The Brudnell is situated in a wonderful location.

Breaking the charm, I started to take notes of the décor and facilities. Flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi access which was being put to the test by my partner, thick curtains, a modern bathroom with luxurious toiletries, two seating areas, a bed which after investigation revealed to be two double beds zipped together, vibrant and calming colours associated with the hues of the sea.

Oops, I was going to forget, placed out of sight in a clear wood cabinet, complementary tea, coffee and biscuits are replenished at any time. And there is a turn-down service. Whoopee.

En route for the bar and before diner, we were shown to the lounge which has uninterrupted views of the sea too, through large window-panes. Little islands of comfy seats and low tables are dotted around. This is a convivial place where one can seat quietly while deciding on a pre-dinner drink or strike a conversation with other residents.

Besides cocktails and the usual aperitifs, there was a special menu dedicated to “paying homage to the gin and tonic.” I chose a gin from Southwold-based brewery, Adnams. It was an explosion of herbs, spice, citrus and flowers – I had absolutely no idea that gin could taste that good.

Sourcing food and drinks locally seems to be a running thread at The Brudenell Hotel. The restaurant offers “Fishy Thursday,” a fish and chip supper for the family. Francis Moore, the recently appointed Head-Chef has previously worked in some of London’s leading restaurants, including Nichol Fahri, Pont de la Tour.

His new menus puts an emphasis on creating simple and fresh dishes – solid dishes executed to high standards. However there are some wacky additions to satisfy the more adventurous diners. I was blown away the wasabi cream, an accompaniment to the treacle cured salmon and while the bitter chocolate tart may have  disappointed a little, the coffee and the petit-fours served on the terrace made up for it.

The feast doesn’t stop with the evening meal, the breakfast is a joyous affair too. Taken al fresco on the covered terrace, watching kids play on the beach while tucking into a hearty Suffolk breakfast or a scrambled eggs with salmon. For the greedy characters among us, there is also a buffet to kick it all off. As always the staff are attentive to every single one of the clients’ needs.

Prices to stay at The Brudenell Hotel in low season, at the weekend, start from £90 for a single and £160 for a double. The Deluxe Sea View in high season weekend is £314.

The Brudenell Hotel, The Parade, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5BU, 01728 452071