Finalists announced for Small Hotel of the Year at Tourism Awards

This award aims to celebrate excellent small serviced accommodation businesses in our region that go above and beyond to provide memorable experiences for guests.

Here are this year's finalists.

The Bildeston Crown

The Bildeston Crown is a 15th century former coaching inn in the Suffolk village of Bildeston with 12 en suite double and twin rooms and a locally-sourced food offering.

The hotel was taken over by family-run Nedging Hall Estate in June 2022 and has successfully retained its three prestigious AA Rosettes since the takeover.

Under the new management, a new ‘estate-to-plate’ concept was introduced, incorporating produce grown less than a mile away at Nedging Hall into the food served in The Crown’s restaurant.

The hotel is proud of its Suffolk charm, and guests are welcomed with open fires and uniquely decorated bedrooms. It also has an outdoor dining area and a well-stocked bar.

The friendly staff are supported and developed in their careers and The Crown also employs two individuals as part of its work with the Porch Project charity, which supports children and young adults in Suffolk.

The judges said that the food at The Crown was “excellent and well-presented” and added that the hotel “has lots of character”, commenting on “the traditional wooden beams and unique rooms”.

They also felt that the website booking process was “easy to follow” and pricing of what was included was “clear”.

The Crown and Castle is situated next to the 12th century Orford Castle (Image: Matt Finch)

The Crown and Castle

The Crown and Castle is a 21-bedroom hotel situated next to the well-preserved 12th-century Orford Castle in Suffolk.

It was purchased in 2016 by The Hotel Folk, becoming the sixth hotel to join the group’s portfolio of unique properties across Suffolk. The new owners have worked hard to put their stamp on the property, bringing in a new chef in 2019 who is serving up a menu of locally-sourced cuisine in the restaurant and utilising targeted marketing to attract food-loving couples with a passion for the great outdoors.

The hotel includes 10 detached garden rooms, of which five are dog friendly, and the venue has introduced a bike store for guests bringing their bikes as well as four electric bikes for rent.

The Crown and Castle boasts 25 dedicated team members, some of whom have been with the hotel for more than a decade.

The judges were pleased to see locally-sourced food being served at the hotel and were impressed with the “enthusiastic and knowledgeable” team members, as well as the “high standard of décor and interesting artwork in rooms and public areas”, which they said makes for “an enjoyable stay for guests”.

The Grover Cromer has been owned by the Gravelings family since 1936 (Image: Chris Graveling)

The Grove Cromer

The Grove in Cromer, Norfolk was purchased by the Gravelings family in 1936. It has gone through a number of developments and expansions since then and is now being managed by the third generation of the family.

The hotel strives to offer something for everyone and offers16 bedrooms, six self-catering cottages, glamping yurts, the Massage Hut therapy studio, a swimming pool, and a two-AA Rosette restaurant, which uses produce grown in the gardens and from the local area.

In 2021, The Grove launched Sundown, a new seasonal restaurant serving Norfolk tapas and pizzas.

It has won a number of accolades over the years, being named winner of the AA B&B Story of the Year in 2017 and receiving the Eviivo Hidden Gem of the South East award in the same year.

The judges described the service at The Grove as “excellent” and they were impressed with both the “quality and creativity” of the food and the “innovative” menu.

The ambience, character and overall feel of the hotel was also praised, with the judges adding that this created “a relaxed stay for guests”.

The winners of the East of England Tourism Awards 2022-2023 will be announced at a black-tie event held at Milsoms Kesgrave Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk on Thursday, March 16.

To view the full East of England Tourism Awards 2022-2023 finalists supplement, please click here.