THE Crown, the Adnams-owned hotel in Southwold, has reopened following a two-month refurbishment of its guest rooms by Suffolk-based interior designer Melissa Billen of MBD Interiors.

Since it closed at the beginning of the year, 10 bedrooms have been extensively refurbished in a style chosen to reflected the hotel’s coastal location and heritage.

In line with Adnams’ environmentally-conscious policy, local craftsmen and trade suppliers have used sustainable timbers and eco-friendly fabrics, as well as recycled materials, to complete the refurbishment.

Responsibly sourced products, such as lamps made from old fishing weights and floats, and mirrors made from recycled materials, were also used to finish the rooms, which feature roll top baths, luxury showers and original art prints by local artists.

An array of modern facilities are also available, including free Wi-Fi and docking stations for iPads and iPods – and, if they don’t have their own, guests can even hire an iPad for use during their stay.

Melissa Billen of Orford-based MBD Interiors, who previously refurbished Adnams’ Brewer’s House – a self-catering cottage located next to the Crown’s sister hotel, The Swan – said she had aimed to retain the Crown’s classic style.

“The individual design of each room had to be sympathetic to the heritage of the building and the values of Adnams as a brand,” she said.

“To help create a luxurious and boutique-feel, we’ve installed quirky yet sustainable furnishings such as the fishing float lamps, which contribute to the comfortable and contemporary style.”

Liz Cobbold, Adnams’ head of marketing for retail, who oversaw the project, said: “Southwold has, and always will be, a very important part of the Adnams brand so it was vital we retained the essence of Suffolk in the Crown’s re-design.

“As a values-led company we were also very conscious of the environmental impact of the refurbishment. The rooms have been carefully and lovingly finished using d�cor and furniture that are sympathetic to the environment.”