OUT OF OFFICE
WORDS NICOLA FOLEY
This contemporary hotels ticks all the boxes for a staycation
ostly overlooked in favour of its coastal neighbours, Ipswich might not spring to mind when
it comes to locations for a romantic minibreak, but this somewhat maligned Suffolk town has got plenty going for it. For Cambridge folk, it’s a relative breeze of a 60-minute journey (when compared to the one-lane slog of traffic to Norfolk, for example), and the marina, with its glittering lights, yacht sails as far as the eye can see and chic waterfront bars, is gorgeous. The waterfront’s crowning glory, and our home for the night, is the striking Salthouse Hotel , a refurbished warehouse building right on the harbour. It’s the sister venue of Bury St Edmunds’ famous Angel Hotel , and shares with it a playful , bright design, though the Salthouse is edgier, with its exposed brickwork, swathes of colourful glass and zingy leather seating. Art is everywhere – a huge gold scorpion here, a suit of armour draped in pearls there, and almost every inch of available wall space adorned in bold, abstract paintings, set off by purply-pink mood lighting. Upstairs, the spacious bedrooms showcase stunning waterfront views with floor-to-ceiling windows and glass juliet balconies, amping up the luxury with free-standing copper bathtubs, king-sized beds and yet more statement artwork. Extra points for the bathroom, which boasts the largest shower I’ve ever seen and
comes equipped with fluffy robes and premium toiletries. Glass of wine and bath full , it’s a struggle to motivate myself to get downstairs for dinner (so much so that I seriously consider cancelling my reservation and ordering room service – the sign of a truly great hotel bedroom, I’d say…), but I’m glad I ventured down. The restaurant, under the steer of award-winning head chef Luke Bailey, is a big draw for the hotel , offering premium dining in a cool , industrial-chic setting and serving great local seafood as well as a variety of crowd-pleasing classics. For starters, we opted for scallops, timelessly paired with pea puree and bacon, plus a rustling bowl of gherkin fritters and calamari coated in lip-smacking Cajun seasoning, with plenty of aioli for
mopping. Perfect finger food to enjoy with a carafe of ice-cold white wine. For mains, we feasted on dressed Norfolk crab, whose sweet flakes of meat were beautifully accompanied by a mound of buttery new potatoes, and a perfectly-pink Suffolk red poll steak teamed with creamy béarnaise sauce and a generous bowl of chunky chips. Although the desserts were tempting (and included dark chocolate and raspberry millefeuille), we were good for nothing but hitting the hay in our sumptuous room. The next morning, September sunshine streaming through the French doors and a sublime full English breakfast packed with local produce in front of us, we could barely drag ourselves away come check-out time. The Salthouse wraps you up in stylish luxury from the second you arrive, and the staff are a huge asset to this charming hotel , always working hard to ensure your stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. With many opting for UK travel this year, I can’t recommend the Salthouse enough for a spectacular staycation filled with delicious food and relaxation. salthouseharbour.co.uk
IMAGES The Salthouse Hotel sits on Ipswich
Water front , while the interior boasts plenty of ar t
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