Hintlesham Hall Hotel

Just so you know what you're looking at, the original house was built in the 16th century, but the pink-painted façade is a creation of the 18th century (1720 to be precise). This beautiful and impressive building is these days a country-house hotel of considerable charm - traditional, luxurious and grand. There are three dining rooms and the pick of the bunch is The Salon, which really and truly would not look out of place in a stately home or royal palace with its soaring natural features and lavish period décor. The cooking of head chef Alan Ford is not so rooted in the past, but neither does it chase every modern fad and fashion. You might start with cider-braised pork belly, apple and leek terrine served with a golden sultana and apple relish, before moving on to breast of local Gressingham duck with a sweet potato and tarragon cake and wild mushroom sauce. Regional ingredients get a good showing on the menu. To finish, iced pistachio parfait comes with spiced roasted plums, and the cheeses hail from Britain and France.