A Serene Suffolk Staycation At The Stylish Penta Hotel Ipswich

02 Oct A Serene Suffolk Staycation At The Stylish Penta Hotel Ipswich

I was looking forward to my staycation adventure to Suffolk to learn, discover and explore further all about this beautiful part of the world and it didn’t let me down. With it’s sprawling hills, eclectic mix of gorgeous scenery, unspoilt coastline and picturesque quaint villages, it really did take my breath away.

At present staycations have never been so topical and have been steadily gaining in popularity. A record-breaking 7.3 million people have taken a holiday in England during the first quarter of 2016, up by 10% compared to the same period in 2015, according to Visit England.

My relatively short journey by train from London Liverpool Street station direct to Ipswich Central station took just over an hour which was pleasant and relaxing.

For my Suffolk staycation I was staying at the very stylish and contemporary boutique Penta Hotel situated in Ipswich and is a 5 minute walk from Ipswich Central train station. The hotel is also well placed for explorers like myself to venture off to visit serene nearby towns and villages such as Bildeston, Lavenham and the imperial Bury St Edmunds to name but a few. Ipswich town centre and the award-winning Water Front Marina with its bustling bars and restaurants are equally close by too.

I was greeted by Georgiana at reception with a warm smile and my check-in was smooth too. The staff all wear cool Diesel branded outfits and mellow relaxed music is the background soundtrack that greets guests on arrival. Penta Hotel Ipswich staff have a very easy-going, informal, yet professional manner when addressing guests and this instantly made me feel relaxed and at home.

This dynamic and sophisticated outpost boasts 126 bedrooms and the interior design of the hotel and its spaces has a unique urban chic look and feel that could easily resemble a very swanky Manhattan apartment in New York. What’s more, I found navigating myself around the hotel very easily and everything I needed was close to hand and of top quality too.

I loved the open planned appeal at Penta Hotel Ipswich which promotes guests to interact with one another over a drink at its glitzy bar area. The Penta lounge is also a winner in my eyes, with its delightful sofa’s, a world class pool table, large digital flat-screen TV’s strategically placed around the lounge area and a PlayStation 4 for all those gaming enthusiasts too.

My bedroom was generous in size, bright, airy and welcoming with an ultra modern comfy kingsize bed, first class bedding and designer furniture pieces bringing the room to life. Other amenities within the room consisted of a nice shower area, air-conditioning, large LG digital flat-screen TV, complementary Pay-TV with a superb selection of latest film releases to watch from the comfort of your own room. Other key components such as a good number of ports for mobile devices, free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities finished off the room nicely.

The restaurant area at Penta Hotel Ipswich is intimate and classy with a great menu to match.

My dining experience was fantastic and hearty at the same time. Penta Hotel Ipswich create some outstanding cocktails and I was served an amazing strawberry fused mocktail which was simply exquisite in both look and taste.

For my starters I went for the Nachos which were divine, moreish and covered in classic melted cheese, sour cream, guacamole and salsa. For my main course I was recommended to try the Penta Heart Attack Burger which consisted of 2 beef pasties stacked with grilled bacon, melted cheddar and served with crispy fries and a vegetable garnish. I really enjoyed this burger as it was both delicious and incredibly filling too. By the time I got to the dessert menu I could hardly move but I managed to sample the impressive cherry cobbler with vanilla ice-cream and the pan baked chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream. This was a perfect end to the day during my Penta Hotel Ipswich staycation experience and I was looking forward to finding out more.

The next morning I went to test out the gym within the hotel and although it is small in size it certainly has enough equipment and accessories to certainly pack a strong punch for all those health and well-being aficinado’s looking for their gym fix. I personally had a good work out and the pleasure of all the splendid food I had eaten the night before was now translating into pain in the gym. Once my challenging training session was over and I eventually caught up with my breath, I was off to explore and discover a little more about Suffolk and its alluring landscape.

My first stop was Jimmy’s Farm which is an adorable farm site open all year to the public and features a farm shop, butchery, nature trail, restaurant and activities for the whole family to enjoy, it was teeming with children and their families all enjoying a great day out and is located a short drive away from Ipswich.

I then headed back into Ipswich town and visited the award winning Water Front Marina which was brimming with activity with all the shops, restaurants, bars and hotels in close proximity. As I strolled along the water’s edge on a glorious summer’s day the sparkling sunshine shimmied effortlessly off the luxury yachts and boats in the harbour. I could see why this majestic wharf was so popular with so many visitors.

My next pit stop on my Suffolk staycation trail took me to the charming village of Lavenham which is noted for its 15th century church, half-timbered medieval cottages and circular walk. Before heading back to Ipswich I stopped off at the graceful village of Bildeston which has some of the most unspoilt rural surroundings on offer. I visited the lovely Bildeston Crown Hotel for a swift well deserved apple juice. Bildeston is located in the very heart of Suffolk’s countryside close to the medieval Wool Towns. The Bildeston Crown is an original 15th century coaching inn which has been carefully renovated and refurbished to an exceptional standard. The magnificent architecture provides a comfortable and stylish base whilst retaining its original character, beams and open fires.

In summary, my Penta Hotel Ipswich Suffolk staycation quest was a perfect blend of old meets new and demonstrated that the two can live together in seamless harmony.

Penta Hotel Ipswich is a young, progressive hotel that has captured and implemented a suave neighbourhood lifestyle design in and around the property that makes its guests feel right at home. With their newly refurbished and uniquely-designed bedrooms in Ipswich, they have created a one-of-a-kind design led boutique hotel that takes the guest experience to a whole new level. Combined with being situated so close to the angelic Suffolk countryside this is a winning partnership that I look forward to experiencing again in the not too distant future.