Retreat East
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Hotel Details
Location
Retreat East, Brick Kiln Farm, Hintlesham, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3NT, United Kingdom
United Kingdom, Europe
Location
Retreat East · Ipswich, United Kingdom
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Key Highlights
- ✓Exceptional Dining: The Great Barn restaurant receives consistent acclaim for its seasonal, farm-to-fork cuisine, with many ingredients sourced directly from the on-site garden.
Expert Review: Retreat East
Retreat East, nestled in the serene Suffolk countryside near Ipswich, United Kingdom, consistently earns high praise as a luxurious and tranquil escape. This Michelin Key Selected property offers a unique "deconstructed hotel" experience, blending rustic charm with modern elegance across its collection of beautifully restored barns, shepherd's huts, and a 16th-century farmhouse.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
Retreat East generally receives exceptional feedback, with guests consistently describing it as a peaceful, relaxing, and high-quality destination. Review platforms reflect this positive sentiment, with an impressive 8.3/10 score on Trip.com based on 47 reviews, and high ratings on Booking.com including 9.0 for location and cleanliness, 8.9 for comfort and staff, and 8.3 for facilities. Agoda.com also reports an overall rating of 9.3. The atmosphere is often highlighted as tranquil and conducive to unwinding, perfect for "weary city dwellers" seeking to "get away, go off grid and enjoy some peace and quiet."
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently laud Retreat East for several standout features:
- Design & Ambiance: The property's unique blend of restored 16th-century farm buildings and modern "eco-luxurious" barns creates an aesthetically pleasing and cosy environment.
- Wellness Facilities: The on-site spa, including a sauna, steam room, and outdoor hot tub, is a significant draw, offering a chance for rejuvenation. Massages and other treatments are available, often using Chinese medicine-inspired products.
- Exceptional Dining: The Great Barn restaurant receives consistent acclaim for its seasonal, farm-to-fork cuisine, with many ingredients sourced directly from the on-site garden.
- Dog-Friendly Policy: Retreat East is highly praised for being genuinely dog-friendly, allowing well-behaved dogs in most rooms and even in the main barn for meals, with amenities like a "four paw spa."
- Sustainability Efforts: The retreat prioritizes environmental sustainability, utilizing solar panels, a borehole for water, and an efficient waste system, contributing to its "Sustainable Hotel of the Year" award in the East of England.
- Activities: Complimentary bicycles are available for exploring the surrounding countryside, and the hotel can arrange activities like yoga, archery, and clay pigeon shooting.
3. Room Quality
The accommodation at Retreat East comprises a diverse collection of 29 barns, studios, shepherd's huts, and a four-bedroom farmhouse, each with its unique character. Guests describe the rooms as elegant, unique, beautifully decorated, cosy, clean, and supremely comfortable. Features often highlighted include premium bedding, free Wi-Fi, private outdoor spaces (decking or courtyards), and luxury amenities such as Grind coffee machines. Many barns boast woodburning stoves for a cosy atmosphere and some even include roll-top baths on the terrace or outdoor tubs. The design often merges "cottagecore meets Modern House" with attention to detail.
4. Dining Experience
The dining experience at Retreat East, primarily at The Great Barn restaurant, is a major highlight. The restaurant is celebrated for its commitment to seasonal, locally sourced, and often organic ingredients, with many items grown in the hotel's own kitchen garden. Menus change weekly, offering creative and delicious dishes that are artistic yet unfussy. Breakfast options are extensive, including continental (often complimentary), buffet, à la carte, full English/Irish, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices. Guests particularly enjoy the quality of the food and the ability to dine with their dogs in the restaurant.
5. Service & Staff
The staff at Retreat East consistently receive positive feedback for their hospitality. Guests describe them as friendly, attentive, helpful, and accommodating, contributing significantly to a relaxing and enjoyable stay. One reviewer stated, "Nothing is too much for the staff and they were beyond accommodating."
6. Location & Accessibility
Retreat East is situated in a tranquil, rural area of Suffolk, approximately 20 minutes by car from Ipswich. This secluded setting offers picturesque countryside, ideal for walks and cycling. For those travelling by public transport, Ipswich Station has half-hourly train services to London Liverpool Street, and a taxi ride covers the remaining distance. Norwich International Airport is 67 km (42 miles) away, and Stansted Airport is about an hour and ten minutes' drive. While a car is handy for exploring the wider Suffolk coast and nearby attractions like Jimmy's Farm, Needham Lake, and the market town of Bury St Edmunds, the retreat itself offers plenty to do for those who prefer to stay on-site.
7. Value & Pricing
While considered a luxury experience, the value for money is generally rated positively, with a 7.8/10 on Booking.com. Prices for a stay can start from around US$309. The property offers various packages, including "Dinner, Bed & Breakfast" with a £50 per person dinner allocation, and "Spa & Stay" packages which include a 30-minute complimentary treatment and continental breakfast. Wedding packages, which include accommodation and catering, start from £16,000 for a weekday in January.
8. Common Complaints
Despite overwhelmingly positive reviews, some minor criticisms have been noted:
- Spa/Hot Tub Availability & Maintenance: Some guests have reported difficulty booking spa slots, even when trying to do so in advance. There have been isolated comments about the outdoor hot tub being "luke warm" or not perfectly clean.
- Service Lapses: While staff are generally praised, one guest mentioned room service plates being left outside their barn for several days. Another noted slow service and lack of replenishment at breakfast, requiring guests to ask for items.
- Bicycle Condition: A review mentioned complimentary bikes being poorly maintained with low tyres, making them impractical for longer rides.
- Minor Room Issues: Limited storage for clothing in some shepherd's huts has been noted.
- Additional Charges: A few guests were surprised by additional charges, such as a dog fee or a bottle of wine, which they believed to be complimentary.
Sources
- coolplaces.co.uk
- michelin.com
- designinsiderlive.com
- womenshealthmag.com
- trip.com
- booking.com
- booking.com
- agoda.com
- boutiquehandbook.com
- retreateast.co.uk
- thesaucemag.com
- hotels.com
- countryandtownhouse.com
- mrandmrssmith.com
- hotelsinipswich.com
- retreateast.co.uk
- expedia.com
- expedia.co.uk
- retreateast.co.uk
- cocoweddingvenues.co.uk
- booking.com
Points to Consider
- •Despite overwhelmingly positive reviews, some minor criticisms have been noted:
- •Bicycle Condition: A review mentioned complimentary bikes being poorly maintained with low tyres, making them impractical for longer rides.
- •Minor Room Issues: Limited storage for clothing in some shepherd's huts has been noted.
Google Reviews
427 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Scott Thomas
Stayed here a few weeks back, for my partners birthday, absolutely loved it! The staff were very welcoming and even put a birthday card and treat inside our cabin which was very nice of them. Couldn’t fault this place the spa facilities were brilliant and the food was excellent very cozy place to stay. Definitely will be coming back. Highly recommended! Thanks again!
Response from the owner
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We’re delighted you chose to celebrate such a special occasion with us and that the birthday touches were appreciated. It’s wonderful to hear you loved the sp...
Alex
We had a wonderful stay at Retreat East. The staff were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and very helpful throughout our visit. Our apartment was large, warm, and extremely well equipped, with everything you could need. It included a spacious bathroom, a comfortable bedroom, a living room, a modern kitchen, and the added bonus of private parking right outside the room in the forecourt. Breakfast w...
Response from the owner
Thank you for such a lovely review. We’re delighted you enjoyed your stay, from the comfort of your barn to the breakfast, spa and peaceful grounds. It’s wonderful to hear the team made you feel so we...
Ian Jarrold
Stunning! Wonderful accommodation, excellent food, relaxing treatments and spa facilities - all set in beautiful countryside. Staff struck a great balance of professionalism, friendliness and warmth. Grind coffee machine in the room mentioned on the website was not present, some coat hooks in the room would be useful, and some more teabags would have been great - but this is absolutely pedantry. R...
Response from the owner
Thank you so much for this fantastic review. We’re delighted you enjoyed the accommodation, food, spa treatments and countryside setting, and it’s lovely to hear the team struck the right balance duri...
Ellie Dearden
My husband and I stayed for 2 nights mid week in January. We came for a chance to relax and slow down after the hype of Christmas. We found it ticked the boxes in terms of a beautiful space to unwind in front of a beautiful fire surrounded by nature. We can’t fault the service of the retreat itself. The main disappointment was the evening food. The menu is limited, not an issue in itself but if it...
Response from the owner
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We’re really pleased to hear you enjoyed the setting, atmosphere and service, and that Retreat East provided the calm escape you were loo...
James Barber
What a difference a few years can make. My wife and I first dined here several years ago, when both the food and service were exceptional. As we were back in the area recently, we booked another meal, but unfortunately it was a major disappointment. The food was uninspiring and poorly executed, more akin to basic bistro fare than what we remembered. The kitchen garden, which had previously been a...
Response from the owner
Thank you for taking the time to share your honest feedback. We’re genuinely sorry to hear that your recent visit did not reflect the high standards you remembered from your earlier experience, partic...
Elle M
I went to Retreat East for their spa day package, £125 for a treatment and afternoon tea. We arrived early like the website said to use the spa facilities, but the receptionist then told us that the £125 did not include access to them (only sauna and steam room, there is no pool). Luckily, no one was using the facilities at the time so we were very kindly allowed to use them. The showers in the "s...
Response from the owner
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback following your visit to Retreat East.<br><br>Unfortunately, the spa day package you had booked does not include full spa facility access. This is o...
