The Marlborough Dedham

Me and family stayed over night at The Marlborough hotel when we went to see Tom Jones at the Colchester Castle! The Hotel Rooms were stunning with comfortable beds and the showers were huge especially in my room ( room 2 ) and the bedrooms we're spotless. The breakfast which was included in our price was so good and we we're served by a lovely lady Called Teressa who couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. If you do happen to visit the charming village of Dedham, you must stay at this quaint 14th century hotel it exceeded our expectations and we will certainly return again!

The breakfast was excellent. We had the little full English and I also had a muffin complete with large field mushroom poached egg and hollandaise sauce which was exceptional. The service was very good. We also had two evening meals. The shepherds pie was very tasty and my husband enjoyed the fish and chips. The next evening I had the chicken curry from the specials menu. I also tried a banana and rum cheesecake which was beautifully presented with honeycomb ice cream chocolate shards and actual honeycomb. It tasted as good as it looked and wasn’t overpriced. We were pleased with our room. The only negative was that the stairs up to it were steep and the doors very heavy. Fine for us but no good for anyone on the frail side. We loved the fact that the floor sloped. You knew you were staying somewhere old and with history to it. The bed was comfy and the room nicely presented. We also appreciated the homemade ginger biscuits. We have stayed in a best western this year and you didn’t even get given packaged biscuits let alone homemade. We loved the location. We were close to the high class cooperative so we bought a meal deal from there for our walk from Dedham to East Bergholt and Flatford. We loved Dedham and enjoyed seeing the constable painting in the church. The surrounding area is very beautiful. Would highly recommend for a short break. We were very lucky that we had lovely weather when we went the first week in September. Lots of people were paddle boarding or rowing on the Stour. We had a short ride in the electric boat at Flatford which was very enjoyable.

All the staff we had dealings with were, without exception, pleasant, friendly and helpful. The food was all excellent. The choices in the breakfast menu were better than many places we've stayed in. Dinner was superb, better than we'd expected for somewhere in this price range. The room was cosy, comfy and spotlessly clean.

Excellent amenities in the rooms, a good number of tasty tea bags and coffee for the machine. Delicious bonus of locally-made ginger biscuits which were really tasty. Glorious shower, very comfortable bed. The breakfast was fabulous (particularly the yoghurt and granola, and the light English breakfast) really excellent value for money. Staff very attentive. Would heartily recommend, in fact we are already planning on a return visit.

A lovely, traditional pub hotel in the heart of this beautiful village. Very comfy room and very helpful, friendly staff.