Orford, Nr Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 2LJ Telephone: 01394 450205 Fax: on request

There has been an inn on the site of the Crown and Castle for centuries, although it is the Victorians whom we have to thank for its present red-brick exterior and high, gabled roof. With a picture-book, Norman castle (or keep, to be precise) just yards away, the hotel stands on the corner of Orford's old market square, and has a south-facing garden to the rear, where guests can eat al fresco in the summer. The 18 en-suite bedrooms are divided between the main house and the garden, the latter being particularly suitable for guests bringing dogs, or those who prefer to be on the ground floor. Each garden room also has the benefit of a small terrace with table and chairs ideal for reading the papers or soaking up the afternoon sun. (The east coast enjoys particularly dry weather with lots of blue skies.) Bedrooms in the hotel itself are all on the first floor and either look out over a pleasant neighbouring garden and the market square, or have far-reaching views over the tranquil estuary and out to the North Sea, where ships dot the horizon.The Crown and Castle is unlike almost any other hotel in Britain. Although extremely quietly positioned, it is not a country house hotel in the hackneyed, ruched-curtain, prohibitively expensive sense. Neither is it efficient but soulless, in the way that modern, city-centre hotels can be.

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Ruth and David Watson have set out to create a new concept in hospitality, offering a genial atmosphere, good food and well-designed, simple bedrooms at modest cost. The Watsons are well known restauranteurs and hoteliers in Suffolk, having previously owned Hintlesham Hall and the famous Fox and Goose Inn at Fressingfield. The refurbished bedrooms are airy, bright and stylish with plain wool carpets, Fired Earth and Paint Library paints, Osborne and little curtains or blinds, really top quality beds, Conran and Ikea furniture and video televisions we have an excellent library of tapes for rainy days. Bathrooms have quirky Harvey Maria tiles on the floor, stunning Dombracht showers and taps, CP Hart shower screens and, perhaps most importantly, plumbing that works properly.

Restaurants are only as good as their staff and we think we have some of the best - mostly British in the kitchen and a good mix of New Zealanders, Australians and French (plus Brits) front of house. As we care constantly told by our guests, the kind atmosphere is what makes the Crown and Castle so special. That's not to say we are over-chummy - there's nothing worse than proprietors who sit down with guests, without first being invited. But Ruth and David Watson and general manager Tim Sunderland are very much in evidence if you do want to chat about the hotel or surrounding area.

Sailors will probably be familiar with the Suffolk rivers and the fascinating watering holes at Waldringfield and Ramsholt golfers can play 9 or 18 holes at Aldeburgh, Woodbridge, Thorpeness and Ufford Park, none of which is more than 12 miles away from Orford, members of the RSPB can visit Havergate Island and everyone can explore Minsmere Nature Reserve, the traditional English Seaside towns of Aldeburgh (with a justly famous fish and chip shop) and Southwold are both worth a visit, as is Dunwich, now mostly under the sea. The Maltings Concert Hall at Snape is not only home to the Aldeburgh Festival but has interesting shops, a café and a pub, at Leiston you can visit the Long Shop steam engine museum and Woodbridge has a splendid tidal mill, plenty of antique and interior decorated shops and privately-owned cinema with a nice ice cream parlour outside - and 2 minutes away from the centre of Woodbridge is Melton, our nearest train station. As for Orford itself, as well as the marvelous castle and church, you can eat or buy brilliant smoked fish and, of course, oysters at the eponymous Osterage.

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