I have been staying here for a couple of days a week for the last 6 months. Typical Holiday Inn…read moredécor which could do with a refresh but all very clean. This hotel also has a nice gym, swimming pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi. Very friendly staff here which really makes a different when you are staying somewhere for a while. Only downside was the restaurant. They have the usual hotel basics and some changing weekly specials but from night to night the quality could differ and after a couple of weeks the menu becomes boring. But plenty of restaurants in Colchester. This hotel can be busy with coach parties during the summer holidays.

I guess once you have been to one Holiday Inn then you have seen what to expect from them all…read morereally. The place is easy to find, well located (not far from the main A12 road) and the rooms are of a decent enough size. The reason i give a four star rating is for the 'little' differences that can make the difference. Having stayed and know people who have stayed here, there are two things that often get said each time: 1. The staff were polite and welcoming and seemed to genuinely want to help if possible, and 2. The rooms are of a good clean standard -something which can not always be said of other hotels i have visited unfortunately! Ok, maybe not the big 'wow factor' many people might look for, but certainly consistant good value for money

Large hotel with a pub attached. Oozes character and authenticity, and populated by friendly locals…read morewho are only too keen to chat. In the pub, there is a nice and cosy front bar as well as a larger tap room. The bar with an always good selection of local beer served directly from the barrel is sandwiched in between. The beer is superb. Across the courtyard is the hotel/restaurant. I can't really comment on this because I've only ever gone to the pub. When I was last there, a large group of Napoleonic war re-enactment enthusiasts were holding their AGM in the restaurant. Zut alors!

Wonderful, wonderful. Great beer from the Farmers Brewery…read morenext-door. Dating from 1400, exposed beams, open fire, dog-friendly, food available, what more could you ask for.

I highly recommend the Black Boy in Sudbury. Very friendly and they really look after you. A recent…read morerefurbishment has created super en-suite rooms. An excellent full English breakfast is the icing on the cake.

It is a small we established pub how evre it is a welcoming pub i have been in a handful of times…read moreand not once felt like i didnt belong!! the staff are polite!!

There is something spectacular in knowing that people still live in places where a neighbour, or…read morefriend of a friend, can be called on for a favour. That was "The Case" at "The Case." Ha ha. I make myself laugh. But really, in the villages of England, places are few and far between, and during the holidays even more so. We're talking the old world where sometimes places are still closed on Sundays and heaven forbid you should want a hairdressers on a holiday Monday! Not like the States, that's for sure. The Brit and I stayed here one Christmas in 2009, and the owner made sure we had a lovely stay as a favour to The Brit's Dad. Typically she wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of giving us breakfast and tea and biscuits to have in the morning and such, but they did for us. The hotel is lovely and the restaurant a great place for a good meal. There is a little seating area for you to wait to be seated where the owner will happily greet you and take your drink order. The drinks were a bit slow coming, but we had time to waste. Things go slower in the UK don't they. Kick back and enjoy your libations my friend! I think the owner was quite proud to have us sit in the seating area before we sat down for our meal, as that seemed her focus despite a predominantly empty restaurant only due to the time of year. I enjoyed a proper English Christmas dinner even though we were going to have another one in a day's time (I love parsnips!) and The Brit had a tasty steak. It takes some time, but it was yummy! The morning after Christmas we were the only ones it seemed in the hotel. Our biscuits were really tasty, but the tea not as good. Breakfast was a proper English and perfectly prepared. I loved our room and found it nicely styled and decorated. If I remember correctly, each room is named a different colour, or at least styled in a different colour. We had purple. It really was a nice place and felt luxurious. The price was great and I would definitely stay here again if ever in the area and in need.

Linda is amazing! She made our evening so welcoming (we went for dinner on a Monday)…read more The food was delicious, they had bottled ale, and they catered really well for vegetarians. We even accidentally binned something that we later realised we needed, and we called up Linda and she fished it out for us! Open Monday Evenings, unlike a lot of independent places. Fantastic experience, do go see for yourself!

The breakfast here is pretty solid, decent selection of cooked breakfast and obliging though slow…read morestaff. The rooms, however, have not been taken care of as they've aged. I stayed in room 15, in the annexe out the back, and the taps didn't turn off, the toilet seat was falling off, almost completely disconnected. The shower was rusty, and the TV and kettle had seen better days. Still very convenient so I'll probably be back, but I'll ask for a different room.

A beautiful historical building located in the centre of a sweet little Essex town, great food and…read moredrink, and nice, clean rooms with all facilities for VERY little money. The staff is very friendly. We've had a great time there and I'm sure I'll be back. Loving it. I feel lucky to have found this place.

When London wants to show off, this is a good idea of how to do it!…read more Le Maison Talbooth recently hosted my neice's Wedding Breakfast, and they blew the doors off. First, I have to commend them on their service. For starters, we showed up an hour early. Champagne flowed, there was a smile on every face, and the staff were clearly experts in handling our arrival! Hors d'ouvrés flowed quickly after and they were delicious! The oysters were fresh and plump and wonderful, and couldn't have been better! Once we sat, the options for dinner were unbelievable! I couldn't decide which I liked the best... the beetroot marinated salmon, the seared scallops, or the Fig & Goat cheese tart! I might lean toward the tart! The Seabass entree was so delicate, and the prawn ravioli was such a splended touch! However, the star was clearly the beef wellington (see the pics) and the presentation could stop ANY show! This is how you create envy on social media! Death by chocolate with honeycomb, a cheesecake option, or an apple and blackberry tart with creme anglaise finished off our evening! If you are looking for a wonderful meal, with exquisite service, this is what you are looking for! 5 STARS, easily

Another absolutely amazing dining experience in Essex…read more Quirky hotel with very old details. Excellent service and really 4* to 5* star dining in an unexpected setting. Definitely a place for a dinner and to dress up for. Lovely for special ocassions. Can't wait to go back!

One of my favourite places. Rooms are spacious and lovely. Spa pool is a bit small and gets crowded…read moreat the weekend due to hen parties but weekdays are empty. Buffet breakfast and dinner are so worth it and the food is amazing. Breakfast is my favourite with everything being avaliable to you. Spa treatments are nice. We always upgrade to the club lounge for soft drinks & canapés. Best spa in essex area

Nice 18 holes on the lakes course this am. Course in v good conditionread more

This is a great, reasonably priced hotel. The hotel offers disabled accommodation, but does not…read morehave lifts to the 1st floor, so bear that in mind when booking. The reception area is large with nice big sofa's and is clean and tidy. There is a vending machine within the hotel if you get peckish or thirsty. Each room is well equipped with tea and coffee making facilities and TV's. There is ample parking outside and the hotel is next to pub/eatery which offers excellent food at very reasonable prices. This is an excellent priced hotel where kids stay for free, the only downside is the hotel does not offer air-conditioning.

What a shocker!!! This place is a disgrace. The hotel is situated right next to the river (hence…read morethe name) and only 5 minutes walk from the town centre. That is about the only good thing going for it. Upon entering the "reception" area we were greeted with stained and sticky carpets, peeling paint and an unidentifiable smell. We should have walked straight out but stupidly decided to go to the rooms. These were even worse with cobwebs in all the corners a thick layer of dust on the furniture and ensuite bathrooms full of mildew and mould. The beds only had a bottom sheet with the duvet covers obviously not changed between guests. Luckily we were out late into the evening and did not have to spend any time within the shabby confines of this hell hole. They really need a hotel inspector to go into the place and close it down or completely revamp it.

The best kept secret in Essex? A simply great venue that is perfect for any wedding!read more